How should we view KFC's plant-based chicken, which sold out immediately?

Beyond Fried Chicken Image source: Beyond Meat official website Yet the industry’s spotlight has never truly resonated with consumers—as evidenced by the modest sales of plant-based meat products across e-commerce platforms. Consumers continue to perceive such offerings as 'pseudo-concepts' or 'rebranded mock chicken.' KFC China’s launch of its new plant-based chicken marks the first large-scale breakout of plant-based meat into mainstream awareness. As a foodservice channel, KFC does not currently engage in the production or R&D of plant-based meat. In the UK, US, and Canada, it enters this space solely through partnerships with plant-based meat companies such as Quorn, Beyond Meat, and Lightlife Foods. So—who is KFC’s supplier in China? 02. Cargill: Declaring Competition with Beyond Meat In early March, FBIF learned from communications with Cargill that this 155-year-old U.S. agricultural trading giant is preparing to enter China’s plant-based meat market. On February 24, Cargill’s U.S. headquarters announced that, beginning in early April, it would launch plant-based burger patties and ground meat products for food retail and foodservice customers—and boldly declared its intent to challenge current market leaders Beyond Meat (the first publicly traded 'lab-grown meat' company) and Impossible Foods (which had raised $750 million across six funding rounds as of its Series F). It has since been confirmed that Cargill is the supplier behind KFC’s latest plant-based chicken launch. Cargill is a multinational conglomerate spanning food, agriculture, finance, and industrial products and services. Its China operations have historically focused on agricultural supply chains, animal nutrition, and animal protein. In fiscal year 2019, Cargill reported $113.5 billion in revenue—ranking #1 for 12 consecutive years on Forbes’ list of largest U.S. private companies. [5] Simply put, Cargill began as—and excelled at—selling meat and animal feed. Gradually, however, Cargill has transformed from a meat production powerhouse into a comprehensive 'protein company,' elevating plant-based protein to a strategic pillar within its corporate structure—mirroring global meat giants like Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods. In 2017, Cargill divested all its cattle-raising assets, selling its last two cattle feed manufacturing plants to Green Plains Inc. for $36.7 million—and shifted its focus toward alternative protein R&D. From 2017 to today, Cargill has participated in early-stage financing rounds for cultivated-meat startups including Memphis Meats and Aleph Farms. In 2019, it invested $75 million in Puris—the largest pea protein producer in North America and a key protein supplier to Beyond Meat. In China, Shuangta Food—a company whose stock doubled after signing Beyond Meat’s first designated supplier contract in China [6]—mentioned in investor forums that Cargill had purchased textured pea protein products through them [7]; this was also confirmed during our dialogue with Cargill. This collaboration between Cargill and KFC on plant-based chicken nuggets signals that Cargill is no longer content with merely investing in the 'cultivated meat' space—it is now stepping directly onto the front lines of the 'meat revolution.'

A star stock with 10x growth over three years: the rise of renewable energy

As shown in the table, the U.S. microinverter market for residential and commercial installations was approximately $1.2 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2025—still representing only a small fraction of the total U.S. photovoltaic (PV) market. [Global overall markets for PV, inverters, and batteries] In 2020, the global PV application market was six times larger than the U.S. market; by 2024, it is expected to be nine times larger. The global microinverter market stood at $7–8 billion in 2020 and is forecast to grow to $15–16 billion by 2025. The global battery market was about $10 billion in 2020 and is expected to surge to $30 billion by 2025. The total addressable market (TAM) for inverter companies was estimated at $17 billion in 2020 and is projected to climb to $45 billion by 2025. This indicates strong industry growth prospects—but also highlights risks relative to current high valuations. V. Duopoly Growth Amid a Tailwind Industry 1. 'PV + Energy Storage': Capturing Trends and Expanding Revenue In 2020, ENPH and SEDG together generated $2.2 billion in revenue—accounting for roughly 20% of the global market. If they maintain that 20% share, their combined revenue could increase nearly sixfold to $12 billion by 2024. Even if their collective market share halves by 2024, their combined revenue could still triple—to $6 billion. FactSet analysts project SEDG’s revenue will grow ~48% to $2.21 billion by 2023, while ENPH’s revenue is expected to surge ~98% to $1.47 billion—currently representing just 7% of the global market, leaving substantial room for further expansion. For both duopoly inverter firms—SEDG and ENPH—microinverters account for 50% of their respective revenues. Both are entering the battery storage market, where each has the potential to more than triple its ARPU (average revenue per user). 2. Increasing Market Share and Average Revenue Per Installation To sustain revenue growth, both companies prioritize geographic expansion, diversification across segments (residential, commercial, utility-scale), market share gains, and boosting revenue per installation via bundled products and services. SEDG’s growth pace is comparatively slower. It currently serves over 30 global markets and aims to expand its footprint in commercial and utility-scale segments. As its solar solution kits broaden, average revenue per installation is expected to rise gradually. SEDG’s global inverter market share rose from 10th place in 2014 to 4th in 2017, and then to 1st in 2019—driven by technological advantages. SolarEdge’s proprietary DC-optimized inverter system installs a power optimizer on every PV module, reducing mismatch losses while adding smart modules and battery/storage solutions. Similarly, ENPH advanced from 7th place globally in 2014 to 5th in 2017, and then to 4th in 2019. ENPH launched an integrated microinverter-based small-scale PV + storage system tailored for the Indian market, and strategically partnered with Sunrun and SunPower to secure downstream customer stability. With these two core customers driving adoption, ENPH’s market share in the U.S. residential PV inverter segment continues to grow.

Green Plains Inc. Reports Q2 Revenue $446.2M, Below FactSet Estimate

Aug 6, 2026

Green Plains Inc. reported Q2 2026 revenue of $446.2 million, missing analyst estimates, while EPS beat expectations at $0.83. The company specializes in renewable fuel and agricultural technology, producing low-carbon ethanol.

marketscreener.com

2026-03-27

Green Plains, Inc. Hits New 52-Week High at $16.87

2026-03-29

Assessing Green Plains (GPRE) Valuation After Strong Recent Share Price Momentum

2026-04-01

Magnolia Oil & Gas, EQT, Helmerich & Payne, Green Plains, and Clean Energy Fuels Shares Plummet

2026-04-04

Green Plains Renewable Energy Stock Analysis: Hold Rating Amidst Weak Q4 Performance

2026-04-07

Analyst Downgrades Green Plains (GPRE) Amid Biofuels Competition Concerns