Case Study: How La Vie Scaled Plant-Based Bacon Across Eu­rope With­out Ex­pos­ing Its IP

La Vie, 77 Foods is a Paris-based player in the European market for meat alternatives. They are involved in retail and foodservice. They gained early success with their plant-based bacon and later added sausages to their lineup. Demand was rising quickly. However, growing a successful product in a competitive market comes with challenges. You need more capacity, reliability, and speed, without losing what makes the product unique.

That’s where Cibus Nexum stepped in.

At a Glance  

Client: La Vie, 77 Foods  

Category: Plant-based meat alternatives (bacon, sausages)  

Challenge: Scaling issues in downstream processing while expanding production without risking IP  

Cibus Nexum services: Supply chain strategy and implementation, partner identification, guided exploration and trials, flexible expert support using the FoodFlow method  

Outcome: IP-secured early production steps, multiple European production hubs, and an agile manufacturing setup designed for growth  

The Challenge  

La Vie faced scaling challenges, especially in downstream processing. These stages can easily create bottlenecks as volumes increase, and performance must remain consistent across customers and channels. At the same time, they wanted to grow their production capabilities while keeping tight control over their intellectual property. In the plant-based sector, this combination can be tricky. Growth often requires outsourcing, which can lead to risks like IP leakage, quality issues, and supply chain lock-in.

La Vie needed a system that allowed for growth while maintaining control.

What Cibus Nexum Delivered  

Cibus Nexum supported La Vie in two connected phases:

1) A solid supply chain design focused on scale and IP protection  

First, we worked with La Vie to create a supply chain strategy that aligned with their growth goals, production needs, and IP considerations. The aim was not just to “find a factory.” It was to develop an operating model that defined which steps must remain under control and which can be scaled with the right partners.

2) Implementation support turning strategy into reality  

Next, we helped put this strategy into action by:

- Setting up the supply chain in practice

- Identifying the right partners for processing steps

- Guiding exploration and trials to verify feasibility and reduce risks in scaling decisions

This is where many scaling efforts stall. The strategy may look solid on paper, but the partner landscape, trial results, and operational constraints often require difficult compromises. Our role was to keep progress moving while ensuring quality, speed, and IP protection remained in balance.

How We Handled Downstream Scale-up Without Risking IP  

This project showcases Cibus Nexum’s FoodFlow method in action, guiding a roadmap toward controlled, scaled production, step by step.

FoodFlow is especially useful when a brand needs to scale while handling sensitive knowledge. Instead of quickly moving to a single supplier model, we structured decision-making around controlled steps, verified learning loops, and practical partner fits. This approach allowed La Vie to scale confidently.

Cibus Nexum also served as an extension of the client’s team, providing flexible expert support to add capacity and production expertise where needed.

The Results  

With the new setup, La Vie is now able to:

•  Secure IP in the early production stages  

Protecting critical knowledge from the start reduces exposure while still allowing for growth.

• Operate multiple production hubs in Europe  

A multi-hub strategy enables La Vie to adjust to local needs and support broader European expansion.

• Manufacture in an agile setup suited for growth  

Instead of being limited to a single production path, the supply chain is designed to scale with demand.

Why La Vie Chose Cibus Nexum  

La Vie chose Cibus Nexum because:

• Our team’s flexibility matched the needs of a rapidly changing scale-up project
• Our network of vetted co-manufacturers sped up partner identification and lowered risks
• Our production expertise across various technology readiness levels helped prevent or navigate common scaling challenges

Lesson Learned 

Even with a solid plan, we had to adjust direction several times during the project. The key takeaway: start with a clear plan, but remain open to feedback from manufacturers. Insight from experienced producers can challenge assumptions and refine requirements, often leading to improved scalability and execution.

Are You Ready to Scale Up?  

If you’re looking to expand production for a food innovation and want to maintain control, Cibus Nexum can help you design and implement an outsourcing-ready supply chain that balances speed, partner fit, and IP protection.

Want to apply FoodFlow to your scaling roadmap?