Despite this weakening performance, however, the industry enjoyed “robust early stage funding during 2021, as the number of deals for plant-based companies increased 34% and total deal value increased 79% compared to 2020, likely a result of optimistic valuations across the market as a whole,” note analysts at Bernstein in a new report on alternative proteins.
“Early indications suggest that valuations marched even higher in the first quarter of 2022—albeit off of a small sample size—despite public alt protein companies performing poorly over the past year. Beyond Foods’ stock price is down -76% when comparing the average price in Q2’22 versus Q2’21.
“Adding to our skepticism are references that shares of Impossible Foods declined -17% from January to June in secondary markets that transact in private companies, while Beyond Meat fell -61% in the public markets over that same period. We believe there is a risk that private valuations within the alt-protein space have room to fall and catch up with their poorer performing public peers in the coming quarters.”
While the slowdown in plant-based meat alternatives growth has been “stark,” concludes Bernstein, “nonetheless we continue to believe the long-term growth opportunities in alternative proteins remain attractive, although improvements in product quality and innovation in emerging alternative protein categories, mainly fermented and cultivated proteins, will be key.”
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