Leading French vegan cheese brand Jay&Joy has won €2m (£1.7m) of fresh investment to fund expansion in France and the UK.
Targeting international growth under the Jay&Joy brand, the group will also push for a “significant acceleration” of its French brand Les Nouveaux Affineurs’ supermarket distribution to reach 2,000 points of sale by the end of 2026.
Hiring new sales staff, increasing marketing spend and investing into manufacturing, the group will “support the strong commercial traction” of its two brands. The company aims to ramp up annual volumes to three million units by 2027.
Jay&Joy launched into the UK in September with its organic camembert alternative, dubbed ‘Albert’, followed by goats cheese, feta and blue cheese mimics. The company has now set plans to expand further and become the “leading European platform for plant-based cheese”.
Its products are currently listed in online retailers inlcuding Abel & Cole and independent stores such as Planet Organic.
The clean-label, organic products “draw inspiration from traditional French cheesemaking methods”, including “rigorous” fermentation and ripening processes for its nut and bean-based products.
The company’s latest raise was led by existing investors Demeter, Mindstone and Vivegan, joined by new investors including Makesense.
“Thank you to our shareholders for supporting Jay&Joy,” said Jay&Joy CEO César Augier.
“This investment round will allow us to build on our strong sales momentum across Europe and further contribute to the food transition, while staying true to what makes us unique: a genuine cheesemaking culture, minimally processed products, high quality standards, and a deep respect for the environment.
“Our ambition is to make plant-based cheese accessible to everyone, without compromising on taste or enjoyment.”
No comments yet