What is Beyond Meat?
A public plant-protein company expanding beyond meat alternatives into broader plant-based protein foods.
- Category
- Plant-based protein
- Headquarters
- El Segundo, CA
- Founded
- 2009
- Employees
- ~750+
- Total funding
- Public-company capital history
- Status
- Nasdaq: BYND
What is Beyond Meat?
Beyond Meat, now presenting itself as Beyond The Plant Protein Company, makes plant-based burgers, beef, sausage, steak-style products, and protein beverages.
Beyond Meat was founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown and became one of the defining public companies in plant-based meat after its 2019 IPO. The company sells through U.S. and international retail, foodservice, ecommerce, and direct channels.
In 2026 the company is repositioning from Beyond Meat toward Beyond The Plant Protein Company as it broadens beyond burger and sausage alternatives. Its site emphasizes plant proteins such as yellow peas, red lentils, and faba beans, no GMOs, no cholesterol, and no added hormones or antibiotics.
The operating context is difficult. Beyond reported approximately $275 million of 2025 net revenue, Q1 2026 revenue of $58.2 million, and a debt structure that still matters after its 2025 convertible-note exchange. Sellers should treat it as a public turnaround account with tight ROI requirements.
What does Beyond Meat offer?
Beyond sells plant-based proteins across retail, foodservice, and direct channels.
- Beyond Burger· Plant-based beef
- Beyond Beef· Ground protein
- Beyond Sausage· Plant-based sausage
- Beyond Steak Tips· Whole-cut style
- Beyond Chicken-style products· Plant-based chicken
- Beyond Immerse· Protein beverage
How does Beyond Meat make money?
Beyond makes money by selling branded plant-protein foods and beverages through grocery, club, ecommerce, restaurant, and foodservice channels.
The core model is CPG and foodservice distribution. Beyond earns revenue when retailers, distributors, restaurants, and direct consumers buy products such as burgers, beef, steak tips, sausages, and the new Beyond Immerse beverage.
Consumer pricing varies by retailer and channel. Public reporting on Beyond Immerse described a 12-pack online price of $29.95, while grocery meat alternatives typically move through retailer-set shelf prices, promotions, and foodservice contract economics.
Growth is driven by distribution points, category recovery, repeat purchase, menu partnerships, and new protein formats that avoid some of the political and pricing pressure around plant-based meat. In 2026, the practical buying signal is cost control and profitable demand, not unconstrained expansion.
Who leads Beyond Meat?
Beyond Meat is led by founder, president, and CEO Ethan Brown, with Lubi Kutua serving as CFO and treasurer.
- Ethan BrownFounder, President and Chief Executive OfficerFounder; since 2009Founder-operator leading the shift from meat analogues toward broader plant protein.
- Lubi KutuaChief Financial Officer and TreasurerCFO in latest filingsOwns finance, reporting, liquidity, and capital-structure work.
- Doug RamseyFormer COOHistorical operations executiveIncluded as historical context only; verify current operations leadership before outreach.
- Board and audit leadershipPublic-company governanceOngoingMaterial purchases and controls flow through public-company governance and finance discipline.
How do you contact Beyond Meat's leadership?
Beyond does not publish verified personal executive emails in the sources reviewed. Use public contact, investor relations, customer portal, and privacy channels rather than guessed personal addresses.
Personal format not verified; use public contact and investor channelsHow much funding has Beyond Meat raised?
Beyond Meat is public on Nasdaq; its capital story centers on its 2019 IPO, subsequent convertible debt, and a 2025 debt exchange.
Beyond's most important capital event was its 2019 IPO, which turned a venture-backed plant-based meat company into a public-market category proxy. Since then, its funding picture has shifted from growth equity to public equity valuation, convertible notes, restructuring, and liquidity management.
The company reported about $275 million of 2025 net revenue and completed a convertible debt exchange in 2025 that reduced near-term leverage and extended maturity. Q1 2026 commentary cited $411.6 million of debt carrying value and operating cash use of $5 million.
Seller signal: Beyond has brand awareness and public-company systems, but spending is constrained. Vendors should lead with cost savings, margin, demand conversion, retail execution, supply-chain simplification, or controls improvements.
How did Beyond Meat get here?
Beyond went from a venture-backed plant-based meat pioneer to a public turnaround company broadening into plant protein.
- 2009Founded by Ethan BrownCompany starts with a mission to replace animal protein with plant protein.
- 2012First U.S. product launchesBeyond products begin appearing in U.S. retail channels.
- May 2019IPOBeyond lists on Nasdaq under BYND and becomes a public plant-based meat bellwether.
- 2021Major QSR supply agreementsBeyond announces strategic supply deals with McDonald's and Yum! Brands.
- 2025Convertible debt exchangeCompany reduces near-term leverage and extends debt maturity.
- 2026Beyond The Plant Protein CompanyBrand expands into Beyond Immerse and broader plant-protein positioning.
Who are Beyond Meat's competitors?
Beyond competes against plant-based meat peers, frozen meatless brands, and conventional protein companies.
- Impossible FoodsClosest high-tech plant-based meat peer focused on taste mimicry and heme.
- MorningStar FarmsEstablished frozen meatless brand with mainstream retail distribution.
- GardeinConagra-backed broad frozen plant-based meat portfolio.
- QuornMycoprotein-based meat alternative with a differentiated ingredient base.
- Tyson FoodsLarge conventional protein company competing for retail and foodservice protein spend.
- MeatiWhole-cut mushroom-root protein brand positioned around cleaner-label alternatives.
Beyond Meat — frequently asked questions
