Inghams invests in Australian meat protein powder start-up
Inghams Group Limited announced on 10 July 2026 a seed-stage equity investment of AU$1,050,000 in Just Meat Protein Pty Ltd (JMP).
JMP is an Australian food technology company commercialising CSIRO-developed hydrolysed poultry protein technology, for which it holds an exclusive worldwide licence.
Under the terms of the Investment, Inghams has acquired a 10% shareholding in JMP, and Caroline Hayes, Inghams’ Chief Growth Officer, will join the JMP board. Inghams also has an exclusive first-right supply arrangement with JMP across Australia.
The protein technology is designed to convert meat into a nutrient-dense, high-protein powder ingredient which can be used in the sports nutrition, functional foods and specialised nutrition markets — from protein balls, bars and shakes to savoury snacks for a nutritional boost.
Inghams’ research estimates the global sports nutrition market alone is worth US$27 billion and projected to grow strongly. Other addressable market segments including aged care and meal replacement, protein-fortified mass-market foods, and specialty nutrition including military and space applications.
Inghams’ CEO and Managing Director, Ed Alexander said: “The investment in Just Meat Protein is precisely the kind of innovation-led, high-value adjacency we have been looking to establish and is strongly aligned to our strategy to maximise the value we generate from every bird we process. The investment allows us to secure an early and strategically advantaged position in a category we believe has significant growth ahead of it.”
Ellie Whelan, CEO and Co-Founder of Just Meat Protein said: “A growing population, the rapid rise in GLP-1 use, and the shift towards more conscious consumers are all feeding a huge growth in demand for new protein sources. For us here at Just Meat Protein, to be able to solve for this problem through targeting low-value cuts is not only a commercial win, but a positive shift towards a more sustainable food system. We’re excited to take this world-first technology to market with the support of our seed investors, including Inghams Group.”
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