Poultry-producing giant Inghams Group has made an investment of more than $1 million into Just Meat Protein following a seed funding round.
This was the bulk of the total $1.8 million invested into the food technology company, which holds a globally exclusive licence for its “hydrolysed protein technology”.
The technology can create allergen-free protein powder that is processed from the enzymes in red meat. It breaks proteins down into a smaller form, allowing them to be added to everyday foods without changing their look, taste or feel.
Just Meat Protein called it a “quality alternative protein source” to the widely popular whey protein.
“A growing population, the rapid rise in GLP-1 use, and the shift towards more conscious consumers are all feeding a huge growth in demand for new protein sources,” said Ellie Whelan, CEO and co-founder of Just Meat Protein.
“For us here at Just Meat Protein, to be able to solve for this problem through targeting low-value cuts is not only a commercial win, but a positive shift towards a more sustainable food system.”
Inghams said the investment aligns with the group’s strategy, providing an early entry point into a category it believes will grow.
“The investment in Just Meat Protein is precisely the kind of innovation-led, high-value adjacency we have been looking to establish and is strongly aligned to our strategy to maximise the value we generate from every bird we process,” Ed Alexander, Inghams CEO and MD, added.
