ME-AT Leeuwarden B.V.
- Type
- Food & Ingredient Manufacturer
- Location
- Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Industries
- Alternative proteins, Food ingredients & products, Sustainable packaging & plastic alternatives, Supply chain monitoring & traceability, Waste efficiency, Food reformulation
- Domains
- Meat alternatives, Processed food products, Plant based primary products, Soy, Wheat, Fish alternatives, Rice, Peas
- Technologies
- Texturising / texturing, IQF freezing, Processing
About ME-AT Leeuwarden B.V.
ME-AT is a Dutch plant-based food company focused on designing and developing meat alternatives that closely mimic the look, taste, and mouthfeel of conventional meat. It serves retail and foodservice customers with products intended to make the switch to plant-based protein easier for consumers, while keeping products recognizable, affordable, and versatile in preparation.
The company positions itself as part of the protein transition: helping meet rising demand for protein with more sustainable options and supporting a shift toward plant-based diets. ME-AT emphasizes that its products are made in a dedicated plant-based facility in Leeuwarden and that it works with customers on private-label and new product development projects.
Core Values
- Sustainability: ME-AT frames its mission around offering a more sustainable alternative to animal protein and building transparent supply chains with locally grown raw materials where possible. It also pays attention to packaging choices and transport efficiency.
- Taste and familiarity: The company aims to make plant-based food easy to adopt by delivering products that look fresh, cook like meat, and are difficult to distinguish from traditional meat equivalents.
- Health and nutrition: ME-AT highlights products that are low in salt and saturated fat, high in protein and fiber, and can be fortified with vitamin B12 and iron to better substitute meat.
- Collaboration and innovation: The company emphasizes co-creation with customers, continuous product improvement, and partnerships across the value chain to develop better plant-based products and supply chains.
Unique Aspects
- Dedicated plant-based facility: ME-AT produces its products in a 100% dedicated, state-of-the-art plant-based facility in Leeuwarden, converted from a former beef slaughterhouse.
- Local protein sourcing ambition: The company is building a transparent local supply chain based on locally grown proteins, including Dutch fava beans, with ambitions to extend similar chains to Belgium and Germany.
- Broad meat-style assortment: Its portfolio spans many familiar meat and fish-style formats, allowing it to serve consumers looking for recognizable substitutes across the meat counter.
- FabaFood partnership: In 2023, ME-AT joined KeyGene, Agrifirm, Ebro Ingredients, and Upfield in the FabaFood project to develop food-grade faba beans and plant-based prototypes, supported by the ERDF 2021-2027 East Netherlands program.