Gastronomy & Food Service: Latest News 2023 - vegconomist: the vegan business magazine

©Smashburger

Smashburger Partners with jack & annie’s to Trial New Jackfruit-Based Burger Patty

January 30, 2023

Fast casual burger chain Smashburger announces it is partnering with jackfruit meat producer jack & annie’s to trial a new menu item: the Plant-Based Classic Smash Burger. For a limited time, the jackfruit-based burger is now available in select US Smashburger locations in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. According to the chain, the new patty can be substituted for any traditional protein across its menu items. The Plant-Based Classic Smash Burger features lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, American cheese (non-vegan), Smash Sauce (non-vegan), and ketchup on a toasted bun. 1st plant-based patty According to jack & annie’s, this burger marks its first branded partnership with a fast-casual restaurant chain, though it has been supplying jackfruit products to other restaurants for several years, the company …

jam delish modern caribbean vegan dishes

Six Exciting New Vegan Restaurants Appear Around the World

January 27, 2023

Around the world, six new vegan restaurants have emerged, exploring different types of cuisine with exciting dishes using vegetables and protein alternatives in a way never used before. People are becoming more aware of vegan food’s health and environmental benefits, creating an exciting new market of vegan restaurants, from high–end gourmet restaurants to casual eateries. Jam Delish – London, UK Jam Delish is an independent family-owned Caribbean vegan restaurant and cocktail bar in Angel, Islington, London. Starting out as a delivery-only kitchen in Wimbledon, the founders opened their first flagship restaurant just last month. From fish tacos or tofu skewers to meaty, deep-fried buttermilk oyster mushrooms, all dishes are served with glossy sauces, unusual vegetable purees, and tropical fruits. Besides its modern take on Caribbean food, Jam Delis’s cocktail …

Can a Vegan Butcher Shop Be Named a Butcher Shop?

January 27, 2023

On 7 January, Die vegane Fleischerei, a vegan butcher shop, opened in Dresden and became a nationwide phenomenon overnight. But not only because it was flooded with vegan customers. According to t-online, there was online outrage after the vegan butcher opened in Dresden’s Neustadt, with schnitzel, meatloaf rolls, salami, and aspic on display: the people of Saxony could not imagine that a shop without animal products could call itself a butcher shop. Can vegan salami be called salami in Germany? Dresden’s food inspectors have a clear opinion. No. Not long after the shop’s opening, authorities identified around 10 to 15 vegan products that had animal product names banning them from sale because they were violating either EU or German labelling guidelines, reported t-online. According to …

A New Trend Emerging? The Barn Becomes Latest UK Pub to Trial 100% Vegan Menu

January 27, 2023

A UK pub near Rugby, Warwickshire, is set to become the latest to adopt a fully plant-based menu. The Barn will serve animal-free dishes throughout the month of February. The pub has already begun offering plant-based meals by default, with a surcharge of £2 to adapt a dish to a non-vegan diet. A vegan carvery is hosted every Sunday, with meat-based options available but prepared out of sight in the kitchen. Now, The Barn plans to drop meat altogether for a month after its plant-based options proved hugely popular with the vegan community. It appears that the change may be made permanent if the trial is successful. The menu includes risotto, tofu fish and chips, vegan sausages and mash, and a choice of three plant-based …

McWin Acquires Majority Stake in L’Osteria for Almost 400 Million Euros

January 26, 2023

McWin, a private investment firm specialising in foodservice and food technology, recently announced the acquisition of a majority stake in L’Osteria, the leading casual dining operator in Germany and Austria. The chain currently operates 157 locations in eight countries, with over 6,000 employees in the DACH region, the UK, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The transaction is valued at nearly €400 million. The founders Klaus Rader and Friedemann Findeis will both remain minority shareholders in the company. The new partnership with McWin will further support and accelerate the group’s expansion both in Germany and in numerous new and existing markets across Europe. L’Osteria and plant-based The chain has a wide vegan offering. Its pizza dough is vegan, and for this Veganuary, it …

©Talia di Napoli

Frozen Pizza Favorite Talia di Napoli Debuts First-Ever Vegan Margherita Pizza

January 27, 2023January 26, 2023

Frozen pizza brand Talia di Napoli, which ships authentic handmade pizzas directly from Naples, announces the launch of its first-ever certified vegan pizza: The Vegan Margherita. Handcrafted by trained master pizza-makers in Naples, the Vegan Margherita is described as a gourmet pizza experience that tastes just like classic Neopolitan pies. Famous for shipping authentic, made-in-Italy pizzas straight to US customers’ doors, Talia says the Vegan Margherita features a handmade sourdough crust topped with a signature pomodoro sauce and fresh basil. The pizzas are then topped with plant-based mozzarella sourced from Italy, created from a blend of cashews and almonds. According to the brand, vegans and non-vegans alike will be impressed by the Margherita’s flavor and texture, and this option allows even more people to indulge …

Good News for LATAM as Starbucks Launches NotCo Products in Mexico & Argentina

January 26, 2023

This month, while food service chains around the world are expanding their offering for Veganuary and are committing to achieving sustainable goals, NotCo’s branded business NotCo Food, which offers products including NotMilk, NotBurger, and NotChicken, continues to be a leading supplier for retail and food service in Latin America. Starbucks Mexico Launches NotCo sandwiches Earlier this month, Starbucks Mexico announced the expansion of its food menu by introducing two new plant-based options made with NotCo products: NotChicken Baguette and NotBurger Baguette. Both sandwiches are 100% plant-based and are offered with NotMayo, NotCo’s 100% plant-based emulsion with a taste, aroma, and texture similar to mayonnaise. Starbucks Argentina Introduces NotMilk Buenos Aires Starbucks, operated in Argentina by licensee Alsea, recently announced a collaboration with NotCo to expand …

Shinsegae Foods Opens ‘Better Meat’ Store in Seoul’s Trendy Gangnam District

January 25, 2023

Shinsegae Foods, the food business arm of South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group, has announced the opening of a store and restaurant for its plant-based brand Better Meat, in Seoul’s trendy Gangnam district. The company’s new premium store, The Better Vecchia & Nuovo, located in the SSG Food Market, offers a selection of Better Meat’s products and dishes, including cold cuts, meatballs, pasta menus, and vegan meat salads. According to Shinsegae Foods, the move follows the success of a Better Meat pop-up store that opened in the same gourmet market from July to December 2022, which attracted more than 13,000 customers, many of whom requested the company to open an official store. Better Meat and Better Foods Shinsegae Foods launched Better Meat in July 2021, partnering with …

©Meta Burger

Colorado: Meta Burger Partners with MeliBio to Debut Bee-Free Honey on Special Menu

January 25, 2023January 24, 2023

Meta Burger, Colorado’s leading plant-based burger chain, announces it is partnering with MeliBio to debut the world’s first bee-free honey on its menu. Beginning in February, Meta Burger will offer a specially crafted dish made with MeliBio’s plant-based honey. This month, customers have the chance to vote for which MeliBio honey-inspired dish they would like to see on the chain’s menu in February: Hot Honey Garlic Tender Basket, a Honey Sesame Burger, or a Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich. According to Meta Burger, which operates three locations in Denver and Boulder, this is the first time MeliBio’s bee-free honey will be available in the state of Colorado. “Meta Burger is making delicious, sustainable food more accessible,” said Michael Reeves, co-founder of Meta Burger. “Partnering with a …

©Boldly

Aiming to Disrupt Global Seafood, Boldly Debuts With Plant-Based Calamari, Sashimi, Crab Sticks and More

January 24, 2023January 24, 2023

Boldly, a new plant-based foods brand, announces the upcoming launch of its 100% vegan seafood line, featuring salmon and tuna sashimi, calamari, shrimp, crab sticks, and white fish filets. The range will initially launch through US restaurant and food service partnerships in Summer 2023. Bringing diversity Created to disrupt the $600Bn global seafood industry, Boldly states its products use cutting-edge innovation to deliver the same taste and texture as animal-based seafood. As the public becomes more aware of the dire threats facing the world’s oceans, such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and heavy metal contamination, more consumers than ever are looking to balance their seafood intake with plant-based alternatives. Boldly’s new seafood line, which features konjac root as a core ingredient, is intended to create a …

©Final Foods

Final Foods Debuts ‘Gourmet’ Line of Whole-Cut Plant-Based Meats for Food Industry

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023

Natural foods startup Final Foods announces the launch of its first line of plant-based, protein-rich meat alternatives. Made primarily for the food service industry, Final Foods says its clean-label products are created to offer chefs a wider range of formats with premium texture. Available online, the products are initially shipping to California and Nevada. Unlike many protein alternatives that are usually sold in ground or crumbled form, Final Foods’ plant-based offerings come in slices and large cuts, which the company says makes them ideal for grilling, as well as stewing, sautéing and stir-frying. Made from pea protein, the brand states its vegan meats are created from a simple extrusion process, which provides a more realistic and natural texture with no fillers. Final Foods’ current offerings …

Lewis Hamilton-Backed Neat Burger Launches on Uber Eats in London

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023

UK-based vegan restaurant chain Neat Burger has made its food available for delivery in London via the Uber Eats app. It comes as the chain launches a new menu featuring dishes such as Buffalo Cauli, Mac n Cheeze, and Nasty Nachos. Another recent addition is the limited-edition Chick’n & Waffles, which consists of a toasted Belgian waffle and fried vegan nuggets topped with bacon bits and maple syrup. These menu options will all be available via Uber Eats, along with favourites like the Smash Daddy, Buffalo Chick’n, and signature Neat Burger. The launch is part of the delivery service’s drive to offer a wider variety of options, with the aim of catering to all dietary requirements. Celebrity backers Since its launch in 2019, Neat Burger …

©Earth Burger

In First Expansion, Texas-Based Earth Burger Opens Digital Restaurant in Dallas

January 17, 2023January 17, 2023

Earth Burger, an award-winning vegan burger chain based in San Antonio, Texas, is opening a digital restaurant in Dallas, marking the brand’s first expansion beyond the state’s South Central region. The new concept will be available to order at Oomi Digital Kitchen, a digital food hall located at 3510 Ross Ave. in Dallas. Debuting on January 17th, Earth Burger’s menu will feature its signature Ranchero, Classic Burger and Chik-n Sandwich, as well as the Breakfast Warp Wrap, Tater Tots, and popular Crinkle French Fries. The company notes all of its burgers and sandwiches are made to order, along with fresh housemade sauces. Founded in 2014, Earth Burger describes itself as one of the first concepts to serve 100% plant-based fast food, and now operates three …

Caterer Sodexo UK&I Reports Rising Demand for Meatless Meals in Workplaces

January 17, 2023

Caterer Sodexo has reported a significant increase in demand for vegetarian and vegan dishes at workplaces in the UK and Ireland. Data shows that from January to November 2022, 15% of meals sold in Wales and the North West of England were meatless, along with 11% in London and 10% in Scotland. These figures vary widely between sectors, with vegetarian and vegan dishes making up 17% of sales at Health & Care sites and, surprisingly, just 5% at schools and universities. Meanwhile, Energy & Resources workplaces have seen a huge surge in demand, with meat-free dishes rising from 2% to 12% of sales. In the Republic of Ireland, 21,000 meat-free meals were bought at Sodexo sites in 2022, increasing from 5% to 8.5% of dishes …

Canadian Vegan Restaurant Chain Copper Branch Arrives in Australia

January 13, 2023

Canadian vegan restaurant chain Copper Branch announces its arrival in Australia with the opening of the first store, in Melbourne, by the end of January. This new location marks the company’s first step towards its announced expansion plans in Australia and New Zealand. In 2021, Copper Branch was acquired by the Quebec-based franchisor of multiple restaurant concepts, Foodtastic, set to open more than 40 locations of what CB claims to be the “largest plant-based restaurant chain in the world,” (though this title may belong to Asian buffet chain Loving Hut). To date, Copper Branch operates 50 locations in various markets, including Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and the US, reports Inside Retail. A delicious take on plant-based meals In January last year, Copper Branch launched, for a …

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers