Just, the US company supplying egg-free products, has signed its first manufacturing deal in Asia, with South Korea’s GanongBio.
The news comes soon after Just, formerly known as Hampton Creek, announced its products are to be sold in China.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The manufacturing deal is for Just Egg product, a plant-based egg alternative product.
GanongBio is one of the largest egg processors in South Korea. Its deal with Just will see it manufacture and distribute the mung bean-based product across South Korea.
Josh Tetrick, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Just, said: “Just was founded on the belief that fresh thinking, cutting-edge innovation and collaboration between start-ups and established companies could change our food system for the better. Just and GanongBio will put that idea into practice and allow us to reach countless Korean consumers.
“GanongBio’s proven expertise in manufacturing and distribution as well as their implementation of high-tech logistics systems impressed us, and we’re excited to cooperate.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataJae Heung Yoo, chairman of GanongBio, said: “We are focused on providing the freshest, highest quality eggs and utilising new innovations and technologies in our traditional farming methods. Just’s outlook for the future is well aligned with our values and we are thrilled to be working with a company that explores the outer boundaries of farming as we know it.”
Just’s entry into China is via a multi-channel approach encompassing e-commerce, retail and foodservice.
Just Egg is now available via JD.com, the country’s largest online retailer, and is beginning to roll out at supermarket and food delivery service Hema and e-commerce platform Tmall.com, both owned by e-commerce giant Alibaba.
It will also be sold at healthy restaurant chain Hunter Gatherer, via food e- commerce platform FreshFresh.com and by speciality retailer City’ Super.
Tetrick said: “It’s hard to express in words how palpable the energy and enthusiasm for what we’re doing is in China and we’re proud to work with companies that are household names in Shanghai, Beijing and across the country to bring Just Egg to Chinese consumers. This is about food security, the thousand-year old tradition of eating mung bean re-imagined and the pure joy of trying something that is delicious, healthy and new.”
In the months since launching Just Egg, Just has sold the plant-based equivalent of 6.3m chicken eggs in the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
In May Just reportedly outlined its ambitions to take the company public.
