The Kraft Heinz Not Company KD mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Daiya and The Kraft Heinz NotCompany Both Launch Vegan Mac & Cheese in Canada

Two major, noteworthy brands in the alternative foods space have launched vegan mac & cheese products this week in Canada, a country known for its love of the traditionally dairy-heavy dish. The Kraft Heinz Not Company, a joint venture between Kraft Heinz — the name most closely associated with packet mac and cheese — and Chile’s NotCo, has today debuted KD NotMacandCheese in Canada, marking the first plant-based addition to its Canadian product line. Concurrently, Daiya, known for its dairy-free cheese alternatives, announced the introduction of a new line of Dry Powdered Mac & Cheese. Canada as biggest market for mac & cheese In November of last year, The Kraft Heinz Not Company debuted the plant-based Mac & Cheese in the United States. However, the …

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Plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm expands to Belgium

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Almond-Based Cheese Startup Dreamfarm Expands to Belgium Following “Incredibly Successful” Italian Launch

Italian plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm has announced it is expanding to Belgium, rolling out at Delhaize stores from March 14. The expansion follows the company’s “incredibly successful” launch in the Italian market. Dreamfarm offers almond-based products that provide healthy alternatives to cheese. While many plant-based cheeses are made predominantly with coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, Dreamfarm’s products have minimal saturated fat and a Nutriscore of A. The company’s flagship product is a liquid-state mozzarella alternative, which is made using a proprietary processing technique and is the first plant-based mozzarella to ever achieve certified liquid status from the Italian government. Dreamfarm has also developed a plant-based cheese spread. “After two years of testing, we are very pleased with the first products we are …

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Sandwich Pull Applewood cheese

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Applewood Vegan Reformulates Recipe to Closely Emulate Dairy Cheese

Applewood Vegan debuted almost five years ago and has since seen consistent success in the UK market, currently representing 20% of Applewood’s total sales. Now the brand announces a reformulated recipe for the vegan offering, aimed at enhancing its texture to more closely replicate the sensory experience of dairy cheese. “Over the past five years and since the creation of Applewood Vegan, we have witnessed significant advancements in plant-based food technologies. Through rigorous experimentation with numerous base recipes, we have successfully crafted a foundational recipe that closely emulates the richness of dairy. Our refined manufacturing process now mirrors that of our well-established Applewood dairy brand, contributing to a remarkable enhancement in texture,” explains the brand, a subsidiary of Norseland, a leading supplier of speciality blended …

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Engevita yeast flakes

© Engevita / Lallemand

Lallemand Adds Garlic-Parmesan Style to Popular Engevita Range of Nutritional Yeast Flakes

Canada-based yeast specialist Lallemand Bio-Ingredients announces the latest addition to its Engevita brand: Garlic-Parmesan Style Powder. This savory powder ingredient blends two popular flavor profiles — garlic and parmesan cheese — suitable for various applications, ranging from snacks and sauces to batter systems and ready meals, just like the other well-known “nooch” (nutritional yeast) variants enjoyed worldwide. The Engevita brand, popular since the 1950s, is a market leader in nutritional yeast products, and the most prominent nutritional yeast product in markets such as the UK, offering premium, whole-food cultured inactive nutritional yeast derived from primary-grown Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its natural composition is rich in complete protein, containing all relevant amino acids, fibers, and vitamins. The introduction of the garlic-parmesan flavored version represents a significant leap for …

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Daiya Foods Fromage Forgery

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Daiya Introduces “Fromage Forgery” with Actor Lionel Boyce in a Nod to Dupe Culture

Daiya, a leading dairy-free brand, has launched “Fromage Forgery,” a marketing campaign to promote the newly launched formula, introducing its newly revamped dairy-free cheese to a wider audience in collaboration with actor Lionel Boyce, known for his work on the award-winning series “The Bear”. The initiative plays off the ‘dupe culture’ trend, which has been prevalent in other sectors such as fashion and beauty, and involves product alternatives that closely resemble original luxury items. The company marked this initiative in downtown New York City, where over 350 people gathered to experience Daiya’s cheese alternative with its proprietary Daiya Oat Cream™ blend and its ability to mimic traditional dairy cheese in both taste and texture. The product’s “cheese dupe status” was showcased through a simple yet …

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Aldi plant-based smoked salmon slices

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Aldi UK Launches Plant-Based Smoked Salmon Slices & “Biggest Ever” Vegan Cheese Range

Aldi UK has expanded its Plant Menu range by launching plant-based smoked salmon slices and a new selection of vegan cheeses. The No Salmon Slices are smoked over beechwood for an authentic taste and texture. They have already attracted attention from influencers, with Lilly Assender — who has over 110,000 followers on her Instagram account @foodie_lilly — saying she was “shook at how much this tasted like smoked salmon”. Meanwhile, vegan TikToker @Jadegreenvegan taste-tested the plant-based salmon and rated it 9/10, in a video that received over 12,000 likes and comments. Cheese selection Aldi UK has also just launched its largest-ever vegan cheese range, including three varieties of cheddar alternatives — Sliced, Grated, and Block. Additionally, there is a selection of Continental Cheese alternatives on …

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microbial protein Formo cheese gratin

© Formo

German Consumers Underestimate Climate Impact of Dairy But Are Willing to Try Animal-Free Cheese

A study commissioned by Germany’s LI Food — a state initiative for the food industry in Lower Saxony — has found that consumers often underestimate the climate impact of dairy products. The survey found that while most consumers are now aware of the environmental impact of meat, they believe that cheese is significantly less harmful. In reality, the opposite is sometimes true — Parmesan produces 6.3 CO2e/kg, while pork produces 4.6 CO2e/kg. Most respondents also did not associate cheese production with animal suffering. The study then asked consumers about their openness to alternatives to cheese — specifically, animal-free products made using precision fermentation. While there was a degree of scepticism about food technology, responses were generally positive, especially among consumers who were aware of the …

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Rudy Yoo of Armored Fresh

Rudy Yoo © Armored Fresh

Armored Fresh: “Our Plant-Based Cheeses Are a Combination of Innovation and Culinary Art”

Armored Fresh is a South Korean food tech company focused on producing plant-based alternatives to cheese. The company has developed a range of innovative almond-based products that are said to replicate the taste and texture of dairy cheese, and are infused with nutrients to provide a comparable protein content. To cater to consumers with nut allergies, Armored Fresh launched a new range of cheese alternatives made from oat milk last year. Several varieties of both the oat and almond-based cheeses are available for retail and food service across the US, including via the company’s online store. In November, Armored Fresh significantly expanded its retail footprint in the country, gaining listings at Fresh Thyme Market, Town and Country Foods, Fred Meyer, and more. We spoke to …

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New Culture_lifestyle

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Survey by New Culture Reveals Growing Interest in Animal-Free Mozzarella Among Omnivores

A recent survey conducted by AMC Global and alt-dairy startup New Culture has uncovered a significant interest in animal-free mozzarella cheese among a diverse group of consumers, including omnivores, flexitarians, and vegans. The study highlights a growing openness to animal-free dairy products, even among those who consume animal-based products. New Culture creates dairy-free cheese that has the same stretch and melt qualities as traditional cheese but without using any animal byproducts. This is achieved by replacing casein, the key dairy protein in cheese, with a non-animal alternative produced through precision fermentation. The company has recently scaled up its precision fermentation platform, achieving an 80% reduction in product cost, after debuting its animal-free mozzarella in Los Angeles last June. Shira Horn, Executive Vice President at AMC …

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Oat Pepper Jack Armored Fresh

© Armored Fresh

Armored Fresh Reveals Latest Zero-Dairy Innovation: Oat Milk Pepper Jack Slices

Armored Fresh, a foodtech company based in South Korea and the USA which specializes in veganized American cheese slices for the US market, recently added Oat Milk Pepper Jack Slices to its portfolio of zero-dairy cheese products. The new slices leverage the brand’s patented technologies and contain jalapeños and oat milk for a “perfectly melty” and savory cheese that is said to offer an identical taste and texture to animal-based pepper jack cheeses on the market. Established in 2001, the company has developed a range of innovative almond-based products using patented fermentation processes designed to overcome common challenges in the alternative dairy industry, such as taste and meltability, making their products more appealing to consumers who are accustomed to the characteristics of dairy cheese. ​​In recent years, Armored Fresh has been …

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Seeductive Foods

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Seeductive Foods: Redefining Dairy Alternatives with Regenerative Hemp and Upcycled Seeds

Seeductive Foods, an alternative cheese company based in Jacksonville, Florida, is redefining dairy alternatives with its sustainable and clean-label vegan cheeses made from regenerative hemp and upcycled pumpkin seeds. Founded in 2019 by former food industry professional Meghan Barbera, Seeductive Foods has grown from its humble beginnings at a local farmers’ market to shipping thousands of orders across the United States. Barbera’s journey began after a transformative trip to India, which led her to embrace veganism. Her craving for a dairy-free cheese alternative inspired the creation of Seeductive Foods, leveraging her Culinary Science degree and corporate food production experience, including her time working at Campbell’s Soup Company. Seeductive Foods was created with a mission to reimagine the alternative dairy space with a plant-based option that …

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Daiya new formulation

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Daiya to “Revitalize the Category’s Market Potential” with Natural Fermentation Recipe Switch

Daiya, a global leader in plant-based dairy, has announced the relaunch of popular plant-based cheese products with new and improved recipe formulations. This introduction follows the company’s significant multi-million dollar investment in a groundbreaking natural fermentation technology earlier this year, which CEO Michael Watt said was “one of the largest investments in next-generation plant-based cheese since we started the company 15 years ago.” The reformulated cheese line, now available across North America, incorporates the Daiya Oat Cream blend, a propriety cultured ingredient that will now be central to Daiya’s offerings. The new formula is being used in products including dairy-free shreds, slices, blocks, and sticks, aiming to replicate the melt and flavor of traditional dairy cheese, meeting consumer expectations for taste and texture. Traditional fermentation …

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Climax Food cheeses

Image courtesy of Climax Foods

Vegan Cheese Market to Surpass $8 Billion by 2032

According to a report by marketresearch.biz, the vegan cheese market will increase in value from $4.2 billion to $8 billion by 2032, growing with a CAGR of 6.2%. The predicted growth — described as “unprecedented” — is attributed to increasing consumer awareness of animal welfare, health, and sustainability. New technologies — such as the recent development of high-protein cheese alternatives made from fermented legumes in Denmark — will also boost the market by improving taste, texture, and nutritional value. Furthermore, the growing availability of vegan cheeses in supermarkets and restaurants will increase sales and consumer awareness. Growth for vegan mozzarella Soy-based vegan cheese is expected to account for two-fifths of the market, with almond-based products also seeing significant growth. In terms of variety, mozzarella and …

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Emily Nytko-Lutz

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Intellectual Property Law Expert Emily Nytko-Lutz Discusses the Chemistry of Non Dairy Cheesemaking

Emily Nytko-Lutz, Senior Associate at intellectual property law firm Reddie & Grose, handles patent work in the chemical and general mechanical fields. Emily advises a range of domestic and international companies. She is experienced in patent drafting and global patent prosecution, conducting due diligence and European freedom-to-operate assessments and European oppositions and appeals. Emily completed a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Inorganic Chemistry with a focus on the development of frustrated magnetic materials. Can non-dairy cheese melt barriers and conquer our tastebuds? By Emily Nytko-Lutz Consumers are increasingly seeking alternatives to dairy-based cheeses due to environmental, animal welfare, and personal health concerns. Producing a plant-based cheese that melts and stretches similarly to dairy cheese, however, represents a significant technological challenge. Casein, a …

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Palace Culture Kimcheeze

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Organic Vegan Cheese Brand Palace Culture Gains First Major Retail Listing at Waitrose

Palace Culture, an organic vegan cheese producer based in London, UK, has gained a nationwide retail listing at supermarket chain Waitrose. Three of the brand’s cheeses are now available at Waitrose stores: Mouldy Goaty — An alternative to aged goat’s cheese, made from cashews and almonds for a creamy texture. The product received a Great Taste award earlier this year. Kimcheeze — Made from cashews combined with kimchi brine. Holy Smokes — Also made from cashews, with the addition of cayenne pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika. All the cheeses are fermented with live cultures, which are said to be beneficial for gut health. Palace Culture cheeses are also available at retailers such as Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Selfridges, Abel & Cole, and The Vegan Kind. …

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Purezza announces merger with La Fauxmagerie

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Purezza Merges With La Fauxmagerie to “Combine the UK’s Best Plant-Based Restaurant & Cheese Brand”

British plant-based pizza chain Purezza has announced a merger with female-led artisan vegan cheese producer La Fauxmagerie, acquiring a majority stake in the company. Following the merger, the companies will expand their collaborations with the aim of “creating sustainable plant–based products and menus which appeal to all, regardless of dietary requirements”. Purezza says the merger will support its ethos of sourcing high-quality ingredients from local artisans. The chain currently has three locations in Brighton, Camden, and Manchester. The news comes just a few months after Purezza announced that its Stracciazza cheese alternative would be launching on vegan pizzas at all Everyman Cinemas locations UK-wide. Purezza opened a dedicated manufacturing facility for its cheeses in 2021, after receiving significant demand from other food service providers. ’We’re …

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© Bel Brands

The Laughing Cow Launches Plant-Based Version of Popular Cheese Triangles in the UK

Cheese brand The Laughing Cow has introduced a plant-based version of its much-loved mini soft cheese triangles in the UK. The new spreadable product is made from almonds and fortified with calcium and vitamin B12. Available as a wheel of eight triangles, it is claimed to be the UK’s first plant-based cheese to be sold in portions. The Laughing Cow is owned by Bel Brands, which previously launched dairy-free versions of the cheese triangles in the US last year. The company has also introduced plant-based versions of its Babybel snacking cheeses in the UK, the US, and Canada. Leader in cheese alternatives In 2021, Bel Brands launched a dairy-free version of its popular cream cheese brand, Boursin. Additionally, the company has created a dedicated plant-based …

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Italy’s Dreamfarm Raises €5M for “Groundbreaking” Almond-Based Mozzarella

Italian plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm has secured €5 million in investment from accomplished food industry entrepreneurs Giampaolo Cagnin and Francesco Mutti. The funding comes after the company achieved a “groundbreaking milestone” by developing a unique almond-based mozzarella alternative. Like conventional dairy mozzarella, the plant-based cheese is sold as a ball suspended in liquid. According to Dreamfarm, it is the first plant-based mozzarella to ever achieve government-certified liquid status. The product also contains less than 1% saturated fat, far lower than conventional mozzarella and other plant-based alternatives. It is made from Italian almonds and has received a Nutriscore of A, the highest possible rating. New facility and expansion Some of the funding has already been used to establish a production facility in Sala Baganza, equipped with …

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Honestly Tasty cheese board

Honestly Tasty, image courtesy of PBWE

Say Cheese! Discover an Assortment of Plant-Based Cheeses at the Plant Based World Expo

The quest for delicious plant-based cheese has long been a challenge, with various styles serving different culinary purposes, from pizza toppings to sandwich spreads and cheesecake fillings. However, at this year’s Plant Based World Expo Europe, an exciting array of plant-based, dairy-free cheeses takes centre stage, promising to cater to every taste and culinary application. Whether you’re in the mood for an American-style cheese slice to melt on a burger, a stretchy, gooey mozzarella, or an artisanal blue cheese fit for a holiday cheese board, this expo has you covered. Highlights include: 1. Honestly Tasty (Stand I23): Honestly Tasty‘s 100% vegan and cruelty-free cheese alternatives are available for delivery through its website and stockists across the United Kingdom. Its award-winning plant-based Blue Cheese, made with …

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Happy Cheeze products

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Veganz Acquires Brands & Production Site of Germany’s Happy Cheeze

Berlin-based vegan brand Veganz Group has acquired the brands and production site of another German company, Cuxhaven-based Happy Cheeze. Happy Cheeze is a premium plant-based cheese producer that sells its products under the brand name Dr. Mannah’s. The company ran into financial difficulties earlier this year due to the rising cost of energy and raw materials, along with reduced consumer spending power. Insolvency proceedings were opened at the end of August. The acquisition will allow Veganz to expand its plant-based cheese range with more products and distribution channels, along with increased production capacity. Happy Cheese produces 13 varieties of cashew-based cheese at its 1,000m2 production site; these include alternatives to parmesan, camembert, and spreadable cheeses. Dr. Mannah’s products are sold at international food retailers, organic …

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