Vegan food firm Myco Holdings has launched a product development site in North Yorkshire which promises to create 70 jobs.
In what is said to be the first facility of its kind in the UK, Myco will grow oyster mushrooms using vertical farming techniques and turn them into food proteins, all under the same roof. The 200,000 sqft property at Leeming Bar will be transformed ready for production to begin this year.
Myco said the move follows work with North Yorkshire Council to secure the unit, which is close to the A1 and will help the firm reduce food miles. Initially six staff will be based there with plans to grow the workforce to 75 people.
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The new premises follow Myco's recruitment of former Vbites managing director David Wood, who also has experience at North East businesses Northumbrian Fine Foods, Biscuit International and Nestlé. Vbites, owned by Heather Mills, called in administrators before Christmas.
Mr Wood said: “Myco’s goal isn’t to turn the world into vegans but is to encourage meat-eaters to eat more sustainable plant-based products. We believe we can achieve this by having products that taste fantastic and are made with kitchen cupboard ingredients.
"The business believes that creating mouth-watering alternatives that resemble ‘proper’ food will make swapping from meat to plant-based substitutes far easier. This site will allow us to press on with that vision, whilst for the first time ever in the UK, giving customers the chance to choose genuinely sustainable, vertically farmed products.
"We hope our unique, sustainable approach can be mirrored by other food producers as ultimately, our biggest priority is to help the planet survive – we just hope we can play our part."
John Shepherd, co-founder and chairman of MYCO, said the new facility would unlock the business' potential.
