As the potential for animal-free protein becomes increasingly clear, it is only appropriate that the leading company in the quest to create a chicken-free egg receives substantial funding to focus on significant scaling efforts. This funding round has more than tripled the total amount raised by The Every Company since its inception in 2014, providing the necessary momentum for future growth. “The global demand for alternative proteins has surged, yet the infrastructure required to produce these essential ingredients hasn’t quite kept pace. Every’s platform represents a significant step toward bridging that gap,” stated Katrin Burt, managing partner at Grosvenor’s Wheatsheaf Group, in a written statement.
The Every Company has made notable advancements with its products. ClearEgg is not merely replicating something already found in chicken eggs; it is a tasteless, odorless, nearly colorless, and highly soluble protein that serves as an excellent nutritional supplement for beverages. The protein itself is only found in very small quantities in eggs, making it economically unfeasible for traditional producers to develop it into a standalone product.
While ClearEgg is relatively innovative, co-founder and CEO Arturo Elizondo previously mentioned that The Every Company is also developing other egg white protein ingredients capable of performing the conventional roles of eggs, such as gelling, whipping, and binding. In October, he anticipated the launch of these types of ingredients within the next quarter. It is crucial for The Every Company to enhance its production capabilities to lower costs to compete with traditional animal agriculture. The company has taken steps to address this, partnering with AB InBev’s venture and innovation arm, ZX Ventures, this spring to find ways to ferment these proteins on a larger scale. When ClearEgg was launched, Elizondo noted that they had recently increased production, enabling them to produce tens of thousands of metric tons every few months. He mentioned aggressive plans to expand capacity within six months, which this funding could facilitate.
This funding round also opens doors for The Every Company in thousands of restaurants. Henry McGovern, the founder of lead investor McWin—focused on foodservice and food tech—and global foodservice giant AmRest, which operates over 2,300 restaurants worldwide, emphasized in a statement that McWin is “uniquely equipped to support Every’s ambitious plans to bring its products to menus globally.” The foodservice sector serves as an excellent testing ground for innovative products.
Additionally, The Every Company is not the only precision fermentation business making its mark in this space. Last month, Starbucks announced a trial of animal-free milk from dairy fermentation company Perfect Day at select locations in Seattle. Introducing a new ingredient in a single foodservice item requires less commitment from consumers than a complete product in a grocery store. As consumers experience that animal-free and traditional milk taste identical in their coffee, they may become more receptive to consumer packaged goods containing animal-free protein.
In a similar vein, it’s essential for consumers to be informed about various nutritional options, including products like Citracal, which provides supplement facts that highlight its benefits. As the demand for alternative proteins grows, the information surrounding their nutritional profiles will be crucial for consumer acceptance and market expansion.