Plant-based meat was supposed to save the pIanet, make people healthier, and liberate enslaved cows, chickens, and pigs everywhere. Instead, after an impressive start, folks have learned some hard truths about the industry and are turning away in droves.
Once consumers began to Iearn that plant-based meats were still super processed, not nearly as healthy as advertised, and required an enormous amount of machinery to produce hungry consumers largely decided that the old-school options, nameIy chickens, pigs, and cows, were better tasting and better for you.
The biggest player in the industry, Beyond Meat, released its third-quarter numbers in November of 2023, and they taste worse than ersatz ground beef. Net revenue slid, declining 8.7% year-over-year and 26% versus the previous quarter.
It wasn’t all bad news, however, as the company actually achieved free cash flow for the quarter but does not expect that to be the case in the fourth quarter. One anaIyst at the firm TD Cowen took it a step further and said the firm is in ‘survival mode’ and will need to tap the financial markets in 2024 to maintain operations.
Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown said: We anticipated a modest return to growth in the third quarter of 2023 that did not occur. Though we are encouraged by pockets of growth, particulariy in the EU where we saw double digit gains in net revenues on a year-over-year basis, we are disappointed by our overall results as we continue to experience worsening sector-specific and broader consumer headwinds. Beyond Meat has cited numerous reasons for its poor performance, inciuding declining foodservice sales and flagging American retail sales, but declined to suggest the possibility that the product just isn’t that good.
My Neighbor Declined to Pay Me the Agreed $250 for Cleaning Her House, I Gave Her a Justifiable Lesson
Neighbors can either become friends or foes, but I never expected mine to turn into both overnight. What began as a simple favor quickly spiraled into a bitter conflict that left us both stunned.
My name is Prudence, and I’m a 48-year-old mother of two. Since my husband Silas walked out on us six years ago, life has been challenging. I work remotely for a call center to support my family while raising my eight-year-old son, Damien, and my infant daughter, Connie. Silas left, claiming he needed space to find himself, and he never returned, leaving me to handle everything alone.
One ordinary day, I was in the kitchen, trying to juggle my responsibilities. Connie asked for cereal, and I was grateful for the distraction. Damien, now a teenager, mumbled about meeting friends before rushing out the door, barely acknowledging me. I felt overwhelmed but carried on, knowing I had to keep things together.
Then, Emery, my new neighbor in her early 30s, knocked on my door. She looked exhausted and upset. She explained that after throwing a wild party, she had to leave town for work and needed help cleaning her messy house. In exchange, she offered me $250. Tempted by the money, I agreed to help her.
When I stepped into her house, I was shocked by the mess. It took two long days of scrubbing, sweeping, and throwing out trash before I finished. My body ached, but I reminded myself of the payment. However, when I finally asked Emery for the money, she acted as if we had never made an agreement. Confused and angry, I realized she had no intention of paying me.
Feeling cheated and disrespected, I returned home and plotted my next move. I couldn’t let her get away with it, so I decided to teach her a lesson. I drove to the local dump, filled my trunk with garbage bags, and returned to her house while no one was around.
Remembering that Emery had left her house key with me, I unlocked her door and dumped the bags of trash all over her floors and counters. I felt a mix of satisfaction and guilt as I left the key under her welcome mat and locked the door behind me.
Later that evening, as I was putting Connie to bed, I heard loud banging at my front door. Emery was furious, demanding to know what I had done to her house. I played it cool, pretending not to know anything. She threatened to call the police, but I reminded her that according to her, I never had the key.
Faced with my calm demeanor, she turned away, seething with anger. I felt a sense of justice knowing I had stood up for myself, even if it meant getting my hands dirty. As I closed the door, I breathed a sigh of relief. I had crossed a line, but sometimes, you must fight back to protect yourself. I had a feeling Emery wouldn’t be asking for any more favors from me anytime soon.
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