Motif FoodWorks Debuts Its First DTC Vegan Burgers

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By Jill Ettinger Published on Apr 19, 2023 Last updated Apr 18, 2023

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Boston-based Motif FoodWorks has announced a limited-edition release of its debut product: the Motif BeefWorks plant-based burger patties.

Motif, which operates predominantly as a B2B, says it has been sampling the burgers to restaurant owners and consumers to show off its products’ versatility and always receives requests to buy the vegan meat directly.

“When we sample our products at tradeshows and events, the number one question we are asked is ‘Where can I buy your product?’,” Mike Leonard, Motif FoodWorks’ CEO, said in a statement. “That’s why we are excited to offer people a way to try our products at home and taste the delicious experience created by Motif’s ingredients.”

Motif beef

Last spring, Motif debuted a range of vegan proteins dubbed Motif MoBeef, MoPork, and MoChicken. The products are for its B2B food service provider partners and retailers with private label ranges.

The new burgers are made with the company’s novel ingredients, Hemami and Appetex. Motif says the ingredients provide the burgers with their rich, meat-like flavor and texture.

Motif says it’s creating the “next generation” of food, using its combination of science and nature. “Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free,” the company says.

Ingredients challenge

Hemami was the company’s first ingredient, which was granted Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) status from the U.S. FDA in 2021. It’s created using precision fermentation via a yeast-based heme protein that is identical to bovine heme. The company raised $226 million in a Series B funding round that same year.

Impossible Foods uses coconut oil to create a fatty taste and texture in its burgers — Impossible Foods uses heme to give its beef a meaty taste and texture | Courtesy

An ingredient similar to Hemami is also used by Bay Area vegan meat producer, Impossible Foods. Motif challenged Impossible’s patent on the tech, losing that challenge late last year. Motif filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), saying Impossible should never have been granted a patent on the tech in the first place.

The new burgers are available to purchase while supplies last from the company’s website.