Local Start-Up Prepares For Launch of Alternative Chicken Product; Raises US$10m

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Picture this: you walk into a restaurant to have lunch with your friend, who happens to be vegetarian.

When you sit down with him, you notice that he’s tucking into the juiciest-looking chicken thigh in existence, and your jaw gets acquainted with the floor.

You: You’re eating… meat?

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Vegetarian Friend: Are you nuts? I’m just getting my daily dose of veggies.

You wonder if your friend has lost his mind, but then you discover that plant-based meat is a thing.

Sure, everyone’s had plant-based beef, but have you ever tried chicken made solely from plant-based ingredients?

Well, if you happen to live in Singapore, you may soon have a taste of this futuristic product.

Local Start-Up Prepares For Launch of Alternative Chicken Product; Raises US$10m

Local start-up Next Gen has managed to raise US$10 million from investors including Temasek International, according to The Straits Times.

The funding round was also backed by the Economic Development Board’s New Ventures arm, K3 Ventures, and Blue Horizon, to name a few.

The fact that investments far surpassed their target of US$7 million attests to the strength of the firm’s business model, Next Gen co-founder and CEO Timo Recker said.

But the move by Temasek could also be geared towards Singapore’s goal to produce 30% of its food locally by 2030.

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Could Be Available in Singapore by March

The funds will be used to launch the company’s plant-based chicken brand globally, as well as their expansion into other Asian cities and continued research and development.

So, where and when will Singapore residents be able to try this alternative chicken?

Co-founder and chief operating officer Andre Menezes said their product will be available from outlets such as Three Buns and Chinese restaurant Empress.

In an interview last year, the firm said it hoped to put out its product by March 2021, so we may not have to wait too long to try this new plant-based meat.

What is it Made of?

Of course, the question on everyone’s lips will be; what the heck is it made of?

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According to Bloomberg, the meat is soy-based and is made from a trademarked mix of plant-based ingredients called “lipi”, which emulates the aroma and taste of real chicken, just like Impossible Foods’ use of heme for their fake-beef burgers.

Unlike Impossible Foods, however, which uses genetically-engineered soy, Next Gen uses natural ingredients.

So not only will you be saving the planet by eating this chicken, it might be better for you too.

Feature Image: Ravsky/ Shutterstock.com

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]