Plant-Based Collective Set to Turn Profitable This Fall

Edited by The VEGPRENEUR Team

After years of consolidation and restructuring, Livekindly Collective is about to hit a milestone many plant-based players are struggling to reach: profitability.

CEO David Suarez, who took over a year ago, told Green Queen the company expects to be in the black by this fall thanks to cost discipline, streamlined operations, and reinvestment in its front-end teams and products.

Growth in a Stalled Category

While the broader plant-based meat sector has seen flat or declining sales, Livekindly posted high single-digit growth in the first half of 2025, with stronger margins to match. Suarez credits the payoff from strategic bets made last year and says the company is sticking to that playbook.

Regional Wins

From double-digit gains for Like in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria to Fry’s 30% jump in Australia and New Zealand, the group is proving its brands can grow even in tough conditions. Oumph! continues to strengthen its standing in the Nordics, and in South Africa, both Fry’s and Like are benefiting from Checkers promotions and viral TikTok campaigns. Livekindly has also stepped into a policy leadership role there, helping shape labeling rules for meat alternatives.

Beyond Retail: B2B Momentum

One of the fastest-growing parts of the business is B2B. Livekindly’s private-label and foodservice division grew 48% last year and is forecast to more than double in 2025. With production sites in Sweden, the Netherlands, and South Africa, the company now supplies over 40 customers in 19 countries.

Riding Out the Shakeout

The plant-based space has been rocked by closures and acquisitions—at least 32 companies have disappeared in the past year—but Suarez frames this as industry maturation. Stronger, scalable players are surviving, and Livekindly is leaving the door open to new acquisitions if they align strategically.

Relaunching in the UK

This month, the Like brand is back in the UK after a three-year absence. The relaunch targets younger flexitarians with high-protein, high-fiber products while also pushing back on the “ultra-processed” label. Suarez points out that 70% of supermarket foods are processed and argues nutrition, not processing, should be the focus.

The Bigger Picture

With profitability on the horizon and momentum across retail, B2B, and foodservice, Livekindly is positioning itself as one of the few plant-based meat companies proving scale and profitability can go hand in hand. In an industry facing consolidation, that could make it not just a survivor—but a leader in the next phase of sustainable protein.