Soon Marina Crossings will be known for its production of Fy™, a nutritional fungi protein made from a microbe whose origins lie in the thermal springs of Yellowstone Park. Nature’s Fynd is a food company that began commercially manufacturing the protein in early 2020 in 35,000 square-foot facility in Chicago’s Union Stockyards on the South Side. Just yesterday, the company announced it will soon break ground on a new, state-of-the-art facility headed to Chicago’s Marina Crossings.
According to the press release, Nature’s Fynd recently raised $350 million in Series C funding to accelerate production.
“One of Chicago’s newest unicorns, Nature’s Fynd, is reinventing the future of food on the South Side of our city by reclaiming the old Stockyards as an up-and-coming world leader in new protein,” Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in the release. “In addition, this incredible company is bringing high-tech and environmentally sustainable jobs to the South Side, which will give our residents an exciting opportunity to enter a rapidly-growing and good-paying career field. This is a huge win for Chicago and for the world, and I am grateful to the Nature’s Fynd team for choosing our great city.”
Nature’s Fynd manufactures foods made from this microbial protein base. So far the company’s Meatless Original Breakfast Patties, Meatless Maple Flavored Breakfast Patties, Dairy-Free Original Cream Cheese, and Dairy-Free Chive & Onion Cream Cheese can be found in retail stores in California. Along with Nature’s Fynd’s increased production will come increased distribution of those Fy products.
“Following our successful retail launch in California, we are excited to expand our distribution to Chicago and other cities over the coming months,” said CEO Thomas Jonas in the release. “Bolstering our production capacity in Chicago is the next major milestone as we bring our Fy-based foods that are better for people and better for our planet to more stores.”
According to the company, Fy contains all twenty amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids. It is also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Made from a fungi microbe instead of protein sourced from plants or animals, Fy is completely vegan and “is grown by a revolutionary fermentation technology using just a fraction of the land, water, and energy required by traditional agriculture.” Pretty groovy, huh?
The company has not announced when it expects construction to be complete, but you should start seeing Nature’s Fynd’s products popping up in our own home-grown Mariano’s stores in the coming weeks. Nature’s Fynd also expects to add over 200 new jobs to the Chicago market by the end of 2023.
Visit Nature’s Fynd online to learn more.
