Investment of $12 million by Ahimsa Companies into an Ohio plant signals a long-term commitment to alternative meat production: "We're aligned with the future."
In the world of plant-based alternatives, Ahimsa Companies is making a significant move. The company, which has recently acquired brands like Wicked Kitchen, Simulate/Nuggs, and Blackbird Foods, is investing heavily in a manufacturing plant in Heath, Ohio.
Matthew Tullman, the CEO of Ahimsa Companies, has announced that they are planning to produce tens of millions of pounds of plant-based foods out of the Ohio facility in 2026. To support this ambitious goal, Ahimsa is investing $12 million into the plant and is in the process of doing extensive renovations to serve "one of our bigger partners."
However, the specific partners for the Q1 2026 production ramp-up have not been publicly disclosed due to confidentiality agreements. Ahimsa Companies is collaborating with large plant-based partners for this production, but the names of these partners remain undisclosed.
Despite the secrecy, Ahimsa Companies is confident about the future of the plant-based market. Tullman believes there is a large flexitarian market that wants options, and the company is focusing on practical steps such as consolidating resources that create value today while positioning the category for the future.
One of the brands that Ahimsa acquired, Blackbird, has seen success with its products. Blackbird's pizza and seitan products are now in over 4,000 doors, and Blackbird's seitan wings are a top performer at Wegmans. Recently, Blackbird secured nationwide distribution with Whole Foods Market, launching in mid-August with two new mini pizza SKUs.
While some brands like The Good Catch and Current Foods, which were owned by Wicked Kitchen, were not brought back after acquisition, Ahimsa Companies is looking for interesting brands, distressed or otherwise, in the alt meat space.
Meanwhile, other companies are experimenting with blended meat approaches. For instance, Beyond Meat is switching to avocado oil and simplifying ingredients. Simulate, another acquired brand, has shifted its focus from the original Nuggs product line to developing technology for fiber-spun whole-cut plant-based chicken.
Ahimsa Companies' acquisition of Simulate was based on the spinning technology, which the company plans to retain and leverage at the right time. The company has formed a new contract manufacturing entity called Plant Plant to facilitate this.
Plant Plant operates out of the Ohio facility and produces plant-based foods. Seitan, one of the products produced by Plant Plant, packs 22 grams of protein per 100g serving, more than firm tofu and comparable to salmon.
As Ahimsa Companies continues to invest in the plant-based market, they believe that demand will follow as products improve and the climate crisis approaches. The company is committed to providing alternatives to animal agriculture, which they believe are essential for addressing downward human health trends and climate change.
- Amidst the growing interest in technology and innovation, Ahimsa Companies are also venturing into education-and-self-development by forming a new contract manufacturing entity called Plant Plant, which focuses on developing and producing plant-based foods.
- In the rapidly changing landscape of sports nutrition, Ahimsa Companies' Plant Plant entity has introduced a high-protein seitan product, offering athletes an alternative to traditional animal-based protein sources like salmon, with 22 grams of protein per 100g serving.
- As general-news outlets continue to cover the surge in plant-based lifestyle choices, the casino-and-gambling industry may also find itself closely watching Ahimsa Companies' moves, given the potential economic opportunities and emerging market trends in the plant-based food sector.
