On February 7, 2025, Meatly will become what it says is the first company in the world to supply cultivated meat for sale as pet food. Produced in collaboration with plant-based dog food brand The Pack, a limited-release of Chick Bites will be on sale at Pets at Home in Brentford, London, beginning Friday.
Chick Bites combine plant-based ingredients with Meatly Chicken to provide a nutritious and sustainable alternative to traditional dog treats. To produce Meatly Chicken, a single sample of cells was taken from one chicken egg, from which enough cultivated meat can be produced to feed pets forever, said the company. Meatly Chicken is designed to offer the same nutrition as traditional chicken breast, containing all the essential amino acids, critical fatty acids, minerals and vitamins needed for pet health.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce cultivated meat to the pet world," said Owen Ensor, founding CEO of Meatly. "Just two years ago, this felt like a moon shot. Today we take off. It’s a giant leap forward toward a significant market for meat which is healthy, sustainable and kind to our planet and other animals. We’re proud to work alongside fellow pioneers Pets at Home and The Pack for this momentous endeavor.
"It’s also a day to celebrate our incredible team at Meatly," Ensor continued. "Despite only raising 1% of total European cultivated meat investment, we are the first company to sell cultivated meat in both the UK and EU. At Meatly, we’re proving the potential of cultivated meat, and that there is an efficient and cost-effective route to market. And we’re just getting started. Next we’ll scale our production and make products more widely available to consumers.”
Expanding production of cultivated meat
Meatly said it plans to raise additional funds to expand production and make Meatly Chicken more broadly available in the next 3 to 5 years, with further collaborations planned with The Pack and Pets at Home. Pets at Home – one of the largest investors in Meatly – claims to be the first retailer to sell pet food made from cultivated meat globally, aligning with its ambition to make pet food more sustainable by making and selling products using less carbon, land, and water.
“At Pets at Home, we’re guided by our purpose to create a better world for pets and the people who love them, and that includes looking after our planet," said Anja Madsen, chief operating officer, Pets at Home." We’re also always looking to the future of pet care, and to make sure we’re developing and providing the products that matter to our customers. This mindset is best demonstrated by our investment in Meatly. This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food and will be a game-changer for the industry.”
Damien Clarkson, CEO and co-founder of The Pack said the launch of Chick Bites treats is a watershed moment for the pet food industry.
"Cultivated meat offers a tasty, low-carbon, and healthy protein source, which has the potential to eliminate farmed animals from the pet food industry," said Clarkson. "For us this is a continuation of our work in developing high-quality alternative protein products for all dog lovers.”
Adapted from a press release.
