Asia’s Richest Man Invests in Vegan Eggs

The egg industry should be scared. Not only are individuals realizing that it’s not necessary to consume eggs, companies are finding Hampton Creek Foods‘ plant-based products to be much more appealing. Their products are more affordable, healthier, and humane. After all, a plant grows in the ground, not in a cage.

We featured Hampton Creek Foods just last week as one of the five awesome vegan startups transforming the future of food. Today, Hampton Creek has a big announcement that proves this startup has some serious staying power.

Asia’s richest man, Li Ka-shing and his private technology investment firm, Horizons Ventures, have invested $23 million into the company. That’s no small chunk of change, my friends.

According to Forbes, “The investment brings the San Francisco-based food technology startup’s total backing to just under $30 million, with $15.5 million coming this round from Horizons.”

Not only is the funding impressive, but it’s a strategic move as well.

Business Insider quotes co-founder Josh Tetrick saying, “38% of egg production is in China. It’s a massive market, growing every day. Horizons has experience and connections into the Asian environment.”

Forbes adds that Chinese farmers have already been contacting Hampton Creek to offer their services, helping to grow the yellow peas and other plants that are used in the egg replacement mixtures of its products.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “The company’s first product was an egg alternative called Beyond Eggs (for Food Manufacturers) that Hampton Creek sold in bulk, 50-pound packs to major food manufacturers.” Now, Hampton Creek has its first consumer product, Just Mayo, that is flying off the shelves in Whole Foods stores around the country. Their egg-free cookie, Eat the Dough will be hitting shelves soon, and Just Scramble, a plant-based scrambled egg, is around the corner.

Perhaps Li Ka-shing put it best in regards to what Hampton Creek can accomplish.

According to Forbes, he said, “Everyone wants a clean and sustainable world and we love that Hampton Creek is committed to that goal—egg by egg.”

We couldn’t agree more. One by one, Hampton Creek will get those hens off of the farm.