Dutch firm Rival Foods secures €10M to boost clean-label plant-based meat production

Amersfoort-based Rival Foods, a Dutch food-tech company pioneering the next generation of plant-based, whole-cut meat alternatives, has secured €10M in a Series B funding round.

The funding round was backed by the participation of new investors APG, Pymwymic, and ROM Utrecht Region, alongside follow-on funding from existing investor PeakBridge.

Based out of Amsterdam, Pymwymic (Put Your Money Where Your Meaning Is Community) is a co-owned organisation of European wealth holders. 

The community consists of over 250 individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and angel investors of different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. 

“Rival Foods has cracked the code on clean-label, plant-based proteins that truly deliver the taste and texture of meat. With products already matching animal protein on cost, they’re set to accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable, plant-powered future,” says Rogier Pieterse, Managing Partner Pymwymic.

The fresh capital will enable the Dutch company to double its production capacity, scale its proprietary manufacturing technology, and drive production costs down to deliver plant-based meat at competitive prices.

What does Rival Foods solve?

The shift to alternative proteins is one of the most powerful ways to reduce food-related emissions, delivering six times the climate impact of eliminating global air travel.

Plant-based meat currently accounts for only 5 per cent of meat consumption in Europe.

This limited uptake is due to factors such as high prices, undesirable texture and taste, and concerns about ultra-processed ingredients.

Rival Foods addresses these challenges directly with its patented technology, which converts simple, recognisable ingredients into clean-label, protein-rich cuts that resemble, cook, and taste like real meat.

“This investment marks a major milestone in our mission to make high-quality plant-based meat mainstream, without compromising on taste, texture, or nutrition,” said Birgit Dekkers, CEO and founder of Rival Foods. “With the backing of world-class investors, we’re ready to scale fast and reshape the future of protein. We’re called Rival for a reason – we’re here to be one.”

Rival Foods: Pioneer in next-gen plant-based meat

Rival Foods was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research.

CEO Birgit Dekkers, an expert in protein structuring, has turned years of research into a practical technology.

Rather than selling directly in stores, Rival Foods works with chefs, food service providers, and consumer brands to supply high-quality whole-cut plant-based products.

These products aim to improve plant-based menus and help make plant-based eating more common.