Quorn Invests $9 Million to Develop Its Own “Bleeding” Vegan Burger

British meatless brand Quorn recently invested $9 million in a research and development facility to develop a new plant-based burger that would compete with innovative vegan patties such as the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger. The brand reported a 12 percent rise in sales in the first six months of this year, attributing its growth to a global consumer shift toward plant-based foods. “All over the world, we have seen a real step-change in the way people are eating,” Quorn CEO Kevin Brennan told The Guardian. “Young consumers are really starting to have concerns around meat from a health and sustainability point of view.” According to Brennan, the global meat-free industry is growing by 10 to 20 percent annually, and Quorn expects to reach $1 billion in annual sales by 2027. Meanwhile, California-based Beyond Meat announced plans to triple its production capacity with the opening of a second production facility in Missouri, while competitor Impossible Foods continues to expand the distribution of its Impossible Burger through new partnerships with event brand Live Nation, airline Air New Zealand, and fast-food chains White Castle, Applebee’s, and The Cheesecake Factory.