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Vegan meal delivery service Planty

© Planty

Delivery Services

Vegan Meal Delivery Service Planty Reports Over 300,000 Meals Sold Since Launch

May 29, 2023

UK-based vegan delivery service Planty has reported that it is now selling 10,000 meals per month, with more than 300,000 meals sold since its launch in 2020. Planty’s success has been accelerated through partnerships with several major plant-based brands; its bestselling Not-a-Chicken Tikka Masala is made using Heura’s chicken-style chunks, while Meatless Farm products are used for the Roast Dinner and Polpette Alfredo. The BBQ Beef Enchilada and the soon-to-launch Korean Bibimbap are made with Fable’s plant-based beef. A new meal made with Better Nature tempeh is set to launch this summer, and three of Planty’s existing meals — the Buddha Bowl, Sweet Chilli Tempeh Stir Fry, and Tempeh Lasagne — will also begin using Better Nature products. In 2022, Planty’s Not-a-Chicken Tikka Masala and …

Organisations and Brands:Planty

Amschela

© Amschela

Leather Alternatives

Amschela Launches Crowdfunder for Multipurpose Bag Made From MIRUM Alt Leather

May 29, 2023

Amschela, a sustainable luxury handbag brand based in the UK, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its new AIRIUM bag. AIRIUM is made from MIRUM, a plastic-free vegan leather alternative produced by Natural Fiber Welding. The multipurpose “6 in 1” bag can be worn six different ways — from handheld to a clutch or a crossbody. The bag will be manufactured by the Veshin facility in China, which produces sustainable accessories made from vegan materials. The facility also has a commitment to treating its workers ethically, in an industry notorious for its human rights abuses. Vegan brand Amschela started out by producing conventional leather accessories, but transitioned to a vegan brand during the pandemic after learning about the environmental impact of the leather industry. The …

Organisations and Brands:Amschela

© ProVeg International

Sweets & Snacks

Why Do Consumers Want Plant-Based Chocolate?

May 29, 2023

The plant-based chocolate industry is skyrocketing – with the global industry expected to reach US$4 billion by 2032. But why? What consumer drivers are causing market growth? In its latest New Food Hub article, ProVeg International investigates the main consumer drivers for the expanding plant-based chocolate industry. With this knowledge, businesses can better understand how to approach the segment and target audiences, and how to design, merchandise, and market successful products. Health and intolerances One of the most significant consumer motivations for dairy-free chocolate products is, perhaps surprisingly, health. Rising health consciousness is driving consumers’ search for healthier snacking alternatives and higher-quality chocolate. This is leading them to plant-based chocolate products, which are perceived as being healthier than conventional dairy-based varieties. Indeed, research shows that 86% …

Organisations and Brands:ProVeg

Petaluma Plant-Based Dog Food for Seniors

©Petaluma

Petaluma Introduces “First” Plant-Based Dog Food Designed for Senior Dogs

May 26, 2023

US dog nutrition brand Petaluma announces the launch of its first senior dog food formula. Designed especially for the needs of older dogs, The Baked Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Flavor is veterinarian-formulated to provide “age-defying” nutrients to senior dogs. According to Petaluma, its new formula is “the first” plant-based dog food specifically targeted toward senior dogs. Made with functional ingredients like peanut butter, applesauce and odor-fighting herbs, the new Baked Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Flavor also includes DHA omega-3 from algae oil, curcumin extract from turmeric, dietary fiber from pumpkin, and plant-based glucosamine. Petaluma states its evidence-based formula provides complete nutrition while addressing common health concerns such as inflammation, digestion, mobility and a healthy weight. Optimized nutrition “As a veterinarian and pet food formulator, I …

Organisations and Brands:Petaluma

foie gras - IntegriCulture

Fois gras © IntegriCulture

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

JACA Hosts Sensory Evaluation of 5 Cultivated Meats at Promotional Event in Tokyo

May 26, 2023

The Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA), a research group dedicated to cellular agriculture and cultivated food, recently hosted the first-ever promotional event for the industry in Tokyo. In February 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he would foster the development of the country’s cultivated food industry by promoting the sector and improving the market, including safety assurance measures, and developing labeling rules. To build a consensus on necessary measures for food safety requirements for cultivated food, JACA’s event gathered more than 150 stakeholders, government officials, and industry associations, among others. F&B key players included famous ham producer NH Foods, which recently expanded to the plant-based market with two alt seafood products and biotech company Ajinomoto, which collaborates with Israel’s SuperMeat. Japan’s Wagyu According to the …

Organisations and Brands:Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA)

Oatley's new range with improved formula launches in the UK

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Products & Launches

Oatly Introduces New Oat Drink Range in the UK: Light, Semi, Whole, and “No” Sugars

May 26, 2023

Just days after reporting robust global growth, Oatly announces the launch of a new “great tasting” oat drink range with improved recipes — Light, Semi, Whole, and “No” Sugars — in major retailers across the UK. Dairy and soy-free, Oatly’s new range is unflavoured, contains no added sugar or sweeteners, and is low in saturated fat. Oatly oat drinks provide calcium, iodine, riboflavin, and vitamins B12 and D. According to a recent study, this new range has a 58%-63% lower climate impact than comparable cow’s milk, announced Oatly. Aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainability, Oatly recently launched a global regenerative agriculture movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, starting in Canada, Sweden, the US, Finland, and the UK. Bryan Carroll, GM at Oatly UK, commented: “We want to …

Organisations and Brands:Oatly

Vegan Crab Cake Sandwich at PLNT Burger

©The Plant Based Seafood Co

Mind Blown Seafood and PLNT Burger Team Up to Launch “New Bay” Crab Cake Sandwich

May 26, 2023

In celebration of World Ocean Month, Mind Blown™ by The Plant Based Seafood Co. and vegan chain PLNT Burger announce they are partnering to launch the New Bay Crab Cake Sandwich this summer. Available for a limited time, the sandwich will be sold at PLNT Burger’s 7 locations across the DC Metro area – including Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC – from June 1st until Labor Day weekend. The New Bay sandwich features Mind Blown’s Maryland-Style Plant Based Crab Cake, which is said to offer the real taste and texture of traditional crab meat, and contains 11 grams of protein. As part of Mind Blown’s mission to protect the oceans, 1% of profits will be donated to the Coral Restoration Foundation, which works to restore the …

Organisations and Brands:Mind Blown PLNT Burger

Changing Bio's parmesan cheese made with microbial protein

Image courtesy of GFI

Changing Bio Launches China’s First Range of Microbial Protein Dairy Alternatives

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023

After winning the Sustainability Innovation Award at BEYOND Expo 2023 in Macau, Shanghai-based Changing Bio officially debuted the company’s first line of alt dairy products made with a microbial protein derived from yeast dubbed Kluvy at the 25th annual Bakery Expo in Shanghai. At the event, the company’s new ChangingPRO line, including whipped cream and a low-fat parmesan powder high in protein and probiotics featured the novel protein Kluvy mixed with plant-based ingredients. Other products used the novel protein but mixed with conventional dairy. Kluvy, considered a complete source of protein with a PDCAAS score of 1, is a domesticated strain from a bacteria discovered in Shangri-La, a famous town at the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. “There are 10,000 billion species of microorganisms that coexist …

Organisations and Brands:Changing Bio

Alexandre Ruberti

Alexandre Ruberti. © Future Farm

Op Ed: Alexandre Ruberti, CEO of Future Farm, on the Ebbs and Flows of the Plant-Based Industry

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023

Alexandre Ruberti is the CEO of Future Farm and a board member at Celsius Holdings. Previously, he worked at Red Bull for 16 years, serving dual positions – President of Red Bull Distribution Company USA and Executive Vice President of Sales for Red Bull North America. He is credited with developing the business exponentially through incremental growth, and now brings his wealth of experience to the plant-based industry. Plant-Based is a Marathon and Not a Sprint by Alexandre Ruberti It’s no secret that the plant-based industry continues to ebb and flow, but it’s important to take a step back and ask why — while keeping in mind that plant-based is still a relatively new category. Like any new market, it will stabilize — and more …

Organisations and Brands:Future Farm / Fazenda Futuro

Blue Tribe

© Blue Tribe

Market & Trends

Report Finds “Noticeable Increase” in Plant-Based Eating in India

May 26, 2023

A report by India’s Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) has found that plant-based eating is becoming increasingly common in the country. Released at this year’s Plant-Based Foods Summit, the report cites a survey which found that 67% of those who choose plant-based products are motivated by animal welfare issues. 54.1% cite environmental concerns, while 48.6% believe that plant-based foods have health benefits. The promotion of plant-based foods by celebrities and influencers is also helping to drive demand, with 8.1% of survey respondents saying they choose these foods because they are trendy. On the whole, there is said to have been a “noticeable increase” in vegan food consumption. Market challenges Meat and dairy alternatives are becoming increasingly available and affordable in India, leading more consumers …

Organisations and Brands:PBFIA

Boldly Fish

©Boldly

Market & Trends

Global Plant-Based Seafood Market to Grow With a Huge CAGR of 28.5%

May 26, 2023

A report by Data Bridge Market Research has predicted that the plant-based seafood market will grow with a considerable CAGR of 28.5% through to 2029. Growth will be driven by the rising popularity of veganism, along with environmental, health, and animal welfare issues. Increased prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, which can be caused by pollutants such as mercury in conventional seafood, may also drive demand. However, a lack of consumer awareness of seafood alternatives could impede growth. Europe is currently dominating the plant-based seafood market, due to numerous new product launches and the availability of alt seafood options at some major restaurant chains. The East Asian market is also projected to see significant growth over the forecast period, as the number of plant-based seafood products available …

Vegan jerky and bacon bits in cart

©All Y'alls Foods

Investments & Acquisitions

All Y’alls Foods Secures First Investment to Scale Up Plant-Based Jerky

May 25, 2023

Plant-based jerky brand All Y’alls Foods announces it has received an investment from Dr. Rizwan H. Bukhari, MD as part of a $1 million Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) note raise. Dr. Bukhari, a vascular surgeon, will also serve as the brand’s medical adviser. According to All Y’alls Foods, it intends to use the investment to accelerate its growth. “I am excited to join forces by investing in and becoming All Y’alls Foods medical adviser to help promote and develop healthier alternatives to animal-based products,” stated Dr. Bukhari, who is board certified in lifestyle medicine and owns the North Texas Vascular Center. Based in Texas, All Y’alls sells a line of meat-free jerky snacks and Big Crunchy Bacony Bits. In 2022, the company reported …

Organisations and Brands:All Y'alls Foods

steakholder food's 3D printing machine

© Steakholder Foods

Steakholder Foods Launches into 3D Bioprinting Business Model to Advance Cultivated Meat

May 25, 2023

Steakholder Foods, formerly MeaTech 3D (NASDAQ: MITC), is launching a new 3D bioprinting business model that promises to advance the cultivated meat revolution. In addition to its cultivated meat development, the Israeli company will provide 3D bioprinters and bioinks to B2B meat manufacturers and cultivated meat producers to create delicious, nutritious, safe cultivated meat. Steakholder Foods’ competitive advantage relies on its expertise in 3D bioprinting technology and its ability to create structured end products that closely mimic real meat in terms of taste, texture, and appearance. The team at Steakholder Foods has been working towards developing this technology for over four years. Using its bioprinting platform, Steakholder Foods revealed the world’s largest-ever 3D-printed cultivated steak in 2021; and the world’s first 3D-printed cultivated fish fillet, developed in partnership with the Singaporean cultivated …

Organisations and Brands:Steakholder Foods

PETA Animal Testing Must End

©PETA

Breaking: Cruelty Free Cosmetics ECI Receives European Parliament Hearing

May 25, 2023

The European Citizens Initiative Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without animal testing reached more than 1.2 million validated signatures in January. Vegconomist learns today that, as a next step in the campaign’s journey, a parliamentary hearing has been held by the Committees of the European Parliament. Today’s hearing was divided into three parts: Protect and strengthen the cosmetics animal testing ban: initiate legislative change to achieve consumer, worker and environmental protection for all cosmetics ingredients without testing on animals for any purpose at any time. Transform EU chemicals regulation: ensure human health and the environment are protected by managing chemicals without the addition of new animal testing requirements. Modernise science in the EU: commit to a legislative proposal, plotting a roadmap to …

The Dutch Weed Burger CLASSIC SEA WEED BURGER

© The Dutch Weed Burger

Seaweed Revolution: Latest Food & Packaging Solutions Ahead of World Oceans Day

May 25, 2023

The potential of algae as an environmental safeguard is being increasingly realized. By absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and producing fewer carbon emissions than plants, this renewable resource is becoming a powerful tool in the fight against climate change and plastic waste. We take a look at innovators using seaweed to overcome the world’s sustainability challenges: Seaweed Innovation Event Ten international startups will present their seaweed-based food and packaging innovations at Seaweed Innovation Event on the 8th of June, 2023 — coinciding with World Oceans Day — at Scheveningen Beach, The Netherlands. The event is part of the first edition of the Seaweed Innovation Challenge, organized by the seaweed industry association, North Sea Farmers, and the innovation platform of Brave New Food. The finalists and 20 other startups from …

Organisations and Brands:Brave New Food North Sea Farmers Seaweed Innovation Challenge