ETA Lumis Foods, a food technology manufacturer, announces the official launch of its flagship facility in Bridgeton, New Jersey. ETA Lumis prides itself on being the only manufacturer in the plant-based sector that requires no minimum production runs, complimentary R&D product reviews, and a full-stack fulfillment suite — a unique proposition tailored directly to startups and burgeoning brands.
ETA Lumis is associated with accredited organizations such as The Good Food Institute, Plant-Based Food Association, and Private Label Manufacturers Association. These partnerships, as well as the vast collective experience of the employees at ETA Lumis, have allowed the company to quickly position itself as the expert in the plant-based manufacturing field for nearly every protein discipline, ranging from standard soy and wheat proteins to more niche developments such as mung bean and hemp seed concentrates.
The brand-new, state-of-the-art facility is equipped with a new GEA processing line as well as an EV88 Clextral Twin Screw machine. The partnership with Clextral is one of the biggest value adds in the industry, as the machine can produce over 1,000 pounds per hour of fibrous, high-moisture meat analogs.
“Twin screw production is absolutely the next big thing in plant-based manufacturing and we are really excited to be one of the only manufacturers in the US with this technology,” comments Craig Shelley, Head of Development at ETA Lumis. “The consumer feedback from both an aesthetic and taste standpoint has resulted in an NPS score of over 85 for some of our partners,” he adds.
The batter, breading, and frying line allows for a more conventional method of manufacturing that has become a staple of the industry. Their expertise ranges from nuggets, patties, and burgers to tenders, filets, and pulled meat options. Proprietary cutting technology allows for nearly every size of cut to be achieved and the recent installation of a spiral blast freezer permits safe and efficient storage of an RTC product.
Although less than a year old, ETA Lumis-made products can be found in over 10,000 retail locations and countless restaurant menus throughout North America. Partnered brands continue to tout the success of their relationship with the contract manufacturer, with one CEO of a private label brand stating, “The team at ETA Lumis have been an integral part of our expansion into the plant-based space. There was not a single area they didn’t seem to have broad expertise in and truly turned the business into a turnkey solution.”
