Singapore retailer first worldwide to sell lab-grown meat

Photo credit: Good Meat

Singapore-based Huber’s Butchery has become the first retailer globally to sell lab-grown meat, or meat derived from cultivating animal cells, Wired reported. The new product was made through an exclusive partnership with Good Meat, which operates under the US-based foodtech firm Eat Just.

However, the product is mostly made of plant protein, which makes it similar to other plant-based meats already being sold globally. The chicken – called Good Meat 3 – consists of only 3% animal cells.

Despite the low animal cell count, Good Meat says it has received positive consumer feedback on the product’s taste, texture, and look during testing.

The lab-made meat is priced at S$7.20 (US$5.34) for a 120-gram portion of frozen chicken, which is notably higher than traditional meat products in Singaporean markets. Elevated prices have historically deterred customers from purchasing plant-based meat.

That said, this launch is crucial for the cultured meat sector, which has been struggling to secure more capital. According to the Wired report, the global industry raised US$226 million in 2023, a significant decline from US$922 million the previous year.

Companies like Eat Just are pressured to enhance cost efficiency and profitability. For Eat Just specifically, this pressure comes on top of legal and financial hurdles.

The company also reportedly suspended operations in Singapore in March, but it said shortly after that it would resume production in the country in partnership with Huber’s Butchery. Eat Just added that it aims to produce the most chicken-alternative products this year compared to its previous years combined.

See also: Recession Run: Alt protein to be $200b industry this decade, says Good Startup

Currency converted from Singapore dollar to US dollar: US$1 = S$1.35.