(Yicai Global) Oct. 11 -- Shares in Jinzi Ham jumped by the daily today after it began online pre-sales of synthetic meat made in partnership with American chemicals giant DuPont, making the Chinese food producer the first in the country to take artificial meat to market.

Its stock [SHE:002515] came out of the lunch break 10% higher at CNY5.62 (79 US cents) and has remained there since.

The Zhejiang province-based firm is selling beef-flavored vegetable patties via its Tmall store, made from plant proteins including non-genetically modified soybeans, Securities Times reported today. Prices start from CNY118 (USD16.62) and shipments are scheduled to begin later this month.

It had already sold 89 as of this morning and had 909 more in stock. The company's best-selling ham racks up around 1,100 sales a month.

Founded in 1994, Jinzi specializes in producing traditional meat products like ham and sausages, and sauce. It also engages in investment management and the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Editor: James Boynton