Because <i>if this takes off</i>, and BYND owns the market, they will in fact be worth that and more.<p>If. But their odds aren't too horrible, and the potential market is rather large.
$10B is less than a tenth of Nestle's annual revenue, just to lay out the scope of the food industry. If they were public, it would be a cheap deal for them.<p>A quarter of the world's population are Muslims or Jews, who would probably appreciate the flavor of bacon without actually eating pigs.<p>At least another 15% of the world are vegetarian/vegan or aspire to be.<p>There's also the environmental and ethical impact of livestock and the livestock industry.
Because more people are becoming aware of the negative environmental impact of raising animals for food, or questioning the ethical implications. When meat analogs become cheaper and taste the same as meat, it's likely that it will become the norm. BYND seems to be well positioned to dominate this market.
I don't know, but their burgers are great and I'm frustrated that they're always sold out at my local stores. Whenever I see a pack or two, I grab and stockpile them instantly.<p>I hope they start meeting demand soon. I want to give them more of my money.