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Daiya new CEO Hajime Fujita

© Daiya

Daiya Appoints Hajime Fujita as New CEO to Lead Continued Global Expansion

British Colombia-based vegan cheese leader Daiya Foods, which has a wide retail footprint globally, this week announces the appointment of Hajime Fujita to the role of Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Mr Fujita, a former director at Daiya, will lead all global operations throughout North America and the brand’s continued international expansion. He previously served as Vice President, Business Planning, at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the Japanese pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company that acquired Daiya in 2017 for CAD$405 million / USD$326 million, with Mr Fujita playing a key role in the acquisition before joining the Daiya team. Since joining Daiya, Mr Fujita held the role of Director, Financial Planning and Analysis then took a seat on Daiya’s board as part of a Vice President role …

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Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Martin Smollich, Institute for Nutritional Medicine, Lübeck

Professor Dr. Martin Smollich, Institute for Nutritional Medicine, Lübeck

Highly Processed Foods: Meat Alternatives Have a Good Nutritional Profile

With kind permission, you will find below a post by Professor Dr. Martin Smollich from the Institute for Nutritional Medicine in Lübeck on the often absurd discussion about highly processed foods. Ultra-processed foods are not all the same! Highly processed foods (ultra-processed foods / UPFs) have a bad reputation: they are said to be “unhealthy” simply because they are highly processed – regardless of their nutrient or calorie content. From a nutritional perspective, this is pretty absurd. A study now published in The Lancet (https://lnkd.in/ex9qY7RF) not only confirms common sense but also previous studies: highly processed foods are NOT all the same: there are UPFs with very good and very poor nutritional profiles – exactly the same, as is also the case with less processed …

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Josh Tetrick GOOD Meat

© GOOD Meat

TIME Magazine Recognizes Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just, in 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business for 2023

TIME Magazine has unveiled its list of the 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business for 2023, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated substantial contributions to the fight against climate change. The selection process, conducted over several months by TIME’s editors and in-house climate experts, prioritized measurable achievements within the energy, nature, finance, culture, and health sectors. Among the listed figures is Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just, credited as the first company to receive regulatory approval for lab-grown meat under the brand GOOD Meat. Eat Just is the only alt protein company represented on the list and one of the few recognized companies within the food and beverage category. In statements to TIME, Tetrick emphasized the pivotal role of the food system in addressing climate …

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Pope Francis with crowds

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Sustainable Earth Eating Calls on Pope Francis to Reinstate Meatless Friday

Sustainable Earth Eating has officially addressed Pope Francis and called on him to reinstate the tradition of Meatless Friday in the Catholic Church. The missive arrives to coincide with Pope Francis‘ imminent participation in the yearly UN-IPCC climate conference, during which he may assume a pivotal role in advocating for climate action. The traditional custom of Meatless Friday, which has its roots in the Catholic Church, has historically encouraged adherents to refrain from consuming meat on Fridays as a means of engaging in penance and contemplation. This practice has yielded a profound influence in curbing meat consumption and fostering sustainable, ecologically responsible dietary practices. As a supporter of climate protection, Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken out in favor of environmental protection and sustainable practices. In …

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A close up of Daniel Bregman

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Former Impossible Foods Senior Counsel Joins Synonym to Drive the Biomanufacturing Revolution

US biomanufacturing platform Synonym announces the appointment of Daniel Bregman as its new General Counsel and Head of Development in yet another recruitment of a former Impossible Foods expert. Synonym explains that Bregman, former Senior Product Commercial Counsel at Impossible Foods, led important initiatives and gained valuable experience scaling clean technology startups. Previously, he held senior positions at the vertical farming startup Plenty and Cypress Creek Renewables, where he was involved in numerous clean energy projects.  As head of development, Bregman will drive Synonyms’s pre-development projects and focus on the successful growth and expansion of the company’s development engine. He will also work to speed up facility development cycles. “I’m excited to dive headfirst into helping Synonym identify, purchase, and build its first infrastructure sites, and …

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Ivy Farm hires new chief scientific officer

Image: Ivy Farm on LinkedIn

Ivy Farm Hires New Chief Scientific Officer as it Prepares for Commercialisation

UK cultivated meat company Ivy Farm has hired a new Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Harsh Amin, to support its R&D strategy and scale-up plans. Dr. Amin holds a PhD in Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine from UCL, and has over 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and biopharma industries. Previously, he was the R&D Director at biopharmaceutical manufacturer Lonza, where he led the R&D centre of excellence in cell culture media development. Following his appointment, Dr. Amin will help to transform Ivy Farm’s production processes as the company prepares for commercialisation. The new hire follows Ivy Farm’s announcement earlier this year that it is developing plans for its first manufacturing plant, which will produce at least 12,000 tonnes of cultivated meat per year. The …

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CULT Food Science Corp.

©CULT Food Science Corp.

CULT Food Science Appoints Mitchell Scott of The Better Butchers as New CEO

CULT Food Science Corp., a leader in cellular agriculture technology and product development, appoints Mitchell Scott as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2023. This development follows the resignation of the company’s former CEO, Lejjy Gafour. Mitchell Scott is no stranger to the plant-based and cultivated food sectors, with over eight years of industry experience including the co-founding of Canadian plant-based meat brand The Very Good Butchers. Scott was exited from The Very Good Butchers prior to its collapse in 2022 when the company went into receivership, and earlier this year announced his newest endeavor, The Better Butchers. The Canadian startup, specializing in cultivated meat production, is currently working on prototypes for pork sausages, meatballs, and marinated steaks, with plans to introduce these …

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World Vegan Day

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Messages From Vegan Business Leaders on World Vegan Day, Part 3

In this third and final installment of our World Vegan Day special, we feature valuable insights from and words of solidarity from: CEO of The Vegetarian Butcher, Hugo Verkuil; CEO of Let’s Plant Meat, Smith Taweelerdniti; founder of Plantform and Boldy Foods, Allen Zelden; founder of Fenn Foods, Alejandro Cancino; CEO of Libre Foods, Alan Iván Ramos; and CEO of Impact Food, Kelly Pan. These messages come to us from each corner of the planet, with the founders located in Thailand; Australia; The Netherlands; Catalonia, Spain; and San Francisco, California. We asked: as we approach the end of what has been a turbulent year for many in the business, what is your message for the plant-based industry as we look ahead to 2024? Hugo Verkuil, …

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World Vegan Day

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Messages From Vegan Business Leaders on World Vegan Day, Part 2

In this second installment, we feature messages from prominent figures in the plant-based space who each have valuable insights to share, featuring vegan cheese legend Miyoko Schinner; bee-free honey pioneer Darko Mandich of Melibio; Canadian Waygu beef leader Blair Bullus of Wamame Foods; and vegan business expert Elysabeth Alfano of VegTech Invest. We asked: as we approach the end of what has been a turbulent year for many in the business, what is your message for the plant-based industry as we look ahead to 2024? Miyoko Schinner: “Celebrate compassion” Yes, it’s been a rough year for the industry of “alt-protein,” but does that necessarily mean it’s been rough for the advancement of veganism? The question we must ask as vegans is actually what is our …

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World Vegan Day Collage

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Messages From Vegan Business Leaders on World Vegan Day, Part 1

On this World Vegan Day, we at vegconomist felt that this year it was especially important to boost morale in the industry and share insights and advice amongst the community. We asked business leaders: as we approach the end of what has been a turbulent year for many in the business, what is your message for the plant-based industry as we look ahead to 2024? Here we share messages from figures in the UK vegan business scene: CEO of VFC and Meatless Farm, Dave Sparrow; Senior Brand Manager at OGGS, Joe Farrar; Co-Founder & CMO at Better Nature Tempeh, Elin Roberts; CEO of Citizen Kind, Emma Osborne;  and CEO of Miami Foods, Loui Blake. Dave Sparrow, VFC: “Clear strategy” Firstly, happy World Vegan Day to …

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Quorn katsu style chicken

© Quorn Foods

Quorn’s Message on World Vegan Day: “Recharge, Rebuild and Head Back Towards Growth”

On World Vegan Day 2023, we spoke with vegan business leaders around the world to invite them to share their thoughts and insights as we approach the end of what has been a turbulent year for many in the industry. We asked, what is your message for the plant-based community on this WVD as we look ahead to 2024? Here, Consumer Director Gill Riley shares a message from Quorn Foods on this special day of reflection about veganism. Respond to the consumer’s needs By Gill Riley  Changes in consumer behaviour led by turbulence in the global economy have resulted in a slowdown in the meat alternatives category, but it comes against a backdrop of many years of strong and rapid category growth. The macro drivers …

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Yali Bio appoints Don DiMasi, a bioeconomy leader and former Impossible Foods executive, as the new senior vice president of engineering and biomanufacturing.

Don DiMasi © Yali Bio

Former Impossible Foods Executive Joins Yali Bio to Scale Animal-Free Fats

Yali Bio, a biotech company based in California, announces the appointment of Dr. Don DiMasi, a bioeconomy leader and former Impossible Foods executive, as the new SVP of engineering and biomanufacturing. DiMasi, the first to fill this role, will focus on building process development and the company’s biomanufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for animal-free fats for alt dairy products such as butter, cheese, and ice cream. DiMasi has an extensive experience in industrial bioprocessing. He was recently recognized in The Bioeconomy 500 2023, as one of the sector’s most outstanding leaders. Formerly, he was Impossible Foods’ SVP of engineering and process development. During his tenure at Impossible, the company launched the Impossible Burger and rolled out the Impossible Whopper with Burger King. “Don will …

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Peter Pane founder Patrick Junge

Peter Pane founder Patrick Junge, Image credit Peter Pane

Peter Pane Founder: “In 20 Years, Meat Consumption Will Be the Exception. People Who Eat a Meat-Free Diet Are Pioneers”

Patrick Junge, founder of German burger chain Peter Pane, has spoken about sustainability in the company, which operates throughout Germany and Austria. Since its foundation in 2016, the company has become one of the most successful restaurant chains in Germany. Today, more than 2,000 team members work at more than 51 locations, and the goal is to reach 65 locations by 2025. With the company’s “Peter Plant” project, which began in 2012 on its own land, mixed forests are grown, totalling around 1,000 hectares, with at least 150,000 trees added per year, with the project already creating 600,000 square metres of flower meadows. “Greenwashing by certificates he refuses,” states the company in a press release. Junge has implemented the inclusion of vegetarian and vegan burgers …

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Gayle Massey – Your Contact for Advertising Campaigns in North America

From October 15th, 2023, Gayle Massey is on board as Head of Partnerships and Media Solutions North America at vegconomist, specializing in campaigns in North America (approx. 40,000 unique business visitors per month). Gayle Massey is an advertising veteran bringing over 25 years of business development and sales experience to this position. She continues to use her advertising skills to best showcase her clients’ products and services. Foodservice is the foundation of Gayle’s career with a deep background in selling in the B2B restaurant space. And with the task of introducing two food tech startups to the industry, both back-of-the-house ordering solutions, that knowledge adds to her diverse background in understanding all facets of the food industry. Gayle brings an entrepreneurial spirit, passion for the …

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© Better Nature

Better Nature Launches £1M+ Crowdfund, Appoints New Non-Executive Director

UK tempeh brand Better Nature has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs with the aim of raising over £1 million. The campaign opened to the public yesterday (October 2). The funding will be used to drive mainstream retail growth for Better Nature, consolidating its position as a leading European tempeh brand. The company aims to “transform the meat-free aisle”, as consumers increasingly seek less processed plant-based options. The news follows a hugely successful year for Better Nature, with the company launching in Germany and securing its first UK supermarket listing at Tesco. Better Nature also launched a £3 million Series A round in May, and rolled out at all 966 UK Lidl stores in July as part of the retailer’s Vegan Week. “There’s a growing …

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© Unreal Deli

Unreal Deli Announces Onboarding of Vegan Exec Jeffrey Harris as Strategic Advisor

LA’s Unreal Deli, known for its range of plant-based sandwich meats as well as its success on the TV show Shark Tank, announces the addition of Jeffrey Harris, former co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Plant Power Fast Food, as a Strategic Advisor. Since his departure from Plant Power Fast Food last November, Harris now consults with startups and early-stage companies in the plant-based, climate tech, and sustainability sectors. States Harris, “I wanted to be part of scaling a company that is going to make a real difference in the world.  Jenny and her team have built a powerful brand that’s poised for accelerated growth in the rapidly expanding plant-based sandwich meat sector. And I love the fact that their products are packed …

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upside foods chicken on plate

© Upside Foods

UPSIDE Foods Bolsters Executive Team, Hires Former Twitter Executive as Chief Legal Officer

UPSIDE Foods (previously known as Memphis Meats), one of the two cultivated meat producers granted permission to sell their novel cell-cultivated chicken to consumers in the USA, today announces that Dr. Kevin Kayser, UPSIDE’s Senior Vice President of Research & Development (R&D), has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer, and Sean Edgett, former General Counsel at Twitter, is appointed as Chief Legal Officer. Dr. Kayser previously led UPSIDE’s R&D efforts for almost five years. In the new role, he will be responsible for driving UPSIDE’s scientific strategy, overseeing all R&D efforts, and collaborating with academic and industry partners to advance the mission and economics of cultivated meat. His notable achievements include developing high-performance cell lines and cell feeds, including advancements in serum-free cell feed formulations, …

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Stuart Kronauge, newly appointe CEO of Miyoko's

Stuart Kronauge, Business Wire

Miyoko’s Creamery Appoints Stuart Kronauge of Beyond Meat & Coca Cola as New CEO

Miyoko’s Creamery announces today that industry veteran Stuart Kronauge has been appointed as the company’s new CEO following a long search process during which former CFO and interim President Jon Blair held the role temporarily. Kronauge previously spent 20 years at The Coca-Cola Company in senior roles including President of USA Operations, then served as CMO at Beyond Meat, and most recently she acted as CEO of The Juice Plus+ Company. Established in 2014, Miyokos produces award-winning vegan butters and cheeses. Flagship products include the European-Style Cultured Vegan Butter and the Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella. The company is emerging from a troubled period following a legal dispute with the original founder Miyoko Schinner. “We are thrilled to welcome Stuart to the Miyoko’s team and are …

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ProVeg NFH product developer piece

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Overcoming Trials as a Plant-Based Product Developer

The food industry is a hard nut to crack at the best of times. Add to that the highly competitive and still immature plant-based sector and you have an even greater challenge. But what if the traditional startup route isn’t the one that’s best suited to you? What if you’re a solo innovator with a stand-out idea, and new to the food industry? Enter Anthony England, PhD Chemist and Product Developer. Dr England is currently developing a plant-based food product that he hopes could change how some consumers perceive eating and nutrition. As a solo innovator, Dr England wants to take his product to the next level of development and eventually, to the mass market. In its latest New Food Hub (NFH) interview, ProVeg International …

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Sensible Vegan Hot Dogs

©Sensible Hot Dogs

Canada’s Sensible Hot Dogs Announces Top Level Staff Changes

Canada’s Sensible Hot Dogs, on a mission to replace 4 billion hot dogs with sensible hot dogs by 2032, announces a new CFO and directors as well as one company departure. Sensible Hot Dogs is a plant-based startup that aims to provide a healthier, more sustainable, and more humane food option for consumers. The brand’s offerings include the Classic Hot Dog and Cheesy Hot Dog, which are made with ingredients like mushrooms, bean protein, wheat protein, root vegetables, and natural smoke. The company is listed on the Canadian NEO Exchange and recently raised nearly $12 million to disrupt the American hot dog market. New CFO Christopher P. Cherry is appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company, effective immediately. Furthermore, the Company has …

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