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NotCo Preparing to Launch First NotChicken Products in US By End of 2022

October 1, 2022

Food tech startup NotCo announces it will be launching NotChicken patties at US Sprouts Farmers Markets in coming months. In addition, NotChicken nuggets are set to make their US debut in the beginning of 2023, reports FoodNavigator-USA. Taste test winner The new products, which retail for a suggested price of $7.99/ 4-pack, performed better than competing plant-based chicken brands in a consumer taste test, according to co-founder and CEO Matias Muchnick. While plenty of plant-based chicken patties and nuggets have appeared on the market, NotCo maintains its products – created by a patented, AI-powered tech platform – stand apart because the company possesses unique IP and recipes. Special ingredients The brand also says NotChicken’s ingredient formulation differs according to global regional markets, with the US …

Products & Launches

UNLIMEAT Plant-Based Meat Gyudon Now Available at 450 Sukiya Restaurants in China

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022

Sukiya, a global chain restaurant specializing in Japanese gyudon, is now serving UNLIMEAT’s Plant Energy Don Series at all of its restaurants in China. UNLIMEAT is a South Korean brand focused on developing alternative plant-based meat using a percentage of upcycled products in its production process, thus contributing to food waste reduction. Nine months ago, UNLIMEAT partnered with the restaurant chain to introduce its plant-based meat gyudon at 15 locations. Following the success of the menu items, both parties decided to expand the offer to all the restaurant chain locations in China, with the expansion coming into effect on September 15th. The Energy Don Series The Plant Energy Don is a plant-based version of gyudon, made with UNLIMEAT’s plant-based Korean BBQ meat. Gyudon is a …

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

OmniFoods Vegan Fish & Chips Launch in 500+ Greene King Pubs Across UK

September 30, 2022

OmniFoods announces today that a vegan fish & chips option featuring Omni Golden Fillet is now available at more than 250 Hungry Horse pubs, 160 Greene King Local pubs, and 70 Farmhouse Inns pubs owned by Greene King. Further locations will be added mid October. Following a recent report by WWF titled Risky Seafood Business, which exposed the devastating impact of the UK’s fish & chip shop industry, the British public, as well as food service professionals, are looking more and more towards sustainable alternatives. As such, OmniFoods says “the launch of this vegan Fish & Chips alternative is more timely than ever”. Greene King is one of the UK’s largest pub retailers and brewers, operating 2600 pubs, restaurants and hotels. The plant-based fish fillet …

Science

Barvecue and Arbiom Partner to ‘Dramatically Increase’ Consumer Acceptance of Plant-Based Meats

September 30, 2022

Plant BBQ brand Barvecue and protein innovator Arbiom announce a strategic partnership to improve the taste, texture and nutritional profile of clean-label plant-based meats. The partnership seeks to “dramatically increase” public acceptance of plant-based meats by conducting product innovation, focus group research, and commercial trials. Based in North Carolina, Barvecue produces an acclaimed line of wood-smoked pulled pork alternatives and carnitas. In 2021, the brand opened the world’s largest vegan smokehouse and has expanded its products to over 1,200 US stores, including Sprouts, Safeway and Harris Teeter. Since 2020, Barvecue has raised nearly $3M in investment funding. “The world’s demand for protein is expected to double by 2050, and as a result, the need for high-quality alternative protein sources is going to increase dramatically,” said …

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Alt Milk Made With Upcycled Apricot Kernels is Most Sold Product at BILLA Vegan Superstore

September 30, 2022

Austrian food tech startup Wunderkern recently announced the launch of its ‘never seen before’ Kern Milk made with apricot kernels. Wunderkern says that the innovative alt milk “recently entered the competitive alternative drink market with a big bang. Promoted within the new “Pflanzilla” concept by Billa, it quickly turned into customer success and became the most sold product within the vegan store. The drink’s super nutty flavor perfectly harmonizes with sweet dishes such as Kaiserschmarren and inspires people to interpret local classics in a vegan way.” Founded in 2019 by Michael Beitl, Luca Fichtinger, Fabian Wagesreither, and Sebastian Jeschko, Wunderkern aims to be a circular economy business using the wasted stone fruit pits from other industries. Earlier this year, Wunderkern made news when it trialled …

Products & Launches

GOOD PLANeT Foods Expands Cheese Portfolio with Plant-Based Snack Packs

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022

Dairy-free cheese brand GOOD PLANeT Foods announces it is launching innovative new Snack Packs with plant-based cheese, fruit and nuts. Featuring two flavors, the Snack Packs will debut online and in grocery stores in October. Made with clean ingredients such as coconut oil and plant starches, the product’s flavors include Smoked Gouda with Dried Cranberries and Almonds, and Cheddar with Dried Cranberries and Cashews. As with all GOOD PLANeT offerings, the Snack Packs are non-GMO and allergen-friendly, with no gluten, soy, or lactose. Each pack retails for a suggested price of $1.99 each. According to GOOD PLANeT, the packs are part of the brand’s drive to increase growth in the plant-based cheese segment. Snack innovations In addition to Snack Packs, GOOD PLANeT sells a wide …

Vegan Bacon Sandwich ©Gregory's Coffee

Gastronomy & Food Service

5 US Coffee Chains Embracing 100% Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwiches

September 30, 2022

While coffee giants like Dunkin’, Starbucks and Tim Hortons have gradually adopted more vegan-friendly options in recent years, such items have largely been limited to dairy-free milks and the occasional plant-based sausage. Now, a growing number of smaller US chains are taking the initiative to offer consumers fully vegan versions of breakfast favorites, including bacon, sausage, eggs and cheese. Here we present some of the most notable names leading this trend: 1. Peet’s Coffee Peet’s, which operates over 200 locations in 11 states, first introduced the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich as a limited-time offering in early 2021. But the item, which features a Beyond Sausage with folded JUST Egg and melted vegan cheddar, was so phenomenally successful the chain added it back permanently one year later. …

©Clo-Clo Vegan Foods

Retail & E-Commerce

CLO-CLO Vegan Foods Secures Huge Retail Expansion Across Midwest USA

September 29, 2022

Minnesota’s CLO-CLO Vegan Foods, a producer of allergen-friendly foods with a focus on pizza, bowls and plant-based cheese, announces retail distribution of its frozen vegan pizzas across 82 Cub grocery stores, marking the first time its products are available in the Midwest with market share in Minnesota and Illinois. The line, which rolls out into the frozen pizza section of Cub stores on 8th October, includes: Tuscan Inspired Pizza, Margherita Pizza; Mediterranean Inspired Pizza; Italian Sausage Pizza; Chick’N BBQ Recipe Pizza; and Vegetable-infused Pizza Crusts (2-pack). The brand’s healthy frozen pizzas are free from egg, soy, dairy, gluten, peanuts, seafood, fish and lupin, and feature cauliflower and sweet potato bases as a replacement for standard, less healthy pizza dough. The cauliflower line launched back in …

Fairs & Events

Lisbon’s Biggest Vegan Festival ‘Veganário Fest’ Returns This Weekend

September 29, 2022

Veganario Fest, one of the biggest vegan festivals in Portugal, will take place this weekend of the 1st and 2nd of October at the ISEL camp. The purpose of the festival is to introduce the public to vegan products currently available on the market, including food, hygiene, clothing, footwear and books, among others. In addition, within this event there will also be an information portal with a conference format dealing with issues of ecology and sustainability, health and nutrition, sport, childhood, and animal rights. The festival also includes educational spaces for children, workshops and concerts for different age groups. This event is characterised by the voluntary work of citizens committed to the environment and animals; the exclusive marketing of products and alternatives of plant origin; …

Nil Zacharias ©Plantega

Interviews

Plantega: “Our Approach to Disrupting Existing Structures Within the Food System is to Focus on Empowerment”

September 29, 2022September 29, 2022

Across New York City, Plantega is making plant-based meat, cheese and egg products more approachable, affordable, and accessible through a unique concept of in-store deli marketing. Led by founder Nil Zacharias, Plantega has partnered with top brands such as JUST Egg, Beyond Meat, Good Catch, Miyoko’s Creamery and more to bring healthier, 100% plant-based foods to NYC’s iconic bodegas. Through its visionary efforts, Plantega is helping brands grow product trial and distribution while working to overcome the core challenges of cost, taste and convenience that prevent widespread adoption of plant-based foods. Nil Zacharias spoke with vegconomist about Plantega’s business model, special insights, building community-powered food systems and more. Tell us about Plantega. Plantega is on a mission to make plant-based food easier to access everywhere. …

Company News

Brazilian Verdali and Carrefour Open New Vegan Butcher Section

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022

Brazilian plant-based meat specialist, Verdali has partnered with hypermarket giant Carrefour to offer its products at a designated vegan butcher section next to the fresh meat counters at one of the supermarket’s locations in São Paolo. The company claims to be the first company with plant-based certification in Brazil. In the last two years, it has launched a range of plant-based meat alternatives made with peas, soy, and chickpeas. The company describes its products as the new natural flavour of vegetal meat, nutritious and healthy. It is worth mentioning that the company says its packaging uses bio-based recyclable plastic. Verdali commented on the new vegan butcher section: “This innovative proposal aims to serve consumers who prefer plant-based proteins focusing on democratization by having the products exposed …

Investments & Acquisitions

Gaia’s Farming Co. Raises £550K for Sustainable Hemp M*lk

September 29, 2022

UK hemp milk producer Gaia’s Farming Co. has raised £500,000 in seed funding. The raise follows a £200,000 pre-seed round last year. The investors in the round were not disclosed. Gaia says it will use the funding to “keep building and keep innovating in the hemp space”, with a particular emphasis on expanding its team. The company has also recently partnered with Pledge 1%, a global movement encouraging companies to donate a proportion of their staff time, product, and/or profit to a charity of their choice. Gaia will be pledging 1% of both its sales and its time. Gaia’s hemp milk Hemp is considered highly sustainable as it captures four times more carbon dioxide than trees, while its strong roots help to replenish nutrients in …

Facts & Figures

GoodMills to Take Over Sales and Application Activities of Müller’s Mühle Legume Flours

September 29, 2022September 29, 2022

GoodMills Innovation is to begin running the sales, marketing, and application technology activities of legume flour producer Müller’s Mühle Business Solution. GoodMills says the flour range will complement its own cereal and legume-based offerings. The two companies are already under the same corporate umbrella, but it is hoped that the merger — which will create a division called Plant-Based Proteins — will take advantage of existing synergies. It will also combine the companies’ expertise in European sales, application technology, and product development. Following the merger on October 1, Müller’s Mühle will focus on sourcing, raw material supply, manufacturing, and quality management, while GoodMills Innovation will take over all aspects of B2B ingredient activities. GoodMills products Last year, GoodMills announced a collaboration with food tech company …

©Bored Cow

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

The Vegan Society and ProVeg Call for Plant-Based Milks For Children on World School Milk Day

September 29, 2022

To coincide with yesterday’s World School Milk Day, The Vegan Society and ProVeg International are pushing for plant-based milk to be offered to children in schools. World School Milk Day, which was established 22 years ago, is customarily associated with dairy milk, but given that 68% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant and that many people have a cow’s milk allergy, it should come as no surprise that more and more nations are promoting plant-based milk as a dairy substitute. “Plant-based milk offers those with intolerance or dairy milk allergies a much greater choice at school mealtimes and there is a growing array of nutritious plant-based milk to choose from. These milk also offer greater choice to young people who want animal-friendly drinks as …

Manufacturing & Technology

Coperion’s Food Extrusion Seminar Taking Place Again This November

September 29, 2022

Coperion’s Food Extrusion Seminar on the latest technical developments and trends in twin screw food extrusion will take place in Stuttgart, Germany, on November 9 and 10, 2022. In this seminar, participants will learn the basics and trends of twin screw extruders for food production and will master how to assemble screw elements in a practical session. In an additional Q&A session, Coperion’s experts will explain the entire extrusion process details, from feeding, processing, and pelletizing to drying and conveying. The seminar’s topics address the needs of production and development department employees that work with food extrusion or twin screw extruders regularly. The seminar is intended for product and process development staff and plant and manufacturing engineers. Participants should be familiar with food composition and …

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