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Lavva Original Yogurt

©Lavva

Lavva Plant-Based Yogurt Acquired by Next in Natural, Names Jeff Lichtenstein as New CEO

Dairy-free yogurt brand Lavva announces it has been acquired by its lead operating partner, Next in Natural, a New York-based business development studio. Through the partnership, Lavva is also appointing Jeff Lichtenstein as its new CEO, and adding several strategic investors to its team.  According to Lavva, Lichtenstein brings extensive experience in launching and scaling national CPG brands in the natural category. As the founder and CEO of Gourmet Guru (acquired …

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Matthias Neuner, La Vie

© La Vie

La Vie Hires Matthias Neuner, the Man Behind Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet, as COO

La Vie, the French startup leading the way with plant-based alternatives to traditional pork products (and political campaigning), has appointed Matthias Neuner, who worked for more than 20 years at Nestlé, as its new COO. “During his last assignment in Switzerland, his love for plant-based food slowly started to grow: together with his commercial colleagues, he launched Nestlé’s plant-based brand Garden Gourmet in the out-of-home channel in 2019 by building …

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Next Meats skirt steak bowl

©Next Meats

Japan Sees Soybean Boom in Plant-Based Food & Drink Production

Soy and tofu have been staples in Japan for around 1,300 years, traditionally consumed by Buddhists and initially introduced to the country by Chinese monks. Asia News reports today that use of the soybean in food and drink production has increased significantly over the past two years, and additionally, Japan Times states this week that “soy-based alternatives to animal-based sources of protein appear to be growing on Japan”. Aside from …

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Michael Leonard Motif FoodWorks

©Motif FoodWorks

Boston’s Motif FoodWorks Appoints Michael Leonard as New CEO

Food technology company Motif FoodWorks announces that Michael Leonard has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Leonard will replace previous CEO Jonathan McIntyre, who is transitioning to an advisory role.  Leonard has served as CTO of Motif since 2019, and brings extensive experience in commercialization, R&D and innovation. As new CEO, he will lead the company as it accelerates go-to-market initiatives, including its newly launched meat alternative finished formats, …

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TheUntappedClimateOp_report Blue Horizon

© Blue Horizon

Bjoern Witte on Latest Blue Horizon Report: “The Positive Impact is Absolutely Massive”

The second part of the latest research from Blue Horizon and BCG, following the first instalment last month, finds that consumers are embracing alternative proteins and that protein transformation is one of the best tools available to combat the climate crisis. The study, titled ‘The Untapped Climate Opportunity In Alternative Proteins’, finds that almost a third of consumers would switch their diets to alternative proteins if doing so would have …

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peter-marsch-planet-organic

© Planet Organic

Better Nature Appoints Ex CEO of Planet Organic & World’s Most Cited Food Scientist to Fuel Growth

UK-based tempeh startup Better Nature announces the appointments of ex-Planet Organic CEO Peter Marsh as Non-Executive Director, and Prof. Julian McClements, the world’s most cited food scientist, as Innovation Advisor. Peter Marsh, who established Planet Organic as one of the UK’s largest organic and health retailers until his retirement in 2021, will be supporting Better Nature with its entrance into UK supermarkets and with plans for international expansion. Marsh states: …

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Dr Ranjani Varadan

Dr Ranjani Varadan, ©prweb

Shiru Appoints Dr. Ranjani Varadan, Ex of Impossible Foods, as Chief Scientific Officer

Shiru Inc. of California today announces the onboarding of  Dr Ranjani Varadan as its first Chief Scientific Officer. Dr Vardan was the first scientist hired by Patrick Brown at Impossible Foods where she served from 2011-2021 in roles including Vice President of Strategic Ingredients and Vice President of Research and Development. Founded in 2019, Shiru is focused on the discovery of naturally occurring proteins that can replace animal-based products. The …

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Dr Praegers-PerfectBurger

©Dr Praeger's

Dr. Praeger’s Appoints CPG Industry Veteran Andy Reichgut as CEO

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods announces today that CPG industry veteran Andy Reichgut has been onboarded as the company’s new CEO, effective immediately. Reichgut brings over 25 years of CPG industry experience to the role, having most recently acted as General Manager for Violife cheese, an Upfield subsidiary (see our recent interview with Andy here regarding Violife and the vegan cheese category). He previously held the role of Executive Vice President …

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©alpro

Alpro Picks Ten Time World Champion Kitesurfer Gisela Pulido as Brand Ambassador

Plant-based drinks brand Alpro has chosen Gisela Pulido, ten-time world champion kitesurfer, as brand ambassador to present its new range of high-protein products. The sportswoman was chosen because she has been following a plant-based diet for 10 years, with the aim of dispelling the myths that plant protein is less effective than animal protein in achieving good sporting performance. In the new campaign, Alpro presents six products to be consumed …

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Very Good Burgers

© The Very Good Food Company

The Very Good Food Co. Appoints Food Industry Veteran Parimal Rana as New CEO

Canada’s The Very Good Food Co. (NASDAQ: VGFC) announces Matt Hall is stepping down as Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer and director, as part of the company’s succession plan. Hall, who will remain an advisor, is being replaced by Parimal Rana, an experienced food industry professional who served as Very Good’s Vice President of Operations.  According to Hall, the succession comes at the right time, following two months of dedicated work …

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Claire Smith

Claire Smith. © Beyond Animal

Beyond Investing Founder Claire Smith Receives Investment Leader of The Year Award

Claire Smith, CEO of Beyond Investing, was recently named investment leader of the year in Environment Finance’s Sustainable Investment Awards 2022. Investor interest in the vegan market has reached an all-time high, spurred by the growing vegan movement and a global change in dietary preferences towards plant-based foods. Within the vegan investment category, Beyond Investing highlights that animal-friendly and climate-conscious investing can be good for people, planet and the bottom …

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Andre Carvalho

©The New

Brazil’s ‘The New’ Appoints Former Meat Industry Exec André Carvalho as CEO

Brazilian alt-protein brand The New (formerly The New Butcher), announces it has selected André Carvalho, a former executive at global meat company Minerva, to lead the company as CEO. Founder Bruno Fonseca will continue to head R&D and new product development, as well as serve on the board of directors. The announcement comes as The New reports strong 20% quarter-over-quarter sales growth for Q1 and the launch of a popular …

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Pinky Cole Door Dash

©DoorDash

DoorDash Appoints Pinky Cole, CEO of Slutty Vegan, as New Chief Restaurant Advisor

Online delivery platform DoorDash announces Pinky Cole, CEO of vegan burger phenomenon Slutty Vegan, today begins a year-long role as the company’s Chief Restaurant Advisor. In her new position, Cole will serve as a “Voice of the Industry” by providing the perspective of a local restaurant operator. An integrated role Cole will also regularly communicate with DoorDash leaders, employees and local restaurateurs through industry roundtables and strategic meetings. DoorDash will …

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© Shiru

Ex Tyson Foods CEO Joins Former Impossible Foods’ Rachel Konrad at California’s Shiru

Shiru, a biotech startup that creates novel plant-based ingredients for the global food industry, appoints three new advisors including former president and CEO of Tyson Foods Dean Banks. Banks joins a list of industry veterans at the company including Rachel Konrad, ex-Chief Communications Officer of Impossible Foods. Founded in 2019 and based in Emeryville, California, Shiru aims to reduce the world’s reliance on animals for food by providing sustainable, plant-based …

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Elysabeth Alfano

©Elysabeth Alfano

Plant-Based Leader Elysabeth Alfano Joins All Y’alls Foods as New Advisor

All Y’alls Foods, a vegan jerky brand, announces plant-based business expert Elysabeth Alfano has joined the company’s Advisory Board. In her new role, Alfano will help support the brand through scaling and expansion.  Based in Texas, All Y’alls produces a best-selling line of meatless jerky and snacks including It’s Jerky Y’all and Big Crunchy Bacony Bits. In March, the brand reported its sales had doubled in the previous six months, …

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