Upside Foods, a cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company, is announcing that it selected the greater Chicagoland region for its first large-scale cultivated meat production plant. The 187,000-square-foot plant, based in Glenview, Illinois, will start by producing ground cultivated chicken products, with plans to expand to other species and whole-textured formats in the future. With an initial capacity to produce millions of pounds of cultivated meat products per year and the potential to expand to over 30 million pounds, the plant represents a significant step forward in achieving the company’s vision of creating a more humane, sustainable and resilient food system.

UPSIDE Foods selects Glenview, IIlinois, for its first large-scale cultivated meat production plant. Photo courtesy Upside Foods

“On behalf of the State of Illinois, we are excited to welcome UPSIDE Foods to the Land of Lincoln and are committed to supporting their growth in the cultivated meat industry,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “Here in Illinois, we are a hub for tech and innovation, thanks to our talented workforce and prime location in the heart of the Midwest. This new facility is a significant investment in our communities — creating new good-paying jobs while advancing our ambitious clean energy goals to create a more sustainable future. We also congratulate UPSIDE Foods on their recent milestone of being the inaugural company to commercially sell cultivated meat in the United States. Their pioneering leadership makes them a perfect fit for the region.”

The state-of-the-art plant, designed to house cultivators with capacities of up to 100,000 liters, will stand as one of the world’s largest and most advanced commercial cultivated meat facilities. Building upon the knowledge gained from Upside's Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC) in California, Upside's new plant will cultivate meat at commercial scales and serve as a guiding force for Upside's future endeavors in scaling up its operations to the next level.

“We’re excited that the next chapter of our journey towards building a more sustainable, humane, and abundant future will be in Illinois,” said Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of Upside Foods. “Establishing our plant in this region allows us to tap into a remarkable talent pool, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and a notable history of meat production. We are grateful for the collaboration and partnership that we have built at the state, county, and local levels in our site selection process.”

Upside's selection of Glenview was driven by the region’s legacy in meat production, a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, and strategic geographical advantages. Located at major transportation crossroads, the plant will serve as a suitable hub for large-scale production, distribution, and sale of cultivated meat products. Furthermore, Upside was attracted to the area for its talented workforce and vibrant innovation landscape.

Following its acquisition of Wisconsin-based cultivated seafood company Cultured Decadence, Upside Foods is furthering its commitment to the Midwest with a planned investment of more than $140 million in the region, along with the creation of more than 75 new jobs, from warehousing and logistics positions to bioprocessing and food production, as well as other commercial functions.

“We are proud to partner with UPSIDE Foods as they make the strategic decision to harness the unparalleled strengths of the greater Chicagoland region,” said Kyle Schulz, executive vice president, World Business Chicago. “Their groundbreaking work in growing meat, poultry, and seafood directly from animal cells aligns with our region’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the future of food. We are excited to support UPSIDE Foods in their journey and work together to promote the greater Chicagoland region as a hub for innovative and sustainable solutions that address the challenges of our time and continue the Chicagoland legacy in protein production.”

Upside has selected Jacobs, a company that works in engineering and technology solutions, as its design and manufacturing partner for its facility. With a solid track record in collaborating with mission-driven and innovative partners, Jacobs is a suitable choice to assist in the realization of Upside's large-scale cultivated meat production plant.

“Jacobs has extensive experience working with disruptive, innovative partners,” said Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs. “This project aligns with our Boldly Moving Forward strategy in challenging the status quo in the food industry. The meat industry is water- and land-intensive and a significant source of greenhouse gases, and yet global demand for meat continues to grow. This facility will enable UPSIDE to produce cultivated meat at a commercial scale, a key milestone in the company’s mission to create a more humane, sustainable and resilient food system.”

Upside selected the name “Rubicon” for its first large-scale cultivated meat production plant with an appreciation for its historical significance as a point of no return. This choice reflects the company’s commitment to redefine the future of food.

This announcement comes after a series of milestones for Upside Foods, including completing the first U.S. consumer sale of cultivated meat in the U.S., a $400 million Series C placing the company’s valuation at over $1 billion, and the expansion of its product portfolio to include ground cultivated meat products.

Source: Upside Foods