This plant-based power couple needs no introduction for our vegconomist readers. Former economic advisor to the Australian government, food writer & restaurant critic Veronica Fil, along with her husband Shaun Quade, the Australian fine dining chef renowned for his “mad scientist” methodology, created a line of cheese which the industry has been waiting for with bated breath. This week, the upcycled cauliflower and hemp cheeses finally hit the market.
March 2021
Before The Butcher Now Available for Home Delivery Through Vejii
Californian alt-meat brand Before The Butcher has launched on Vejii, a US-based online shopping platform offering a range of plant-based foods. This is the first time the brand’s products have been available online.
OmniPork Launches at Award-Winning London Restaurant Royal China Club
Innovative plant-based pork producer OmniFoods has announced a collaboration with Royal China Club, considered by many to be London’s best Chinese restaurant. The restaurant has launched an entire vegan menu using OmniPork.
“10,000 Foxes are Killed By UK Pest Controllers Each Year” – Humane Wildlife Solutions Tackles Ethical Pest Control
Non-lethal, vegan pest control company Humane Wildlife Solutions has won Corporate LiveWire’s Scottish Pest Control Service Of The Year 2021, marking the first time a vegan business has won an award that historically has gone to traditional pro-kill businesses.
Cauldron Enters Dairy-Free Market Following Continued Growth in the UK
Cauldron is launching into a new category with the introduction of its new dairy-free Greek Style Cubes. The launch marks the UK plant-based brand’s entry into the dairy-free market, a sector which continues to see exponential growth.
Future Fields Raises $2.2M, Aims to Slash the Cost of Cell-Cultured Meat
Future Fields, a Canadian cell-cultured startup based in Edmonton, has raised US$2.2M from three American venture capital firms — Bee Partners, Pioneer Fund, and Narrative Fund. Several private investors also contributed.
34 Politicians Tell European Parliament to Reject “Plant-Based Dairy Censorship”
Last October, the European Parliament voted to place significant restrictions on the marketing of plant-based dairy alternatives. Now, 34 MEPs have called on them to reject Amendment 171, which they say amounts to censorship.
MeliBio Raises $850,000 to Launch Real Honey Made Without Bees
US startup MeliBio has raised $850,000 in its pre-seed funding round. The funding will allow it to further develop and soft-launch its bee-free honey. Investors in the round included Big Idea Ventures, Joyance Partners, 18.ventures, and others.
Tyson-Backed New Wave Foods Launches Its Seaweed Based Shrimp in the USA
Following its recent $18M series A round, alternative seafood producer New Wave Foods announces today the official distribution of its plant-based shrimp to foodservice and restaurant companies in the USA. New Wave Shrimp, made from seaweed and plant protein, is New Wave’s first offering, with further plant-based shellfish to follow in 2022 to include lobster, scallops and crab.
Planteneers Develops Solutions For Vegan Tuna and Salmon Filets
Generation Z consumers increasingly seek sustainable options and are looking more towards plantbased alternatives to seafood, and according to Innova Market Insights, at 32 percent worldwide this is the largest population segment. With this target group in mind, Germany’s Planteneers has developed various product ideas with which manufacturers can produce breaded fish, fish sticks, or filets.
Brazil’s Cariuma Launches the Lowest Ever Carbon Footprint Sneaker
Sustainable sneaker company Cariuma today debuts what it has called the world’s lowest carbon footprint sneaker – the IBI Slip-on. The news comes as sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of consumer’s minds when it comes to fashion choices, with many brands opting for vegan and sustainable alternatives.
Oatly in $30 Million Partnership with Yeo’s to Produce Plant-Based Milk in Asia
Singapore’s Yeo Hiap Seng – commonly known as Yeo’s – has agreed a production deal with Swedish oat milk giant Oatly. The joint investment partnership worth $30 million will mean this will be the first time Oatly’s products will be produced outside Europe and North America, as the oat milk market leader looks towards further expansion into China and the rest of Asia.
Brenntag Food & Nutrition Announces Agreement with Axiom Foods for its Vegan Line in South America
The Latin American division of food ingredient supplier Brenntag Food & Nutrition announces a new agreement with Axiom Foods for the distribution of its plant-based protein line in Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. The agreement will extend both companies’ commitment to provide the food industry with plant-based alternatives to dairy and allergen-free vegetable proteins. These would be used for the production of foods, beverages and nutraceuticals, from cereal bars to dairy-free yoghurts. Raw materials used to make Axiom’s products include rice, peas, oats and sacha inchi. “This Axiom line is an important addition to our product portfolio as it helps to meet and strengthen the growing demand for meat and dairy ingredients and alternatives. This agreement is also a breakthrough where our customers will benefit …
BREAKING: Grounded Foods’ Upcycled Cauliflower & Hemp Cheese Finally Arrives
When Veronica Fil first sampled the cauliflower and hemp-based cheese her husband, chef Shaun Quade had created, she said: “Do you realise what you’ve done? This could be huge.” She was right. The innovative portfolio that unfolded from Grounded Foods originated in Shaun’s fine dining restaurant in Australia then landed, via New York, in LA, with pre-sales of its cheese selling out within three minutes last April.
University of San Diego Spinoff to Launch Algae-Based Tuna by End of 2021
US company Triton Algae Innovations, a spinoff of The University of California San Diego, has been working on algae-based products for over seven years. Now, it is close to launching a tuna alternative.
TurtleTree Partners With JSBiosciences to Commercially Produce Cell Culture Media at Scale
TurtleTree Scientific, an arm of cell-cultured milk company TurtleTree Labs, has entered into a strategic partnership with JSBiosciences. The collaboration will allow TurtleTree to produce cell culture media on a commercial scale.
The Plant-based Market Reaches $290B by 2035 and So Much More
Every week, Plant-based Business Expert Elysabeth Alfano breaks down the headlines with her review and analysis in the Plantbased Business Minute. Elysabeth is the founder of Plant Powered Consulting, the host of the Plantbased Business Hour and the Consulting Managing Director, vegconomist, North America. She doesn’t use a teleprompter. Here is the Plantbased Business Minute for the week ending March 26, 2021. Mushroom news Hermes sets the stage. The company is now working with startup, MycoWorks, out of California. They are making a mushroom leather version of the classic Victoria bag. But Hermes is not the only one working with mushrooms in fashion. Designer Stella McCartney has made two garments for the Victorian Albert Museum with the help of Bolt Fabrics which are also from …
Heura Enters Legal Proceedings in Spain for “Provocative” Advertising
Legal proceedings have begun against Spain’s Heura, the award-winning and fastest-growing vegan meat brand in Europe, following its advertising campaign in November last year, spearheaded by co-founders Marc Coloma and Bernat Añaños. The process is taking place in Barcelona’s Ciutat de la Justícia.
Danish Meat Producer Hanegal Will Be 85% Plant-Based By 2030
A major meat producer in Denmark, Hanegal A/S, has said that 85% of its portfolio will be plant-based by 2030, becoming the latest meat manufacturer to reduce animal meat production and expand into plant-based.
Project Pollo: The Vegan Chick’n Chain Aiming to Open 100 Restaurants in 5 Years
Texan vegan chicken chain Project Pollo only opened its first restaurant last September. But in just six months, it has taken its total number of locations to five, and founder Lucas Bradbury is aiming for 100 restaurants by 2025.