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Israel's Aleph Farms has submitted a regulatory approval application to sell its cultivated beef products in Thailand, marking the country's first application for cultivated meat.

© Aleph Farms

Aleph Farms Submits Thailand’s First Cultivated Meat Application, Eyes 2026 Market Launch

Israel’s Aleph Farms has submitted a regulatory approval application to sell its cultivated beef products in Thailand, marking the country’s first application for a cultivated meat product. The safety dossier was filed to the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) under the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for novel foods. While timelines can be uncertain, a novel food regulatory process can take around 18 months, which means the regulatory green light could arrive mid-2026. Upon receiving approval, Aleph Farms plans to sell its flagship product, the Petit Steak, under the Aleph Cuts brand with partner and investor Thai Union, a global leader in animal protein. Co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia shares, “Like many of its neighboring countries, Thailand currently imports the majority …

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Mike Messersmith

© Mike Messersmith

Tender Food Appoints Former Oatly President Mike Messersmith as CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth

Tender Food, a Massachusetts-based food-tech company specializing in plant-based food production, has announced the appointment of Mike Messersmith as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Messersmith, who previously served as President of Oatly USA, will now lead Tender’s efforts to expand its presence in the plant-based food industry. In June, Tender secured over $11 million in Series A funding to scale up operations at its new facility. At the time, Messersmith joined Tender’s Board of Directors to help guide the company’s commercialization efforts. Now, he steps into the CEO role, succeeding co-founder Christophe Chantre, who will remain involved with the company. His decision to take on the role of CEO comes at a pivotal moment for Tender, as the company aims to scale its operations …

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Redefine Meat

© Redefine Meat

Redefine Meat Celebrates Record Growth & 1000th UK Site Partnership

Amid a period of industry challenges, premium meat alternatives producer Redefine Meat is celebrating a record year. The company has seen almost 100% year-on-year UK food service sales growth, and recently secured its 1000th UK site partnership with pub retailer Greene King. The brand’s Redefine Beef Flank steak is now available at 70 flagship Greene King sites UK-wide, including pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The premium-cut plant-based product is said to be ideal for all cooking methods and reportedly generates up to 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its animal-based counterpart. In total, the plant-based steak is now on the menu at 200 UK sites, with customers including Stonegate Group, Albion, Gusto, and Dirty Vegan Burgers. Meanwhile, Redefine Meat has seen year-on-year retail sales growth of …

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ProteinDistillery ceremony for opening of protein centre

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Political Figures and Celebs Celebrate ProteinDistillery’s Upcoming Facility, Set to Produce Upcycled Protein at Large Scale

German food tech innovator ProteinDistillery recently broke ground at its new Protein Competence Centre set to open by Q2 2025, with the event attended by Germany’s Agriculture and Education Minister Cem Özdemir, known for his outspokenness on vegetarianism and environmentalism, Member of Germany’s Green Party Zoe Mayer, and former goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, owner of the vegan restaurant vhy. The Protein Competence Centre will serve as a centre for research, development and production of pioneering plant-based proteins and promote collaboration between science and industry and will enable large-scale production of Prew:tein®, a sustainable, animal-free protein derived from brewer’s yeast, a beer industry by-product. Prew:tein® offers functional properties like emulsification and gel formation, rivalling animal proteins without additives. The Heilbronn facility will produce up to 200 tonnes …

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Vegetarian Butcher fish fillet

© The Vegetarian Butcher

Unilever to Sell The Vegetarian Butcher as Part of Plan to Offload Brands Worth £1Bn

Unilever has reportedly put plant-based meat brand The Vegetarian Butcher up for sale as it works to slim down its portfolio. According to Sky News, the multinational company is working with investment bank Piper Sandler to sell the brand, and many potential buyers have been approached already. At an investor event last week, CEO Hein Schumacher said he planned to focus on Unilever’s international “power brands”, such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise; Reuters reported earlier this year that these brands represent over 70% of the company’s sales. In line with Unilever’s Growth Action Plan 2030, Schumacher intends to offload smaller brands worth around £1 billion in annual sales. Dutch brands such as Unox and Conimex are rumoured to be among them, and Unilever has even attempted to …

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© Pureture

Pureture and Kangwon National University Launch Research Center to Innovate Non-GMO Yeast-Derived Proteins

New York startup Pureture, a developer of animal-free ingredients with a focus on alternative casein proteins and high-functionality yeast strains, has partnered with South Korea’s Kangwon National University to establish the “Alternative Protein Research Center.” The center aims to develop innovative solutions at scale for the global alternative protein market, explains the startup in an announcement this Wednesday. This new joint initiative will leverage the University’s expertise in fermentation science and Pureture’s R&D capabilities to produce highly functional proteins derived from non-GMO yeast. Pureture has already developed a plant-based casein that is said to offer a complete amino acid profile and melting and stretching functionalities of milk caseins. Rudy Yoo, CEO of Pureture, shared, “The development of high-functionality proteins derived from non-GMO yeast is at …

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Faye MacGregor and Chris Wilkie

(L) Faye MacGregor and Chris Wilkie - Image provided

NZ Oat Milk Brands Otis and All Good Merge to “Play Smarter and Harder” Under New Brand Good & Humble

Otis and All Good, pioneering oat milk startups from New Zealand, have merged under a new entity, Good & Humble. The merger aims to build scale, drive innovation, support New Zealand’s oat growers, and expand into global markets, especially Southeast Asia. Good & Humble will combine Otis’s innovation in on-farm provenance (verifying the traceability of the ingredients) and enzyme technology with All Good’s established leadership in export sales and distribution. Otis co-founder Chris Wilkie shared, “As one entity, our teams will benefit from shared experiences, deepened knowledge, and more diverse skills. We are playing against billion-dollar multinational brands; uniting with All Good means we can play smarter and harder. Our NPD engine will be market-leading.” Sustainability and local impact Founded in 2018, Otis was New …

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Karin Ridgers receives Best Vegan PR Company award

Karin Ridgers receives the Best Vegan PR Company award from actor and friend Peter Egan. Image supplied.

MAD Promotions Founder Karin Ridgers Receives Viva! Best Vegan PR Business Award

Karin Ridgers, the founder of MAD Promotions, has received the Best Vegan PR Business Award at vegan charity Viva!’s 30th anniversary celebration. Karin is a longtime Viva! member who has dedicated her career to helping ethical businesses gain visibility through PR and media relations. She supported Veganuary’s initial campaign and has worked with numerous vegan SMEs and charities. Additionally, she presents and promotes VegfestUK, the UK’s longest-running vegan festival. “It is always about my clients – however, this is about me and our work at MAD Promotions and I am rather chuffed to bits, especially to win an award from an organisation like Viva! that has inspired me for 30 years,” said Ridgers. “It’s been an incredible journey helping to champion vegan businesses over the …

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The Laughing Cow garlic & herb

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Bel Group Announces Three-Year Collaborative Project to Develop Fermented Cheese Alternatives

Bel Group has partnered with agro-industrial group Avril, probiotic manufacturer Lallemand, and agri-food service provider Protial for a three-year project that aims to drive forward the development of fermented and aged plant-based cheese alternatives. The €9 million Cocagne Project will focus on developing minimally processed, nutritious, and environmentally friendly plant-based products that deliver on taste. Through the use of advanced fermentation and aging processes, Bel hopes to significantly improve on the taste and texture of existing plant-based cheeses, meeting consumer demand for healthier and tastier products. The initiative has received support from Bpifrance under the France 2030 program. The Cocagne Project will take place at Bel’s global RID center in Vendôme, France, which the company has announced will be expanded with the help of a …

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Ingredion consumer insights

© Ingredion

Ingredion Releases Significant Consumer Insights: Clean-Label is King, 73% of EU Consumers Seek Natural Ingredients

Presently, at Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) 2024, taking place now in Frankfurt, Germany, Ingredion is showcasing its new, significant consumer insights alongside its plant-based food and beverage concepts. In line with Ingredion’s decade-long research into the trend towards clean labels, as published this April, which stated that such products are projected to constitute more than 70% of portfolios within the next two years as part of a significant shift within the European food industry, the company’s latest ATLAS research reveals that clean label claims are now the top factor driving consumer willingness to pay premium prices. The latest findings show that 73% of European consumers are actively seeking products made with recognisable ingredients; health-conscious consumers are increasingly focused on nutritional benefits, with 85% expressing acceptance …

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Onego Bio san diego headquarters open

© Onego Bio

Onego Bio Opens US Headquarters in San Diego to Scale Animal-Free Egg Protein

Onego Bio, a US-Finnish food technology company specializing in animal-free egg proteins, has opened a 5,000-square-foot commercial headquarters in San Diego, California. The facility includes office space, advanced laboratory capabilities, and a test kitchen designed to demonstrate the functional applications of its flagship product, Bioalbumen. Bioalbumen is a powdered, animal-free egg protein created through precision fermentation. It is designed to replicate the taste, nutrition, and functionality of traditional egg proteins while offering a significantly reduced environmental impact. According to the company, Bioalbumen’s production results in over 90% fewer emissions compared to conventional eggs. Maija Itkonen, CEO and co-founder of Onego Bio stated, “The test kitchen will demonstrate Bioalbumen’s application in a variety of food categories, including pasta, bakery, and confections. By leveraging precision fermentation technology, …

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Vow cultivated quail foie gras

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Vow’s Quail-Based ‘Forged Gras’ Launch Marks First Cultivated Meat Sale in Hong Kong

Australian cultivated meat company Vow has unveiled Forged Gras, a cultivated alternative to the luxury delicacy foie gras. Derived from Japanese quail cells, Forged Gras is now available in Hong Kong, marking the first commercial sale of cultivated meat in the region. The launch solidifies Vow’s status as the first company to sell multiple cultivated meat products across multiple markets, following the debut of its Forged Parfait in Singapore earlier this year. Unlike traditional foie gras, which has faced widespread bans due to ethical and environmental concerns, Forged Gras offers a reimagined version of the dish. Created without animal slaughter, the product mimics the fatty liver’s rich texture while introducing a subtle, gamey flavor profile unique to quail. George Peppou, Vow’s CEO, explained the company’s …

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has deemed Impossible Foods' precision fermentation-derived heme — soy leghemoglobin — safe for consumption.

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Impossible Foods Approaches EU Approval Following Second Positive EFSA Opinion

Impossible Foods has moved another step closer to selling its products in the EU after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms ruled that its soy leghemoglobin (heme) is safe to eat. The heme is produced using a form of modified yeast, which is cultivated in tanks using precision fermentation. It enables Impossible Foods’ plant-based meat to “bleed” and provides a meaty taste. Impossible Foods initiated the approval process back in 2019, and the heme finally cleared its first EFSA food safety hurdle earlier this year. The ingredient is now pending final approval by the European Commission and EU Member States. Following this publication, there will be a 30-day public consultation period where scientific comments and suggestions can be submitted and …

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Songxianxian

© Songxianxian

China’s Songxianxian Achieves Sales of Over $68M With Stealthily Plant-Based Condiments

Chinese company Songxianxian has seen huge success with its plant-based condiments, reaching annual sales of almost $68.5 million in 2023. But the brand’s remarkable growth may be attributable to a surprising strategy — not marketing its products as plant-based. Songxianxian was founded by serial entrepreneur Zihan Yi, who had previously launched a plant-based restaurant and food brand. Both ventures ultimately struggled to grow, largely due to the relatively small size of China’s plant-based market. However, one product from the plant-based brand stood out — an alternative to chicken essence, an important ingredient in Chinese cuisine. The umami powder took seven years of R&D to develop and is made from mushrooms, vegetables, and fruit powders, with no MSG or other additives. Upscale condiment brand The powder …

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Oatly's oat milk cartons

© Oatly

Oatly Achieves 9.6% Revenue Growth and Expands Market Share in Q3

Oatly has reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showing significant improvements in gross margin, volume growth, and strong progress in North America, moving closer to profitability. The company’s revenue for the second quarter increased by 10.9% to $208 million, or 9.6% year-on-year when excluding currency fluctuations. Gross profit nearly doubled from $32.6 million in 2023 to $62.0 million in 2024, and the gross margin in the third quarter was 29.8%, an improvement of 12.4 percentage points over the same period in the previous year. These improvements were mainly due to enhanced supply chain efficiency, particularly in North America and Greater China, and a strategic shift in product mix in Greater China, according to the report. Increased revenue in retail and food …

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SuperMeat's cultivated burgers, grilled

Image courtesy of SuperMeat

SuperMeat’s 100% Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity with Premium Options at $11.79/lb

SuperMeat today announces it is able to produce 100% cultivated chicken (85% muscle and 15% fat) at $11.79 per pound when produced at a large scale, matching the cost, taste, and texture of premium US pasture-raised chicken. Additionally, the company claims it can produce three pounds of cultivated meat — equal to the amount of edible meat from one chicken — in around two days. In contrast, it takes 42 days to raise, slaughter, and process a chicken. The company says that advancements in its proprietary production process have led to these breakthroughs, demonstrating that the scalability and viability of cultivated meat are possible. “Current sentiment around cultivated meat includes skepticism regarding its scalability and market readiness, with concerns that cultivated meat may be more …

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Beyond Meat Beyond sun sausage

© Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat Returns to Growth With Encouraging Q3 Financial Results

Beyond Meat has reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, demonstrating a promising return to growth. The company achieved net revenues of $81.0 million, an increase of 7.6% year-on-year. Gross profit reached $14.3 million, compared to a loss of $7.3 million in the year-ago period. Loss from operations was $30.9 million, down from $69.6 million in Q3 2023, while net loss decreased from $70.5 million to $26.6 million. Finally, adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $19.8 million, compared to a loss of $57.5 million in the year-ago period. The increase in revenues was primarily driven by a 15.8% increase in net revenue per pound achieved through lower trade discounts, price increases for certain products, and changes in product sales mix. This was …

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Ingredion

© Ingredion

Ingredion’s Texture and Healthful Solutions Segment Powers 29% Operating Income Growth

Ingredion Inc. (NYSE: INGR) has reported stronger-than-expected earnings in the third quarter of 2024, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reaching $3.05, exceeding analyst estimates by $0.45. However, revenue came in at $1.87 billion, slightly below the $1.94 billion consensus estimate, which is a 3.8% miss. Despite the revenue shortfall, the quarter saw a 29% increase in operating income, marking the highest Q3 operating income in the company’s history. Growth attributed to volume gains and cost controls In the earnings call, CEO and president James (Jim) Zallie attributed the earnings boost to various factors, including robust volume growth across all segments, effective cost control, and renewed customer contracts, which helped offset inflationary impacts. “All three of our segments delivered double-digit operating income growth in the …

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US biotech company Jellatech, a leading innovator in cell-based collagen, announces it completed its 9,000 sq ft facility in Morrisville, North Carolina.

© Brandie Baird Photography

Jellatech to Expand Bioidentical Human Collagen Production at New 9,000-Square-Foot Facility

US biotech company Jellatech, a leading innovator in cell-based collagen, announces it has completed construction of its 9,000 square-foot facility in Morrisville, North Carolina. The facility is designed for ongoing research and development and will allow the company to produce its bioidentical collagen for pre-clinical trials at scale, which are crucial for adopting collagen-based applications across various sectors. Just last month, Jellatech launched an updated brand to showcase its mission to advance biomedical applications with human-identical proteins, starting with Type 1 collagen, for applications in the healthcare and longevity sectors. “Our new facility represents a leap forward in our ability to deliver high-quality, consistent, and ethically produced proteins for human health and longevity applications,” said Stephanie Michelsen, founder and CEO of Jellatech. Revolutionizing biotechnology The new …

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SunOpta

© SunOpta

SunOpta’s Q3 Revenue Rises 16% as Volume and New Business Drive Gains

SunOpta Inc. (Nasdaq: STKL; TSX: SOY) has released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, reporting a 16% revenue growth compared to the previous year. The increase was primarily due to higher sales volumes across key product categories and new business wins. Despite a minor reduction in pricing from lower commodity costs, SunOpta’s revenue reached $176.2 million, up from $152.5 million in Q3 2023. The company’s gross profit rose 16.4%, supported by gains in production efficiency, though recent investments in manufacturing equipment created some added depreciation costs. Adjusted gross margin improved to 17%, reflecting effective cost management and expanding production capabilities. Pipeline of new opportunities SunOpta’s CEO, Brian Kocher, attributed the results to “broad-based growth across our customers, channels, and product portfolio,” adding …

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