As interest in plant-based meats surges, Beyond Meat is leading the way, expanding to 77,000 points of distribution in 65 countries, including more than 9,000 Dunkin’s, which began serving Beyond Breakfast Sausage in November. Beyond also launched tests of a meatball sub with Subway, fried chicken with KFC, and a “PLT” burger with McDonald’s—meaning it now works with three of the five largest fast-food chains in the world. “We ask these global chains what they want, and then we create different product lines from our platform,” says CEO Ethan Brown. In retail, the company upgraded its flagship Beyond Burger, adding cocoa butter “marbling” to mimic beef fat. The company’s growth rate is 253%, and last fall it reported its first quarterly profit, on revenue of $92 million.
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A version of this article appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Fast Company magazine.
