Four cows in a field

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Toronto Startups AuX Labs & Genuine Taste Join BioCreate Accelerator to Create Alternatives to Cheese and Beef

Two cutting-edge biotech startups from Ontario, Canada — AuX Labs and Genuine Taste — have been selected to join BioCreate, an accelerator program that supports innovative companies in the health, food, agriculture, and cleantech sectors. AuX Lab was founded in 2021 by Ted Jin to create affordable bioidentical animal proteins using precision fermentation and engineered yeasts. The company is working to develop yeast strains with high protein-yielding capabilities and a bioprocess fueled by low-cost feedstocks established in “capital-light” fermentation facilities.  AuX Lab’s first protein — milk casein — is used to create animal-free cheese with the same taste and melting and stretching functionalities as dairy cheese. The startup has raised $3 million in a seed round from investors Bluestein Ventures, Congruent Ventures, and Flying Fish Partners. Meanwhile, Genuine …

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Peet's Coffee spring lineup

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Food Service

Peet’s Coffee Introduces the Southwest Breakfast Burrito with JUST Egg & Violife Cheese

Peet’s Coffee, operating around 360 locations in the US, China, and Dubai, has announced its spring menu for 2024, including the new plant-based Southwest Breakfast Burrito. The new menu addition is described as “savory plant-based chorizo, JUST Egg, and Violife cheddar wrapped in a tortilla with southwestern flavors—black beans, corn, potatoes, salsa verde, and green chiles”. The famous coffee chain, based in Emeryville California, and in business for over 50 years, has traditionally added plant-based options to its spring menu for some years now, most famously in 2021 it debuted the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich featuring the Beyond Breakfast Sausage and JUST Egg, which became a customer favorite and is now a permanent offering. A yearly plant-based tradition Following the 2021 spring launch, in 2022 Peet’s …

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Raffael Wohlgensinger and Hille van der Kaa – Image courtesy of Those Vegan Cowboys

Cheese Alternatives

Formo and Those Vegan Cowboys Reveal “First-of-its-Kind” Collab to Expedite Production of Cow-Free Cheese

Two precision fermentation companies — Germany’s Formo and Those Vegan Cowboys from Belgium — today announce a strategic R&D alliance to accelerate the production of animal-free casein and finally retire cows from cheese production. This “first-of-its-kind” collaboration will bring together over 60 world-leading scientists to create a “powerful and experienced” research team that will improve technological efficiency, including efforts in strain engineering, bioprocessing, and large-scale production of caseins. The companies believe that by joining forces, they can more quickly achieve price parity with milk proteins, thus making cow-free cheese more competitive and accessible to consumers. The companies explain that they plan to combine their manufacturing outputs to achieve economies of scale; nevertheless, each firm will maintain its distinct identity and market its lines of cow-free …

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Honestly Tasty cheese board

Honestly Tasty, image courtesy of PBWE

Market & Trends

Vegan Cheese Market to Be Worth $4.8Bn by 2028 as Consumer Values “Reshape the Landscape”

A report by ResearchandMarkets has anticipated that the global vegan cheese market will grow with a CAGR of 12.2% to be worth $4.8 billion by 2028 — up from $2.4 billion in 2022. Growth will largely be driven by an increasing consumer preference for plant-based diets, as awareness of the health and environmental issues associated with dairy products increases. Continued innovation, leading to improved and more diverse product ranges, is also boosting market growth, along with the increased availability of vegan cheeses at mainstream retailers and online stores. By type, mozzarella alternatives have the largest market share due to their widespread use in dishes such as pizza and pasta. By ingredient, cashew-based products take the lead. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the leading distribution channel for …

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The Kraft Heinz Not Company KD mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Products & Launches

Daiya and The Kraft Heinz NotCompany Both Launch Vegan Mac & Cheese in Canada

Two major, noteworthy brands in the alternative foods space have launched vegan mac & cheese products this week in Canada, a country known for its love of the traditionally dairy-heavy dish. The Kraft Heinz Not Company, a joint venture between Kraft Heinz — the name most closely associated with packet mac and cheese — and Chile’s NotCo, has today debuted KD NotMacandCheese in Canada, marking the first plant-based addition to its Canadian product line. Concurrently, Daiya, known for its dairy-free cheese alternatives, announced the introduction of a new line of Dry Powdered Mac & Cheese. Canada as biggest market for mac & cheese In November of last year, The Kraft Heinz Not Company debuted the plant-based Mac & Cheese in the United States. However, the …

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Plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm expands to Belgium

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Cheese Alternatives

Almond-Based Cheese Startup Dreamfarm Expands to Belgium Following “Incredibly Successful” Italian Launch

Italian plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm has announced it is expanding to Belgium, rolling out at Delhaize stores from March 14. The expansion follows the company’s “incredibly successful” launch in the Italian market. Dreamfarm offers almond-based products that provide healthy alternatives to cheese. While many plant-based cheeses are made predominantly with coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, Dreamfarm’s products have minimal saturated fat and a Nutriscore of A. The company’s flagship product is a liquid-state mozzarella alternative, which is made using a proprietary processing technique and is the first plant-based mozzarella to ever achieve certified liquid status from the Italian government. Dreamfarm has also developed a plant-based cheese spread. “After two years of testing, we are very pleased with the first products we are …

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Planteneers introduces a range of plant-based fermented dairy

Image courtesy of Planteneers

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Plant-Based Fermented Dairy: Planteneers Introduces Yogurt, Quark, Cream Cheese, Ayran, and More

Planteneers, a leading developer and provider of customized plant-based products and solutions, has introduced a range of plant-based fermented dairy, including yogurt, quark, cream cheese, crème fraîche, and ayran (Turkish yogurt drink). According to the company, these fermented vegan products have been specifically formulated to replicate the authentic taste, texture, and mouthfeel of traditional dairy products using the company’s unique functional ingredients systems. Planteneers solutions for plant-based dairy are flexible and can be easily adapted and customized to accommodate the specific preferences of manufacturers or brands looking to offer products that cater to consumer demand. This introduction follows the launch of the plant-based steak 2.0., a manufacturing innovation to create marbled and fat-layered alternatives to meat; and a range of pea-based high moisture extrudates (HME) …

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Sandwich Pull Applewood cheese

© NORSELAND LTD

Cheese Alternatives

Applewood Vegan Reformulates Recipe to Closely Emulate Dairy Cheese

Applewood Vegan debuted almost five years ago and has since seen consistent success in the UK market, currently representing 20% of Applewood’s total sales. Now the brand announces a reformulated recipe for the vegan offering, aimed at enhancing its texture to more closely replicate the sensory experience of dairy cheese. “Over the past five years and since the creation of Applewood Vegan, we have witnessed significant advancements in plant-based food technologies. Through rigorous experimentation with numerous base recipes, we have successfully crafted a foundational recipe that closely emulates the richness of dairy. Our refined manufacturing process now mirrors that of our well-established Applewood dairy brand, contributing to a remarkable enhancement in texture,” explains the brand, a subsidiary of Norseland, a leading supplier of speciality blended …

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Continente introduces meat and cheese alternatives by The Vegetarian Butcher and Quevana

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Products & Launches

Portuguese Retailer Continente Launches New Meat and Cheese Alternatives

Portuguese supermarket chain Continente has expanded its range of meat and cheese alternatives with products from The Vegetarian Butcher and Quevana. The retailer already offers various meat alternatives made by The Vegetarian Butcher, including burgers and nuggets. However, it has now introduced the brand’s soy-based minced meat alternative, which is high in protein and fibre and a good source of iron and vitamin B12. Continente is also now offering semi-cured plant-based cheeses made by Spanish company Quevana. The cheeses are made from just three base ingredients — cashews, salt, and yeast — and are produced through a fermentation process similar to traditional cheese production. They are available in four flavours — original, smoked, truffle, and garlic & olive oil. Quevana has previously found success in …

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Business Wire

Armored Fresh Launches Oat Milk Cheddar Cheese Slices at Craft Burger Chain, Bareburger

New Partnership Features Signature Armored Fresh Melt Sandwich and New Menu Spotlighting the Delicious Zero-Dairy Cheese MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Armored Fresh, a Food Tech company specializing in alternative dairy products, has announced an exciting new partnership with beloved East Coast restaurant chain, Bareburger. The popular burger chain is highlighting the partnership with a new and improved menu that calls out Armored Fresh’s delicious zero-dairy Oat Milk Cheddar Cheese as an add-on to any vegan, vegetarian, or meat-based menu item. In addition to offering the deliciously melty slices as an option for any order, Bareburger is launching two new menu creations crafted with the Oat Milk Cheddar Slices, including the Armored Fresh Melt, and the Impossible Standard. The collaboration between Armored Fresh and Bareburger was made in …

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Bolder Food has unveiled MycoVeg, a semi-finished product crafted using mycelium and biomass fermentation.

© Bolder Foods

Fermentation

Belgium’s Bolder Foods Unveils Mycelium Ingredient to Create “Punchy Cheesy” Umami Flavors in Alt Cheese

Bolder Foods, a food tech company from Belgium, has unveiled its latest innovation for the alternative cheese space: MycoVeg. Mycoveg is described as a mycelium-based ingredient crafted with biomass fermentation that is said to deliver creamy, buttery, and elastic textures and “punchy cheesy” umami flavors in cheese alternatives. Bolder Foods says it will revolutionize alt cheese “one spore at a time” using nature’s secret weapon since its benefits to develop cheese alternatives are numerous. Firstly, its fermentation process is highly sustainable, requiring minimal growth resources. Secondly, mycelium is a nutritional powerhouse, providing fiber, proteins, and vitamins, enhancing the product’s nutritional profile; and lastly, it stands out for its excellent versatility in product development. Revolutionizing cheese with microbes Bolder Foods is headquartered in Brussels and has research …

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Aldi plant-based smoked salmon slices

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Products & Launches

Aldi UK Launches Plant-Based Smoked Salmon Slices & “Biggest Ever” Vegan Cheese Range

Aldi UK has expanded its Plant Menu range by launching plant-based smoked salmon slices and a new selection of vegan cheeses. The No Salmon Slices are smoked over beechwood for an authentic taste and texture. They have already attracted attention from influencers, with Lilly Assender — who has over 110,000 followers on her Instagram account @foodie_lilly — saying she was “shook at how much this tasted like smoked salmon”. Meanwhile, vegan TikToker @Jadegreenvegan taste-tested the plant-based salmon and rated it 9/10, in a video that received over 12,000 likes and comments. Cheese selection Aldi UK has also just launched its largest-ever vegan cheese range, including three varieties of cheddar alternatives — Sliced, Grated, and Block. Additionally, there is a selection of Continental Cheese alternatives on …

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microbial protein Formo cheese gratin

© Formo

Studies & Numbers

German Consumers Underestimate Climate Impact of Dairy But Are Willing to Try Animal-Free Cheese

A study commissioned by Germany’s LI Food — a state initiative for the food industry in Lower Saxony — has found that consumers often underestimate the climate impact of dairy products. The survey found that while most consumers are now aware of the environmental impact of meat, they believe that cheese is significantly less harmful. In reality, the opposite is sometimes true — Parmesan produces 6.3 CO2e/kg, while pork produces 4.6 CO2e/kg. Most respondents also did not associate cheese production with animal suffering. The study then asked consumers about their openness to alternatives to cheese — specifically, animal-free products made using precision fermentation. While there was a degree of scepticism about food technology, responses were generally positive, especially among consumers who were aware of the …

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Rudy Yoo of Armored Fresh

Rudy Yoo © Armored Fresh

Interviews

Armored Fresh: “Our Plant-Based Cheeses Are a Combination of Innovation and Culinary Art”

Armored Fresh is a South Korean food tech company focused on producing plant-based alternatives to cheese. The company has developed a range of innovative almond-based products that are said to replicate the taste and texture of dairy cheese, and are infused with nutrients to provide a comparable protein content. To cater to consumers with nut allergies, Armored Fresh launched a new range of cheese alternatives made from oat milk last year. Several varieties of both the oat and almond-based cheeses are available for retail and food service across the US, including via the company’s online store. In November, Armored Fresh significantly expanded its retail footprint in the country, gaining listings at Fresh Thyme Market, Town and Country Foods, Fred Meyer, and more. We spoke to …

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The Laughing Cow garlic&herb

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Products & Launches

The Laughing Cow’s Plant-Based Garlic & Herb Cheese Alternative Launches at Whole Foods

The Laughing Cow has announced the much-anticipated launch of its dairy-free cheese alternative, The Laughing Cow Plant-Based in Garlic & Herb flavor, now available at Whole Foods Markets across the United States. The launch of The Laughing Cow Plant-Based has experienced multiple delays, with the company holding off the initial release “in order to spend more time perfecting the recipe,” according to the website. Following a launch announcement in December of 2022, the company further delayed the rollout due to unforeseen production challenges. However, at the end of last year, The Laughing Cow Plant-Based Spreadable Cheese debuted in the UK and is now finally available to US consumers. Mirroring the familiar packaging and presentation of the original Laughing Cow products, the vegan-certified cheese alternative is …

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Those Vegan Cowboys announces a €15 million funding round to develop further and scale its precision fermentation platform for animal-free casein-

© Those Vegan Cowboys

Fundraising

Those Vegan Cowboys Open €15 Million Financing Round to Scale Casein for Animal-Free Cheese

Belgian biotech Those Vegan Cowboys has opened a financing round to raise €15 million to further advance and scale its precision fermentation platform (named Margaret) to develop casein for animal-free cheese. After selling The Vegetarian Butcher to Unilever, Jaap Korteweg and Niko Koffeman founded Those Vegan Cowboys in 2020 to make grass-fed dairy products using microbes instead of cows. With the funds, they assembled a talented team of scientists and established a “milk lab” in Ghent, Belgium. Last year, the company successfully developed a batch of caseins and crafted its first proof of concept, a cheese prototype made with dairy-identical caseins. Now, the company states that it is ready for its next phase of growth, which involves a significant scale-up of its operations.  “We gave ourselves 7 …

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Climax Food cheeses

Image courtesy of Climax Foods

Market & Trends

Vegan Cheese Market to Surpass $8 Billion by 2032

According to a report by marketresearch.biz, the vegan cheese market will increase in value from $4.2 billion to $8 billion by 2032, growing with a CAGR of 6.2%. The predicted growth — described as “unprecedented” — is attributed to increasing consumer awareness of animal welfare, health, and sustainability. New technologies — such as the recent development of high-protein cheese alternatives made from fermented legumes in Denmark — will also boost the market by improving taste, texture, and nutritional value. Furthermore, the growing availability of vegan cheeses in supermarkets and restaurants will increase sales and consumer awareness. Growth for vegan mozzarella Soy-based vegan cheese is expected to account for two-fifths of the market, with almond-based products also seeing significant growth. In terms of variety, mozzarella and …

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Emily Nytko-Lutz

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Opinion

Intellectual Property Law Expert Emily Nytko-Lutz Discusses the Chemistry of Non Dairy Cheesemaking

Emily Nytko-Lutz, Senior Associate at intellectual property law firm Reddie & Grose, handles patent work in the chemical and general mechanical fields. Emily advises a range of domestic and international companies. She is experienced in patent drafting and global patent prosecution, conducting due diligence and European freedom-to-operate assessments and European oppositions and appeals. Emily completed a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Inorganic Chemistry with a focus on the development of frustrated magnetic materials. Can non-dairy cheese melt barriers and conquer our tastebuds? By Emily Nytko-Lutz Consumers are increasingly seeking alternatives to dairy-based cheeses due to environmental, animal welfare, and personal health concerns. Producing a plant-based cheese that melts and stretches similarly to dairy cheese, however, represents a significant technological challenge. Casein, a …

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Armored Fresh american cheese slices almond

© Armored Fresh

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Armored Fresh Expands Retail Presence, Disrupting $2.4 Billion US Cheese Slice Market

Food tech alt dairy company Armored Fresh is expanding the US retail footprint for its Almond Milk American Cheese Slices with new partnerships established Fresh Thyme Market, Town and Country Foods, Fred Meyer, and more. Armored Fresh specializes in crafting alternative dairy products using “patented fermentation” to overcome the taste barrier and meltability challenges commonly associated with plant-based cheeses. After launching the product online earlier this year, these new retail partnerships will help make Armored Fresh’s plant-based cheese products more accessible to a wider audience. Rudy Yoo, CEO of Armored Fresh, states, “We are on a mission to bring zero dairy cheeses to the masses, so everyone can enjoy what we love about cheese, regardless of [whether] they are plant-based or not.” Disrupting a multi-billion …

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The Kraft Heinz Not Company Mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Products & Launches

The Kraft Heinz Not Company Unveils First Ever Plant-Based KRAFT Mac & Cheese with NotCheese

This morning, The Kraft Heinz Not Company LLC, a joint venture between NotCo and Kraft Heinz, announces the first-ever plant-based version of the iconic KRAFT Mac & Cheese in the United States. The KRAFT Mac & Cheese line, already a convenience food mainstay in North America, was extended with a vegan iteration back in 2021, which appears to have been limited to the Australian market. KRAFT also owns the Philadelphia brand which debuted a vegan cream cheese in 2022 and rolled out nationally across the US this year after the success of its trial. This new launch marks the first KRAFT Mac & Cheese produced with NotCo and featuring the company’s NotCheese. The company cites that the growth of health-conscious mac & cheese alternatives has …

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