I see it a bit differently: They may be interested in integrating Beyond Meat into their distribution pipeline with this purchase in order for their investment

I see it a bit differently: They may be interested in integrating Beyond Meat into their distribution pipeline with this purchase in order for their investment to pay off. And why not? Growing animals for 300days in very poor conditions while paying pesky humans to take care of them, slaughter them, slice them up and transport them. You can just mix a couple plant-based ingredients and produce a decent burger instead at a fraction of the cost and time - it scales way better. Then you have all those reporters with their hidden camera of what goes on in those factory farms - why do you need all that bad publicity anyway. This is good publicity for them, cheaper to produce, healthier for humans and the environment. I cannot see a downside to this for any company or society.