Leading plant-based milk brands urge Swedish government to push for change in EU School Scheme Review

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Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Oatly, Alpro, DUG, Planti, and More Urge Swedish Government to Push for Plant-Based Milk in EU School Scheme Review

Oatly, Alpro (Danone), DUG (Veg of Lund), Planti, Oddlygood, and Sproud, under the umbrella of Plant-based Sweden (Växtbaserat Sverige), have sent a letter to the Swedish government urging it to advocate for the inclusion of plant-based milk in the upcoming review of the EU School Scheme. Currently, the EU School Scheme aids over 20 million European children by providing them with milk, fruit, and vegetables. However, it does not encompass milk alternatives, even though numerous children are unable or unwilling to consume dairy due to medical, ethical, taste, or environmental concerns. Last year, ProVeg and The Vegan Society collected tens of thousands of signatures calling for the EU to add plant-based milk to the scheme. The Green REV Institute also issued an open letter calling for plant milk in schools, arguing that …

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DUG lifestyle lady pouring milk cereal

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Company News

Veg of Lund Receives US Patent for DUG’s Vegan Potato Emulsion

Swedish plant-based company Veg of Lund announces it has received patent approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its vegan potato emulsion used in its DUG potato drinks. The patent protection will cover the entire US market. Veg of Lund’s patent portfolio includes protection for potato ice cream covering the Swedish market and a patent for the improved recipe of its award-winning DUG drink in Sweden, Europe, and Canada. Additionally, the Swedish company has active patent applications in Australia, China, India, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.  “We are pleased to note that a patent is also being approved for the American market for our unique vegetable milk alternatives,” says Eva Tornberg, founder of Veg of Lund. Tornberg founded …

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Konscious Plant-Based Sushi

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Market & Trends

Navigating Turbulence: 8 Plant-Based Brands Riding the Crest, Not Weathering the Storm

While some brands are struggling in the current economic climate (both plant-based and conventional), many are not just surviving but thriving, expanding into new markets and raising large sums of funding. Here, we take a look at some of the biggest industry success stories of 2023. Konscious Foods Canada’s Konscious Foods raised $26 million in seed funding at the beginning of this month, with the aim of making its plant-based seafood more widely accessible. The company now plans to launch at over 4,500 more stores across North America by the end of the year, while also expanding into more food service locations. The seafood alternatives are already available at all Whole Foods locations US-wide, and one investor says it expects Konscious Foods to “transform plant-based …

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Veg of Lund, DUG's parent company receives patent approval for potato ice cream

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Company News

Veg of Lund’s International Success Continues as DUG Potato Milk Expands into Japanese Market

Veg of Lund has signed a distribution agreement with Synergy Trading Corporation to expand its famous DUG potato milk onto the Japanese market. The pioneering potato milk which has been available in the UK since early 2022 to huge success, announced this year further international expansion into Germany through an agreement with CCP AG and into China through a deal with Haofood, stating that the unique potato milk will arrive on the Chinese market in Q1 2024.   The company also recently announced new patent approval in Sweden for its unique ice cream that combines potatoes, rapeseed oil, and a vegetable protein emulsion.   Japanese expansion The first trial order has been shipped from Europe and sales in Japanese stores will begin with confirmed market …

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dug's potato milk range

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Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

DUG Potato Milk to Launch in China in Collaboration With Haofood

DUG — a potato-based milk alternative developed by Sweden’s Veg of Lund — is set to launch in China in the first quarter of next year. Veg of Lund is reported to have signed a letter of intent with Chinese alt meat brand Haofood; the two companies will collaborate to sell DUG potato milk in China and other selected markets in the region. Haofood has an impressive track record in the Chinese plant-based market, with its peanut-based chicken alternative securing listings at thousands of stores across the country since launching in 2021. “Haofood is established in sales and marketing of plant-based products in the region and is an excellent partner in bringing our proprietary portfolio of products to market,” said Fredrik Carling, CEO of Veg …

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Veg of Lund, DUG's parent company receives patent approval for potato ice cream

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Company News

Veg of Lund Secures Swedish Patent Protection for “Unique” Potato Ice Cream

Swedish plant-based foods company Veg of Lund — DUG Drinks’ parent company — announces new patent approval for a “unique” ice cream that combines potatoes, rapeseed oil, and a vegetable protein emulsion.   This ice cream patent protection covers only the Swedish market. Still, the company says it has filed applications to secure international protection as well. Professor Eva Tornberg, founder and chairman of the board at Veg of Lund, commented: “We are pleased that a patent is approved in Sweden. The fact it is based on such an everyday crop as potatoes shows the uniqueness and strength of the patent.” Veg of Lund’s patent portfolio Eva Tornberg founded Veg of Lund in 2016, inspired by the potential of potatoes as a sustainable protein source for plant-based foods. These tubers’ …

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Fredrik Carling CEO DUG

CEO Fredrik Carling © DUG / Veg of Lund

Interviews

DUG Potato Milk: “Creating a Whole New Subcategory of Plant-Based Milks”

When we first reported on Sweden’s DUG potato milk back in 2021, we were highly curious: a first-to-market plant milk that uses half the amount of land of oat milk and an incredible 56 times less water than almond milk – what’s not to love?! Although milk from potatoes may sound unusual to say the least, after sampling at PBWE 2021 in London, we were convinced. And so were consumers; DUG’s sales increased by 49.9% that year following retail launches at Ocado and 280 Waitrose stores. Following last month’s improved recipe for DUG milk as well as the recently approved patent for its proprietary potato emulsion, it was high time for us to catch up with the brand to find out more. We discussed all …

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dug's potato milk range

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Company News

Veg of Lund Expands to German Market Through Partner Distribution

In line with the updated business strategy, Veg of Lund, parent company of DUG potato mlk, is starting to work the German market through a distribution model. From now on, regional partner CCP AG will supply food manufacturers, cafés and retail chains with the Europe-wide patented DUG potato drink. “DUG Potato Drink is the answer to all the questions that other plant-based milk alternatives have so far left unanswered” “The agreement with CCP AG marks the beginning of the updated business model, where distribution and licensing partnerships will be the cornerstones for the company’s future growth. I look forward to having experienced and dedicated resources on the ground in Germany provided by our newly appointed German contractor,” says Fredrik Carling, CEO of Veg of Lund. …

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dug's potato milk range

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Beverages

Improved Recipe & Patent For DUG Potato Milk, the “Most Sustainable Alternative” On the Market

Sweden’s DUG announces a new and improved recipe for its award-winning, vegan-friendly potato milk range — Original, Barista, and Unsweetened — “to make them even more appealing to those looking for an alternative to dairy.” Additionally, Veg of Lund, DUG’s parent company, has announced that the European Patent Office notified its intent to approve the company’s vegan potato emulsion patent, which gives the potato milk its distinctive creamy characteristics.  A patent for the European market To date, Sweden, the UK, and Ireland are Veg of Lund’s priority markets. Last year, DUG launched its potato milk in the UK at Waitrose and in Switzerland at Migros. The company has also announced plans for a production facility in Germany and also states it has production and distribution plans …

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