JUST Egg to expand with Minnesota manufacturing facility

Food technology firm JUST has acquired a 30,000ft^² facility and 40 acres of land in Appleton, Minnesota, US, to expand its manufacturing capacity for JUST Egg.

The parties involved have not divulged any financial information of the transaction.

The facility previously operated as Del Dee Foods. It had collaborated with JUST for the protein extraction process of the plant-based JUST Egg. Currently, the facility is said to handle most of JUST’s protein processing.

Approximately 40 people work at the facility. It has the capacity to support JUST’s production up to six days per week and 24 hours a day.

The company plans to create more jobs to allow operations to continue seven days a week. Existing employees will transition to JUST.

In addition to food processing equipment, the facility includes a quality assurance laboratory, warehousing and administrative offices. It reportedly has provision for expansion.

JUST previously made investments in processing equipment for the site and intends to continue its expansion in Appleton. It expects the new facility to allow for a JUST Egg production infrastructure that is in line with its growth plans.

JUST Egg is currently available at major retailers in the US, including Walmart and Kroger, as well as foodservice stations such as restaurants and amusement parks.

The company is also working to improve its retail and foodservice distribution in international markets post-launch in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

JUST co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick said: “To make our mission happen, we need to scale. Separating the protein from the bean requires talent, proprietary processing and a supportive community. We found all that and more in Appleton.”

The acquisition is set to complete the deal by the end of the year.