Meat Company Opening Production Facility In Glenview: Pritzker

GLENVIEW, IL — A California-based meat company is investing in Illinois with a plan to open its first commercial-scale cultivated meat production plant here. UPSIDE Foods is investing at least $141 million and create a minimum of 75 new jobs with the creation of the new 187,000-square-foot facility, planned for Glenview.

UPSIDE Foods is the first cultivated meat company to receive FDA approval. Cultivated meat production eliminates the need to raise and farm animals for food, according to The Good Food Institute.

"Here in Illinois, we are a hub for tech and innovation, thanks to our talented workforce and prime location in the heart of the Midwest," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday. "This new facility is a significant investment in our communities — creating new good-paying jobs while advancing our ambitious clean energy goals to create a more sustainable future."

The new plant will be located at the Dermody Logistics Campus, the former headquarters of Allstate on Sanders Road, adjacent to Interstate 294.

Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of UPSIDE Foods, said in a news release the company chose Illinois because of its "notable history of meat production," among other factors. UPSIDE also received one of the first Economic Development for a Growing Economy for Startups tax credits, which provides incentives for start-up companies to invest in Illinois, according to Pritzker's office.

The Glenview facility will open with production of ground cultivated chicken products before expanding to other species. Officials estimate millions of pounds of cultivated meat products will be produced at the new facility, with the potential to expand to over 30 million pounds. They call it " a significant step toward creating a more humane, sustainable, and resilient food system," and added that cultivated meat can help "solve the climate crisis by ensuring animals aren't harmed while using less land, water, and emissions during production."

"I'm excited to bring a new innovative business to Glenview," State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) said. "This company will flourish in our community, as residents prioritize the company's concept of sustainability and a healthy, nutritious lifestyle."