Company News

JBS has commenced construction of Brazil's first research facility focused on cultivated meat.

© JBS

Meat Giant JBS Begins Construction on $62M Innovation Centre for Cultivated Meat

JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world, announces it has commenced construction of Brazil’s first research facility focused on food biotechnology — the JBS Biotech Innovation Centre. Located at Sapiens Parque innovation hub in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, and scheduled to open at the end of 2024, the center aims to be a model facility to produce cultivated meat efficiently, scalable, and at competitive prices. “As a global leader in protein production, it is our responsibility to be at the forefront of foodtech,” says Jerson Nascimento Jr., global supply and innovation director of JBS. $ 62 million According to JBS, the Biotech Innovation Centre will require approximately $62 million in investment over three phases. In the first phase, the meat giant will invest $22 million …

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Boermarke vegan cheese

© Boermarke

Leading Dutch Dairy Company Boermarke Announces it Will Become 100% Plant-Based

Boermarke, a leading Dutch dairy company, announces that after three decades in the dairy industry, it will now focus entirely on the production and development of plant-based dairy products, with the goal of making these products available in all European supermarkets within three years. Following a reported 800 percent growth in its vegan dairy production over the past three years, the company announces it will transfer its animal dairy operations to another Dutch dairy firm, De Zuivelhoeve, and gradually transition the Boermarke range to 100 percent vegan products under its own brand Vairy or via private label. Boermarke’s plant-based cheese is offered at a competitive price and according to the company it is listed at 80 percent of Dutch supermarkets and a large part of …

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Mycorena partners with Atria Sweden to commercialise mycoprotein-based products

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Mycorena Partners With Leading Meat Company to Commercialise Mycoprotein-Based Products

Swedish mycoprotein producer Mycorena has announced it is partnering with leading animal meat supplier Atria Sweden to launch a range of mycoprotein-based products. The meat alternatives will be made with Mycorena’s mycoprotein ingredient, Promyc, which is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids. The protein is made using a proprietary fungal fermentation process. Atria Sweden — a leading producer of sausages, hamburgers, cold cuts, and other meat products for the retail and food service sectors — has entered into the collaboration with the aim of reducing its carbon footprint. As part of the partnership, Mycorena will scale up its production of Promyc, while Atria will use its product development capabilities to create a range of meat alternatives. “Mycoprotein is an exciting new Swedish …

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Meatless Farm OOO ad on bus stop states Trying Times

© Meatless Farm

Meatless Farm is “Back for Good”, Returning to Supermarkets with National Comeback Campaign & New Product Launch

UK brand Meatless Farm, which was acquired by VFC this June following turbulent times, returns to Tesco shelves this week, additionally relaunching into Sainsbury’s and Ocado, along with an extension to its filled pasta range and a national OOH comeback campaign. The brand’s economic struggles earlier this year, during which administrators were appointed, generated prolific media attention, as such this OOH and digital advertising campaign intends to raise awareness that the Meatless Farm is back in retail for consumers. The message ‘For the Tryers,’ invites the increasing number of UK meat-reducers to ‘give it a try,’ further enticing them to purchase once again with a QR code generating a £2 discount and a Greenjinn money-off coupon. The campaign will run from the 25th September to …

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© Planteneers GmbH

Planteneers’ Plantbaser Wins Technology Innovation Award at PBWE New York

With the Planteneers Plantbaser, companies can implement new ideas for new alternative products in the shortest possible time. It only takes two weeks from the idea to the finished product. Users can put together their desired product within 15 to 20 minutes. Dedicated plant-based know-how is not necessary, and the test samples are available two weeks later. “Two and a half years of intensive work have paid off: it’s a great feeling to be rewarded in this way,” says Florian Bark, Plantbaser product manager. “Our digital product configurator Plantbaser also amazed visitors at the Plant Based World Expo in New York.” “I’ve never seen anything like that” With around 1,300 recipes, Plantbaser offers the world’s largest selection of plant-based products from all categories – from …

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CellX cultivated dish at demo

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China’s CellX is Confident it “Can Achieve Cost-Effective Mass Production of Cultivated Fish”

A month after announcing it had commenced operations at what it claims to be China’s first large-scale pilot plant for cultivated meat, CellX states this week it has made significant strides towards the industrial application of cultivated seafood. “Through the use of high-throughput equipment and systematic research methods for cell fate regulation, we achieved successful suspension differentiation of fish cells in only six months, which typically requires one to two years in the industry,” states CellX R&D Director Dr. Shuangshuang Chen in a press release. CellX secured $6.5 million in Series A+ funding this June to establish the pilot plant and has gone on to achieve a series of milestones in the three months that have passed. The company has now successfully completed the pilot …

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allplants partners with Rachel Ama

© allplants

allplants Partners With Chef Rachel Ama for New Limited Edition Dishes

British ready meal brand allplants has announced that it is collaborating with vegan celebrity chef Rachel Ama to offer a range of new limited-edition meals. The premium, ready-to-heat dishes are said to be inspired by Ama’s heritage and travels. Four options are available — Chimichurri Portobello Mushroom Bowl, Smoked Aubergine and Walnut Ragu, Double Green Orecchiette, and West African Peanut Stew. The partnership marks the beginning of a new Chef-in-Residence programme, where allplants will join forces with top-tier chefs to develop exclusive plant-based meals. “I’m thrilled to be the first chef to team up with allplants in this way!” said Rachel Ama. “I’ve always wanted to find a way to share my recipes with my community through more than just my cookbooks, so being able …

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Nuts for Cheese food safety

© Nuts for Cheese

Nuts For Cheese Earns Globally Recognized Food Safety Certification

Nuts For Cheese, producer of organic cashew-based artisanal cheese, announces its attainment of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Certification with an A grade. The BRC creates and implements global standards for food safety, ethical trade, responsible sourcing, packaging materials, and more. The achievement of this internationally recognized certification, overseen by the BRC Global Food Safety Certification program and endorsed by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), solidifies the company’s commitment to quality, safety, and excellence at its 25,000-square-foot cheese production facility located in London, Ontario. Margaret Coons, the founder and CEO of Nuts For Cheese, expressed, “Quality has always been our number one priority. From our wholesome ingredients to house-made cultures and sauces, our mission is to make delicious cashew-based cheese for cheese lovers everywhere.”  …

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Shinsegae Food You Are What You Eat

© Shinsegae Food

Korea’s Shinsegae Says “You Are What You Eat” With New Vegan Restaurant and Brand

South Korean food producer and catering provider Shinsegae Food has announced it is launching a new vegan restaurant and brand called You Are What You Eat. According to Pulse News, the fast-casual restaurant will open this month in the Gangnam district of the country’s capital, Seoul. It will reportedly offer options such as pasta, salads, and sandwiches, along with a range of other meals and desserts. The menu items will also be available in the form of ready meals for customers to take home. Shinsegae Food recently trialed the new concept with a food truck at the World Knowledge Forum. The truck served options made with the company’s plant-based Better Meat products, including kimchi fried rice with canned ham and pizza bread with sausages. Forum …

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The Cultivated B. facility

© The Cultivated B.

The Cultivated B. Enters Pre-Submission Phase for Approval of Cultivated Meat in Europe

The Cultivated B — the cultivated meat subsidiary of Germany’s second-largest animal-based sausage manufacturer Infamily Foods — states it has entered the pre-submission phase of regulatory approval for the sale of hybrid cultivated meat products in Europe. The company explains that it has entered the initial stage, which is an official EFSA process requested at least six months in advance of the official submission. After the application is submitted, TCB would become the world’s first biotech company to apply for EFSA certification for cultivated meat, if there have been no further applications in this period. It should be noted here that while Aleph Farms did apply for regulatory approval in Switzerland this July, marking it the first-ever submission for cultivated meat in Europe, this application …

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Quorn Foodservice Business Unit announces new brand identity

Paul Jennings, Head of Culinary at QuornPro. © QuornPro

Quorn Foodservice Business Unit Reveals New Brand Identity

Quorn’s Foodservice Business Unit has announced an “extensive repositioning exercise” and new brand identity. The unit will now be known as QuornPro, as the brand works to position itself as an ideal protein solution for food service customers. The change comes in response to research which suggested that the unit would benefit from having its own values and mission, complementing Quorn’s retail division. According to the brand, the unit has already gone beyond selling frozen food and is now helping chefs at food service outlets to offer sustainable alt meat solutions. Quorn says it aims to be “the best protein on the planet”, becoming more than a classic meat alternative. Starting this month, the rebrand will roll out across the UK and the EU, with …

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© UPSIDE Foods

UPSIDE Foods Announces its First Commerical Cultivated Meat Plant in Illinois

UPSIDE Foods, has officially chosen Glenview, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, as the location for its first large-scale commercial production facility.  This 187,000-square-foot plant, named “Rubicon,” will serve as a hub for the production of cultivated chicken products, marking UPSIDE’s first commercial-scale production. Moreover, the company has ambitious plans to diversify its product offerings by expanding into other meat varieties and whole-textured formats in the future. The company states it selected the name Rubicon with an appreciation for its historical significance as a point of no return, reflecting its commitment to redefine the future of food. Several factors drove the decision to establish its facility in this area. Firstly, Glenview’s strategic location offers significant logistical advantages, with major transportation crossroads facilitating efficient production, distribution, and …

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© NotCo

What Will the NotCo X Mars Wrigley Collab Look Like?

As announced on social channels this week, NotCo is partnering with Mars Wrigley, a subdivision of the Mars Co. and the “world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints and fruit confections”. NotCo CEO and co-founder Matias Muchnick shared on his feed: “So thrilled to announce NotCo’s exciting new collaboration with family-owned Mars Wrigley! We’re beginning to work on very exciting innovation projects, combining NotCo’s patented Al, both company’s mighty team of scientists and Mars’ deep understanding of leading consumer categories. “I am truly impressed by the Mars commitment to fueling innovation and recognizing Al’s key role in the present and future of the food industry. They are looking to push boundaries, find new ways of working- so excited that we will be doing it …

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Tempeh Today, Schouten Food

© Schouten Food

Tempeh Today and Marel India Partner to Install Small-Scale Tempeh Fermentation Units

Henk Schouten, the CEO of plant-based protein company Schouten Europe, launched Tempeh Today in India in 2021, aiming to establish 100 small-scale fermentation units (SFUs) for tempeh production within five years. To reach these goals, CFSS B.V., the company behind Tempeh Today in India, and Marel India Pvt. Ltd. have announced a strategic partnership to boost tempeh production and continue to offer a sustainable solution for proteins in India. Marel India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marel, an international company that provides high-quality equipment, solutions, services, and software for the food processing industry.  Small and micro units for tempeh “The collaboration with Marel is a crucial next step in rolling out the concept. I am thrilled that Marel is supporting this initiative, and I look forward to our future …

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Crave secures Sainsbury's listing

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CRAVE Secures Listing at Sainsbury’s for Recently Relaunched Vegan Snacks

UK challenger brand CRAVE, winner of TV pitch show Aldi’s Next Big Thing, announces this week it has achieved a listing at selected Sainsbury’s stores for recently re-launched snacks Pickled Onion Noughties and Hot & Spicy Hot Dawgs. The free-from producer recently faced legal challenges when the names of three of its products were deemed too similar to those made by major brands, in a now altogether too familiar situation in the plant-based space. In response to the cease and desist letters, CRAVE agreed to rename its products. Following these tumultuous times for the startup, it comments this week that the new Sainsbury’s listing shows that perseverance has paid off and that the free-from and vegan market is very much in demand. Created by food …

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Steakholder cultivated steak on plate

image credit Shlomi Arbiv

Steakholder Foods Submits Patent for Immortal Bovine Cell Line, Says “It’s a Paradigm Shift” for Future Food

Israeli deep tech Steakholder Foods Ltd., known for its 3D printing technology, yesterday announced it had submitted a provisional patent for immortal bovine cell lines, with the purpose of providing a stable, renewable source for generating different tissues. Steakholder announced back in August 2022 that it was working on the development of cultivated pork products using a new line of porcine stem cells. It states that this current move represents a “significant step in making commercial-scale cultivated meat production a reality”, claiming it paves the way for scale, repeatability, and growth. The patent is said to present immortal cell lines that can generate a broad array of tissues including both muscle and fat, and to enhance the growth capacity of bovine cells resulting in immortalization …

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Planted pulled original packshot

© Planted

Planted Seals Partnership with Vegan Certified Football Club Forest Green Rovers

Switzerland’s Planted, describing itself as Europe’s leading foodtech scale-up, has partnered with eco-friendly, vegan football club Forest Green Rovers. The one-year collaboration will see Planted’s pulled meat range added to the menu of the club’s gym bar and hospitality areas, as well as samplings taking place on matchday. Forest Green Rovers, based in Gloucestershire, UK, was recently described by FIFA as “the greenest team in the world”. The carbon-neutral football club, whose chairman is Dale Vince of Ecotricity, became fully vegan in 2015 and is reportedly the only football club to have the vegan registered trademark.  Recently, UK brand DR. VEGAN became the Official Supplement Partner of Forest Green Rovers, in an agreement whereby players will receive DR.VEGAN’s sport-certified supplements, as well as nutritional advice …

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3DBT cell culture media city mix

© 3D Bio-Tissues

3D Bio-Tissues Opens Office in Hong Kong to Commercialise its Flagship Cell Media in China

UK-based clinical and cell ag company 3D Bio-Tissues (3DBT) has recently expanded internationally with a new office in Hong Kong to introduce its flagship cell-boosting media supplement, City-Mix, to the Chinese cultivated meat market.  3DBT will also target the Chinese biotech industry, especially gene therapy, stem cells, regenerative medicine, Life Sciences companies, and academia. The company already started hiring R&D experts and sales and marketing specialists to develop a go-to-market strategy, build distribution networks, and establish manufacturing partners in China.  The announcement was made by the biotech investor BSF Enterprise (LSE: BSFA), which owns 3DBT. Recently, BSF raised £2.9 million to provide working capital for its subsidiary to accelerate its progress and develop systems to expedite the production and supply of its media growth and target manufacturers.  Commercial presence 3DBT, a Newcastle University …

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Veganz X Fraunhofer vertical farming

©Fraunhofer IME

Veganz Group AG and VeGreat LLC to Launch Vertical Farming Project for Protein Crops in Dubai

A few months ago, the Berlin-based Veganz Group AG acquired the licensing rights for the vertical farming platform technologies OrbiPlan and OrbiLoop from the research organization Fraunhofer Institute IME. These technologies allow the industrial production of food and protein crops under highly efficient indoor conditions anywhere in the world.  Now, the Veganz Group AG and US-based company VeGreat LLC announce OrbiFarm, a joint venture to exploit these vertical farming technologies in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. VeGreat LLC recently acquired newly issued shares of the Veganz Group AG, increasing Veganz Group AG’s capital by 10%. “This will make it possible for the first time, anywhere in the world, independent of climate and environmental influences, to realize the production of plant-based alternatives from seed to end product in one hall with maximum efficiency and …

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Hooray Foods Improved AWESOME Vegan Bacon

©Hooray Foods

Celebrating 4 Years and 5 Million Strips of Hooray Bacon Amid Sad News

In a sad turn of events, Hooray Foods, producer of plant-based bacon, announced the closure of its operations yesterday, after four years in the industry and 5 million strips of Hooray Bacon sold. A statement from the team said, “With your support, we reached our goal of national distribution in grocery stores and restaurants; however, the economics of running a company of this size simply do not match our revenue, and we are unable to continue producing our product for sale.” Hooray Foods’ achievements Hooray Foods launched its Hooray Bacon on World Vegan Day in 2020, driven by a mission to “save animals from the food system, one pig at a time.” And with the company’s many achievements over the last few years, it has …

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