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

© Shinsegae Foods

Shinsegae’s No Brand Burger Chain Introduces the Better Burger as First of “Numerous” Alternative Launches in Korea

June 1, 2023

South Korea: Shinsegae Food, the food business arm of retail giant Shinsegae Group, announces the launch of the Better Burger at its No Brand Burger chain. The burger is created with its ground Better Meat and features fully plant-based cheese, bolognese sauce, and buns, which were all developed in-house. Interestingly, the company is touting the launch as a world’s first. Shinsegae claims this is the “first whose four major ingredients are all plant based, including ‘Better Bun’ […], a patty made with ‘Better Meat’, [and] recently developed veggie cheese and sauce. Among burger franchises around the world, No Brand Burger’s ‘Better Burger’ is the first burger even whose cheese is also plant-based.” This is a bold claim which is debatable, since even the McPlant is …

Organisations and Brands:Shinsegae Foods

College students in dining hall

©Tulane University

Study: 81% of College Students Choose Plant-Based Meal When It’s the Default Option

June 1, 2023May 31, 2023

In a “first of its kind” study, global food service provider Sodexo says it found that switching from a meat-default to a plant-default meal at several colleges produced a dramatic result: 81% of students chose the plant-based meals. Surveys also indicated that the students – including meat eaters – were more likely to express satisfaction with meat-free meals on days when plant-based food was the default. Working with the Food for Climate League and the Better Food Foundation, Sodexo states the study is the first multi-university in-field experiment using default plant-based options within all-you-care-to-eat settings. The study involved three US colleges: Tulane University in New Orleans, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. “Astounding” results The research team assessed …

Organisations and Brands:Sodexo

EAT HAPPY instore sushi concept

© EAT HAPPY

EAT HAPPY Trials Vegan Fish Sushi in Austria Where Vegan Diet is “Rising Steadily”

May 31, 2023

EAT HAPPY, an in-store sushi concept and leading supplier of Asian convenience products in mainland Europe, launches three plant-based fish sushi products, stating that the company sees the “proportion of those people who eat a purely vegan diet rising steadily in Austria”. The products being trialed at four initial test markets in Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are Vegan Salmon Nigiri, Vegan Salmon Maki, and Vegan Tuna California. The vegan sushi products are set to expand nationally throughout Austria after the test phase. EAT HAPPY’s plant-based offerings EAT HAPPY is represented in more than 3,000 locations in stationary food retailers throughout Europe and operates 50 EAT HAPPY Shops as well as in more than 1,000 chests at stores such as Billa and Spar. Last May, the …

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Whipped Oat Milk Ice Cream

©Whipped Urban Dessert Lab

How Whipped, the World’s First Oat Milk Ice Cream Shop, is Taking New York City by Storm

May 31, 2023May 30, 2023

The world is filled with ice cream shops, but while the majority rely on dairy products, and a growing number use plant-based ice creams made from almonds, coconuts and cashews, only one shop has seized on the oat milk mega trend to bring a whole new kind of soft serve to market. Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, based in New York City, is a revolutionary ice cream shop billed as the world’s first to solely feature oat milk-based soft serve. Known for its artisan, decadently-topped “ice crème” cups and cones, Whipped has become a viral sensation, attracting legions of fans willing to wait on hour-long lines that stretch outside its Lower Manhattan shop. Founded in 2019, Whipped was created to offer a better ice cream experience …

Organisations and Brands:Whipped Urban Dessert Lab

Odd Burger

©Odd Burger Corp.

Odd Burger Terminates Letter of Intent With Zoglo’s Food Corp

May 30, 2023

At the end of April 2023, Canada’s vegan fast food chain Odd Burger Corporation announced an LoI with plant-based food company Zoglo’s Food Corp whereby Odd Burger was to acquire 100% of its issued and outstanding common shares and combine the businesses. Odd Burger today states that this non-binding letter of intent has been terminated in accordance with its terms. “The company continues to pursue other business opportunities and wishes Zoglo’s success in their future operations and business objectives,” says the press release. Amid an ongoing list of announcements, this March the company appointed Marc Goodman, Vice President and General Manager at 7-Eleven Canada Inc, to its Board of Directors. Furthermore, the company today posted financial results for its second quarter, ending March 31, 2023. …

Organisations and Brands:Odd Burger

Spanish restaurant chain Ribs launches four vegan options

© Ribs

Spain’s Meat-Heavy Chain Ribs Introduces ‘True American Vegans & Veggies’ Menu

May 30, 2023

Adapting to emerging trends and consumer habits, the QSR restaurant chain Ribs, with multiple stores across Spain, has launched a new range of vegan dishes that it says do not comprise the brand’s authentic grilled flavor. The new menu, dubbed True American Vegans & Veggies, includes four options: Vegan Nachos, Veggie Onion & Chipotle Burger, Vegan Cheese Burger, and Vegan Burritos. Ribs, a brand of the Ibersol Group, was founded in Madrid in 1991, inspired by the first authentic American steakhouse in Spain, El Descanso. Their charcoal grills cook more than 330 tons of ribs yearly for the more than 3 million customers who visit their restaurants in Spain. Swapping the meat For this vegan offer, Ribs replaces the animal meat often used in these …

Organisations and Brands:Ribs

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Australia's Vegan Food Hub is raising funds to expand its business across Australia

© Soul Burger

The Vegan Food Hub Launches Crowd Equity Raise to Open 40 Vegan Fast Food Joints in Australia

May 31, 2023May 30, 2023

Note: this article was amended to correct 2028 to 2029 The Vegan Food Hub (VFH), an Australian vegan restaurant company that owns Sydney’s burger chain Soul Burger and ghost-kitchen brands Plantas Taqueria and Zaynas Lebanese, recently announced the launch of a crowd equity raise to expand its restaurant portfolio. Amit Tewari, a pioneer in Sydney’s vegan scene, established Soul Burger in 2015 and founded VFH to popularise vegan food and make it readily accessible throughout Australia. His company operates four vegan burger stores across New South Wales, including Parramatta, Glebe, Newtown, and Randwick. It has eight delivery-only locations of its other plant brands. “We will be building brands across a diverse range of cuisines, with the unifying theme being, they are all vegan!” says VFH. 40 restaurants …

Organisations and Brands:Plantas Taqueria Soul Burger The Vegan Food Hub Zaynas Lebanese

Neat Burger founders

© Neat Burger

Neat Burger Raises $18M as Sales at First US Location Beat Expectations

June 1, 2023May 30, 2023

Plant-based fast food chain Neat Burger has raised $18 million in a Series B round led by private institutional investment firm B-Flexion. Other participants included Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (a longtime backer), Chimera Capital, and new investors such as Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Neat Burger will use the funding to continue expanding its global reach. The news comes after the UK-based chain opened its first permanent US location in Nolita, New York City, last month. Sales so far have beaten expectations, and the store is currently the best performing in the group’s estate due to high levels of repeat purchases. “We see New York as a tastemaker gateway to the US, and by all metrics it has been our most successful launch to …

Organisations and Brands:Neat Burger

Vegan meal delivery service Planty

© Planty

Vegan Meal Delivery Service Planty Reports Over 300,000 Meals Sold Since Launch

May 31, 2023May 29, 2023

UK-based vegan delivery service Planty has reported that it is now selling 10,000 meals per month, with more than 300,000 meals sold since its launch in 2020. Planty’s success has been accelerated through partnerships with several major plant-based brands; its bestselling Not-a-Chicken Tikka Masala is made using Heura‘s chicken-style chunks, while Meatless Farm products are used for the Roast Dinner and Polpette Alfredo. The BBQ Beef Enchilada and the soon-to-launch Korean Bibimbap are made with Fable’s plant-based beef. A new meal made with Better Nature tempeh is set to launch this summer, and three of Planty’s existing meals — the Buddha Bowl, Sweet Chilli Tempeh Stir Fry, and Tempeh Lasagne — will also begin using Better Nature products. In 2022, Planty’s Not-a-Chicken Tikka Masala and …

Organisations and Brands:Planty

Vegan Crab Cake Sandwich at PLNT Burger

©The Plant Based Seafood Co

Mind Blown Seafood and PLNT Burger Team Up to Launch “New Bay” Crab Cake Sandwich

May 26, 2023

In celebration of World Ocean Month, Mind Blown™ by The Plant Based Seafood Co. and vegan chain PLNT Burger announce they are partnering to launch the New Bay Crab Cake Sandwich this summer. Available for a limited time, the sandwich will be sold at PLNT Burger’s 7 locations across the DC Metro area – including Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC – from June 1st until Labor Day weekend. The New Bay sandwich features Mind Blown’s Maryland-Style Plant Based Crab Cake, which is said to offer the real taste and texture of traditional crab meat, and contains 11 grams of protein. As part of Mind Blown’s mission to protect the oceans, 1% of profits will be donated to the Coral Restoration Foundation, which works to restore the …

Organisations and Brands:Mind Blown PLNT Burger

Spicy Moon Vegan Chinese Cuisine

©Spicy Moon

Spicy Moon Opens One of NYC’s Largest-Ever Vegan Restaurants

May 25, 2023May 25, 2023

One of New York City’s largest restaurant openings this year belongs to Spicy Moon – an acclaimed Chinese restaurant serving all-vegan Szechuan-style cuisine. Spicy Moon recently opened its third location at 265-267 Bowery, a massive 11,000 sq ft. space that reportedly features 41 tables with 170 seats, as well as a 16-seat bar. First launched in 2019, Spicy Moon is one of the city’s first vegan Chinese restaurants and specializes in authentic Szechuan dishes ranging from the traditional (Mapo Tofu, Dan Dan noodles, Scallion Pancakes) to innovative (Crispy Duck Pancakes, Vegan Duck Wrap, Crabless Rangoon.) Its highly-rated menu also offers a selection of Chinese beers, infused rice wine and cold-pressed juices. Founded by chef/ owner Nick Wang, Spicy Moon opened two successful locations in the …

Organisations and Brands:Spicy Moon

MAX Burgers

© MAX Burgers

Sweden’s Oldest Burger Chain MAX Burgers Launches “Supreme Green” Meat-Free Menu

May 25, 2023

Swedish chain MAX Burgers has launched its new Supreme Green meatless menu, as the company works towards the goal of making half the burgers it sells red-meat-free. MAX Burgers’ original Green menu was introduced in 2016, and the chain has now debuted more meat-free options to “make going green the natural choice”. These include the vegan Real Green Burger, which is made from mung beans, and the lacto-ovo vegetarian Crispy Supreme burger, made from Swedish yellow peas. Fully plant-based items on the Supreme Green menu also include the Plant Beef Burger and the Crispy Green Nuggets. Some options are not suitable for vegans as they contain dairy cheese. Founded in 1968, MAX Burgers is Sweden’s oldest restaurant chain and now has 191 locations; most are …

Organisations and Brands:Max Burgers

UNLIMEAT 2 Hands corn dog

UNLIMEAT X 2 Hands

Cult Chain Two Hands Launches UNLIMEAT Vegan Corn Dogs in Response to Demand

May 24, 2023

UNLIMEAT, formed in South Korea and also operating from the US, announces a collaboration with Two Hands, a US franchise offering a range of Korean-style corn dogs, to launch a vegan option containing UNLIMEAT’s vegan sausage, in response to growing consumer demand. Two Hands Corn Dogs operates in more than 60 locations throughout the US and states there are hundreds more branches set to open across the rest of 2023. The business has gained attention in the United States for its unique offering of a diverse range of fillings and coatings, with the UNLIMEAT collab representing the chain’s first vegan option. UNLIMEAT claims that it runs the largest plant-based meat-exclusive factory in Asia, with a wide portfolio including several products suitable for the American palette …

Organisations and Brands:Two Hands Unlimeat

Plant Milk Butter

©Miyoko's Creamery

Miyoko’s Creamery Partners with Dot Foods to Expand Plant Milk Butter and Cheese in US Food Service

May 19, 2023

Plant dairy innovator Miyoko’s Creamery announces it is partnering with Dot Foods, North America’s largest food industry redistributor, to bring its award-winning Plant Milk Mozzarella and Butter to US food service nationwide. Through the partnership, Miyoko’s plant-based products – which have been developed for all culinary and baking applications – will become available to over 5,000 food service distributors across the country. According to the company, it strives to create artisan plant-based cheeses and butter that challenge category norms with taste appeal and culinary excellence. The new lineup at Dot Foods includes: European Style Plant Milk Butter – A cultured and churned butter made using traditional methods that melts, spreads, bakes, and browns. Pourable Plant Milk Mozzarella – A first-of-its-kind, organic cashew milk made without the …

Organisations and Brands:DOT Foods Miyoko's Creamery

Beyond Meat Smashable Burger

© Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat Launches 2.5oz Beyond Smashable Burger Patty Into US Foodservice

May 19, 2023

Following the emerging trend for smash burgers, differentiated by the cooking method of smashing the meat into the grill with a spatula, creating increased surface area and allowing for an elevated taste profile due to the extra heat; Beyond Meat today launches 2.5oz Beyond Smashable Burger into US foodservice channels. Described by Beyond as having a “juicy, tender center and crispy, caramelized exterior”, the new patty is said to offer a “customizable experience so that foodservice operators can create the perfect smash-style burger option to fit their menu.” The launch comes in response to the fact that smash burgers have been trending on social media in recent months, while plant-based burgers have remained the fastest-growing term on restaurant menus since 2019 — up 1,150% according …

Organisations and Brands:Beyond Meat