Next Meats
Next Meats is a Japanese food technology company founded in 2020 that produces plant-based meat alternatives from soybeans and green peas using high-moisture extrusion technology, serving health-conscious consumers in Japan and select international markets via retail and anime-branded partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersAbuta, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Next Meats does
Next Meats is a Japanese food technology company founded in 2020 that produces plant-based meat alternatives using soybeans and green peas as primary protein inputs. The company operates as a subsidiary of Next Meats Holdings, Inc., is headquartered in Abuta, Japan, and employs between 51 and 100 people. Its core technology is high-moisture extrusion, which it positions as a means of closing the sensory gap between plant-based and conventional animal meat in texture and mouthfeel.
The company's product portfolio centers on plant-based meat alternatives, with a notable branded extension into a Demon Slayer ("Kimetsu no Yaiba")-themed plant-based curry developed in collaboration with Singapore-based marketing firm DOU Creations. This product won the Kyoto Animation Manufacturing Award 2022, demonstrating a strategy of leveraging entertainment IP and anime-festival presence (e.g., C3 Anime Festival Asia) as a top-of-funnel brand-building channel rather than relying solely on traditional food retail marketing.
Next Meats generates revenue primarily through one-time sales of its plant-based meat products. Distribution is anchored domestically by a March 2022 capital and business alliance with Yakuodo Co., a subsidiary of Yakuodo Holdings, which provides data sharing, product development, and logistics support for propagating plant-based foods across Japan. Internationally, the company has stated plans to expand across 10 countries through research and production collaborations, supported by approximately 1 billion yen raised in June 2021 and an additional ~$10.2 million raised in March 2022. Pricing, customer counts, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Next Meats firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Next Meats
- Legal name
- Next Meats Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://nextmeats.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Next Meats is a Japanese food technology company founded in 2020 that produces plant-based meat alternatives from soybeans and green peas using high-moisture extrusion technology, serving health-conscious consumers in Japan and select international markets via retail and anime-branded partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Next Meats industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
- NAICS
- Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant-Based Meat Manufacturers (End-to-End Brands) (AFANAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Finished Meat-Alternative Prepared Foods (Nuggets, Burgers, Sausages, Ready Meals) (AFANAKAO)
Keywords
Where Next Meats is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abuta
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
Next Meats business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Alternative Meat Product Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of plant-based meat products globally, with a focus on expanding production capacity and research systems to support growth.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Next Meats product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Next Meats produces plant-based meat alternatives using soybeans and green peas, employing proprietary high-moisture extrusion technology to create products that closely mimic the texture and sensory qualities of conventional animal meat. The company markets these alternatives to health-conscious consumers and food industry partners, including anime-themed collaborative products such as a plant-based curry tied to the Demon Slayer franchise.
Product overview
Next Meats is a Japanese food technology company specializing in plant-based meat alternatives. The company operates as a single-product focused business producing plant-based meat products, including curry offerings, utilizing high-moisture extrusion technology to create products with sensory characteristics similar to conventional animal meat. The product portfolio centers on alternative meat products designed to appeal to mainstream meat consumers seeking plant-based alternatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
- Plant-Based Curry (Demon Slayer Collaboration)
Companies that use Next Meats
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Next Meats technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Next Meats partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Yakuodo Co.coreNext Meats Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Next Meats Holdings, Inc., formed a capital and business alliance with Yakuodo Co., a subsidiary of Yakuodo Holdings, Inc. The alliance aims to enhance the propagation of plant-based foods across Japan through data sharing, product development, and logistics improvements.
- DOU Creations Pte LtdminorSingapore-based marketing company that collaborated with Next Meats on a plant-based curry product tied to the Demon Slayer anime franchise. This collaboration won the Kyoto Animation Manufacturing Award 2022.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Next Meats competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Alpha Foods: Alpha Foods is a US plant-based brand focused on frozen meals, nuggets, and prepared foods. Comparable to Next Meats in producing plant-based prepared/frozen meal SKUs targeting mainstream consumers rather than purely vegetarian buyers.
- Plantcraft (Next Gen Foods): Next Gen Foods (TiNDLE) is a Singapore-based plant-based chicken brand active across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East with retail and foodservice partnerships. Comparable to Next Meats as an Asia-headquartered emerging alt-protein brand pursuing multi-country expansion.
Direct peers
- Tofurky: Tofurky is a US plant-based protein brand producing deli slices, sausages, and tempeh-based meat alternatives for grocery retail. Comparable to Next Meats as a branded manufacturer of meat-analog SKUs targeting mainstream flexitarian consumers.
- Impossible Foods: Impossible Foods is a US plant-based meat company best known for its Impossible Burger, with expanding international foodservice and retail presence. Directly comparable to Next Meats as a branded plant-based meat competitor with technology-driven product differentiation.
- Beyond Meat: Beyond Meat is a leading US-based plant-based meat brand selling burgers, sausages, and ground products globally. It is directly comparable to Next Meats as a plant-based meat manufacturer pursuing international expansion and retail/foodservice distribution.
- OmniFoods (OmniMeat): OmniFoods is a Hong Kong-based plant-based meat brand with strong presence across Asia including Japan. It is a direct competitor to Next Meats in plant-based pork, beef, and chicken alternatives targeting Asian retail and foodservice.
Broad incumbents
- MorningStar Farms (Kellanova): MorningStar Farms is a legacy plant-based brand within Kellanova offering frozen and refrigerated meat alternatives across mainstream US retail. It is comparable as a broad-incumbent alt-protein brand with established distribution Next Meats must compete against for shelf space.
- Lightlife (Maple Leaf Foods): Lightlife is a long-standing plant-based protein brand owned by Maple Leaf Foods, offering burgers, sausages, and deli items in North America. Comparable as a broader-incumbent plant-based meat alternative brand with retail scale Next Meats is targeting.
- Gardein (Conagra Brands): Gardein is a plant-based meat brand owned by Conagra Brands, producing frozen meat alternatives including nuggets, tenders, and ground products. Comparable as a broad-incumbent CPG brand with the shelf penetration Next Meats aims to achieve internationally.
Regional players
- Daiz (DAIZ): DAIZ is a Japanese plant-based meat startup using proprietary "Ochiai" germination technology to produce soybean-based meat alternatives. It is the most direct Japanese-headquartered competitor to Next Meats, competing for retail and foodservice partnerships in the same domestic market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Next Meats social profiles
Digital presenceNext Meats financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Next Meats leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Next Meats funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Next Meats M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Next Meats
What does Next Meats do?
Next Meats produces plant-based meat alternatives using soybeans and green peas, employing proprietary high-moisture extrusion technology to create products that closely mimic the texture and sensory qualities of conventional animal meat. The company markets these alternatives to health-conscious consumers and food industry partners, including anime-themed collaborative products such as a plant-based curry tied to the Demon Slayer franchise.
Is Next Meats a public or private company?
Next Meats is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Next Meats founded?
Next Meats was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Next Meats based?
Next Meats is headquartered in Abuta, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Next Meats make money?
One revenue line is on record: alternative Meat Product Sales.
Who are Next Meats's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Alpha Foods and Plantcraft (Next Gen Foods). Direct peers are Tofurky, Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and OmniFoods (OmniMeat). Broad incumbents are MorningStar Farms (Kellanova), Lightlife (Maple Leaf Foods) and Gardein (Conagra Brands). Daiz (DAIZ) is listed as a regional player.
Does Next Meats have an API?
No public API is recorded for Next Meats.
What industry is Next Meats in?
Next Meats's product category is Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANAKAA, Plant-Based Meat Manufacturers (End-to-End Brands), with a secondary code of AFANAKAO, Finished Meat-Alternative Prepared Foods (Nuggets, Burgers, Sausages, Ready Meals). Its NAICS code is 311612 and its SIC code is 2013.