Planet A Foods ChoViva

© Planet A Foods

Investments & Finance

Planet A Foods Raises $30M to Scale Cocoa-Free Chocolate Alternative with 80% Less Carbon Footprint

Planet A Foods, a food technology company specializing in sustainable ingredients, has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round. The financing will support the industrial-scale production of ChoViva, a cocoa-free chocolate alternative, as well as expand the company’s international presence. The funding round, which was oversubscribed, drew participation from several investment firms, including Cherry Ventures, World Fund, and Bayern Kapital. Leveraging the funding, Planet A Foods aims to further its mission of providing sustainable alternatives for the food industry. CEO and co-founder Dr. Maximilian Marquart stated: “With 30 million dollars in fresh funding and an industry-leading product, Planet A Foods is no longer just a startup – we’re now on the way to becoming a leading foodtech player reshaping the sustainable food industry.” …

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Choviva x REWE Germany private label product range

Image: REWE/Planet A Foods

Sweets & Snacks

REWE Group Launches Own-Label Products Made With ChoViva Cocoa-Free Chocolate

Germany’s REWE Group says it has become the first European retailer to use ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate in its own-label products. ChoViva is produced by German startup Planet A Foods, and is made from locally-grown ingredients such as oats and sunflower seeds. The concept originated when the founders realised that most of the flavour of chocolate comes from the fermentation and roasting process rather than the taste of cocoa beans. REWE launched its first products containing ChoViva this month, under the brands ja! and REWE Beste Wahl at REWE stores and the COVO, Granola, and Chocolà brands at PENNY. By using the cocoa alternative, REWE hopes to become more ecologically responsible, as ChoViva requires far fewer resources than conventional chocolate production and is not reliant on …

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Planet A Foods founders

Drs. Max and Sara Marquart. © Planet A Foods

Investments & Acquisitions

Planet A Foods Raises $14.5M to Fuel Mass-Market Expansion for Cocoa-Free Chocolate

German food tech startup Planet A Foods has raised $14.5 million in Series A funding to fuel the international expansion of its cocoa-free chocolate, ChoViva. The round was led by leading climate venture fund World Fund, with participation from Omnes Capital, Cherry Ventures, Mudcake, and more. Some of the funding has already been used to scale up production at Planet A’s factory, allowing the company to produce 750kg of ChoViva per hour. This will help to make the chocolate alternative — which is already very affordable — even cheaper. The funding will also be used to propel Planet A’s mission of becoming a leader in the chocolate alternatives market. It comes after the company secured a partnership with Lindt last year to launch a limited-edition …

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LIndt partners with cocoa-free chocolate brand ChoViva

© LIndt/ChoViva

Sweets & Snacks

Lindt Partners With Cocoa-Free Chocolate Brand ChoViva to Launch New Vegan Bar

Swiss chocolatier Lindt has partnered with ChoViva, a cocoa-free chocolate brand owned by Germany’s Planet A Foods, to launch a limited-edition vegan chocolate bar. Part of Lindt’s HELLO range, the Soft & Creamy Hazelnut bar features a hazelnut, oat cream, and oat cookie filling containing ChoViva’s cocoa-free chocolate. The outer layer is made from Lindt’s regular dairy-free chocolate. Local and sustainable ChoViva’s chocolate is made from oats and sunflower seeds, which can be grown locally in Germany. The ingredients undergo a special fermentation-like manufacturing process to give them a chocolatey flavour. After being roasted and ground, they are combined with sustainable plant-based fats, sugar, and either milk powder or oat flour. According to ChoViva, the oats provide a naturally sweet flavour, which reduces the amount …

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