Planterra opens new Denver plant

LAFAYETTE — Planterra Foods Co., a roughly two-and-a-half-year old JBS USA subsidiary that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes, has opened an 189,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Denver that will employ about 200 people at full capacity.

This is a huge milestone for Planterra Foods, and a dream come true to be manufacturing our OZO products here in our hometown of Denver,” Planterra CEO Darcey Macken said in a prepared statement. “We knew Colorado was the perfect place to begin and grow this company, and with our incredible team of passionate, problem-solving food lovers, I’m confident that Planterra will continue to grow the world of plant-based with the best-tasting foods in the market. We can’t wait to share what’s in store with new products, innovations and growth for our community in the future.”

Planterra makes a variety of products such as burger patties and breakfast sausages from a blend of pea and rice protein fermented by shiitake mushrooms. 

Planterra expanded its distribution in June into Canada with an agreement with grocery distributor UNFI Canada. The company followed that up with expansions into Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

JBS’ major competitors, such as Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) and Perdue Farms Inc., have all introduced their own plant-based meat brands in the past several years as the industry scrambles to diversify its offerings as companies such as Beyond Meat Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND) and Impossible Foods Inc. gain popularity.

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