It may be years before shoppers will be able to turn to plant-based products as an alternative that costs as much as meat, let alone less. Beyond Meat's ( BYND ) chief executive Ethan Brown said on the company's most recent conference call with analysts that the plant-based meat producer expects to achieve the goal of price parity with animal proteins "with at least one category within the next two-and-a-half years." Beyond Meat is seeking to lower prices by cutting manufacturing costs and solidifying its supply chain while maintaining quality of ingredients. The company's stock is down nearly 40 per cent this year.