Plant-based meat substitute producer Beyond Meat has expanded its partnership with Zandbergen World’s Finest Meat to produce plant-based products at Zandbergen’s manufacturing facility, which is being constructed in Zoeterwoude, Netherlands.

The facility, which is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2020, will be Beyond Meat’s first production capability outside the US.

Headquartered in Zoeterwoude, Zandbergen focuses on providing products that combine animal protein with plant protein.

It imports beef, lamb, veal, pork and poultry from North America, South America, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand to its customers in all the EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Beyond Meat executive chairman Seth Goldman said: “The consumer response in Europe has been very positive and we look forward to being able to better serve those customers with locally produced products.

“We are pleased to have strong strategic partners in Europe like Zandbergen to help us grow our global footprint.”

With localised production, Beyond Meat intends to reduce the brand’s transportation footprint. It is also expected to enable the company to swiftly move its products across Europe and deliver them to its customers.

Last year, Zandbergen initiated distribution of Beyond Meat’s products throughout Europe.

Zandbergen World’s Finest Meat chief commercial officer Adriaan Figee said: “As the demand for plant-based products continues to expand in Europe, we are thrilled to be partnering with Beyond Meat to produce their innovative products outside the US.”