CHICAGO — Next Gen Foods, a producer of alternative meats, has officially established its US headquarters in Chicago. The company has simultaneously opened a new R&D center in the city, created in partnership with The Hatchery Chicago.

Originally based out of Singapore, Next Gen was founded in 2020 as a developer of sustainable plant-based foods. The company announced its plans for US expansion earlier this year, following a $100 million round of Series A funding.

Next Gen already has launched its flagship chicken alternative, Tindle, in Chicago, currently featured in various menu items at more than 15 restaurants in the city.

“As Tindle has experienced incredible, sustained growth in the past 15 months — much of it in the US — now is the perfect time to solidify our presence here as we finalize our home base in Chicago,” said Andre Menezes, chief executive officer and co-founder of Next Gen Foods. “As a new resident myself, I’m constantly inspired by this city and the potential it holds for the future of the plant-based food industry, but also food innovation in general.”

Part of the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago’s food business incubator, the Hatchery’s 67,000-square-foot facility will house Next Gen’s R&D center.

The company will use the facility to explore and develop new plant-based products in conjunction with Next Gen’s existing R&D centers in Singapore and Europe. The center also will serve as the company’s starting point for scaling into US sales channels, including foodservice and retail.

“We established Next Gen Foods with the mission to make saving the planet easy, enjoyable and delicious,” Mr. Menezes said. “By both geographically and strategically establishing a base in the center of the food world in Chicago, this will allow us to further develop our partnerships in the F&B community and strengthen consumer adoption of plant-based meats through ongoing research and development.”