GreenLeafFoods

©Maple Leaf Foods

Company News

Maple Leaf Foods to Merge Meat and Plant Protein Divisions

Maple Leaf Foods, a major Canadian meat and poultry company, announced a restructuring plan today that will merge its meat and plant protein businesses into a single unit. The move aims to simplify operations and drive growth across all protein categories. During a quarterly earnings call on February 12, Curtis Frank, CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, stated, “While there are still some headwinds to navigate in the very near term, the structural health of our business and our long-term growth potential and to create shared value is undeniable,” He further noted the goal of transforming the company into a “brand-led protein powerhouse,” leveraging nearly three decades of industry experience, as reported by WATTPoultry. The company’s plant-based protein portfolio, which includes Lightlife and Field Roast brands, …

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Better Meat Co Steak

© The Better Meat Co.

Company News

Better Meat Co. Partners with Greenleaf Foods to Develop New Products with Rhiza Mycoprotein

Fermentation specialist The Better Meat Co. announces it has entered a joint development agreement with Greenleaf Foods, SPC, a subsidiary of Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf Foods. According to Better Meat, the agreement will focus largely on product development. Through the partnership, both companies will work together to explore the next generation of alt protein using Better Meat’s novel Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient.  Produced via fermentation, Rhiza mycoprotein is a sustainable, whole-food ingredient derived from the Neorospora crassa fungus, a species long used in parts of Asia to ferment soybeans for tempeh.  According to Better Meat, Rhiza has a naturally meaty texture, with more protein than eggs and more iron than beef. When used as an ingredient for plant-based meats, Rhiza can help to enhance texture, …

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Maple Leaf Foods

© Maple Leaf Foods

Company News

Maple Leaf Foods Reduces Plant-Based Greenleaf Division by 25% Following Decrease in Demand

Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s largest meat producers, says it is downsizing its plant-based foods division, Greenleaf Foods, by 25% following consecutive quarters of disappointing sales. The company, which owns vegan food brands Field Roast and Lightlife, reports its Plant Protein sales fell by over 18% year-over-year to CAD $40.8 million due to lower retail volumes, reports Food Dive. Nonprofitable investments into expanding growth infrastructure also reduced gross margins by 24.7%. Large investments Known primarily for its processed meat business, Maple Leaf strategically invested in alternative proteins by acquiring plant-based foods brands Lightlife, Field Roast and Chao in 2017. The following year, it launched Greenleaf Foods SPC as a subdivision to accelerate the growth of the plant-based category. In 2019, it unveiled plans to …

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Evolved Meats

© Evolved Meats

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Evolved Meats Raises $2M in Seed Round Led by Maple Leaf Foods and Big Idea Ventures

Canada’s Evolved Meats, formerly known as CaroMeats, announces it has raised $2 million in a seed round led by meat giant Maple Leaf Foods Inc., joined by Big Idea Ventures amongst other investors, to accelerate product development and initial scale-up of production processes. The cultivated meat company states that its “species agnostic platform grows whole cuts of meat that are structurally and biochemically identical to conventional cuts of meat” such as steak, pork belly, chicken breast, or fish fillets. CEO Alireza Shahin developed a novel technique during his PhD and post-doctoral work during which he discovered that he was able to create functional tissues that could then be arranged to replicate any cut of meat from any species. Evolved states that this novel approach allows …

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LightLife_ChickenBreast

©LightLife

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Lightlife Launches Unbreaded Plant-Based Chicken Breasts and Strips

Greenleaf Foods, owner of Lightlife and the plant-based arm of Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf, launches Lightlife Plant-Based Chicken Breasts and Plant-Based Chicken Strips. The products are made using high-moisture extrusion (HME) and are based on pea protein. The company’s plant-based chicken is available in the prepared foods department at 500 Whole Foods Market locations in North America and is also used by KFC Canada for its vegan fried chicken, a fixed menu item since January this year. “Lightlife Plant-Based Chicken Breasts and Strips deliver a chicken-like eating experience and versatility that is unmatched. These products reflect our vision of relentlessly evolving the product designs, utilizing ingredient technologies delivering on consumers’ expectations for taste, color and texture,” said Jitendra Sagili, Chief R&D and Food Technology …

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FR Pepp + Chao Shreds Whole Foods

©Greenleaf Foods

Products & Launches

Field Roast Pepperoni and Chao Cheese Shreds Launch Into Whole Foods Market Across US

Greenleaf Foods, the plant-based arm of Maple Leaf, expands its Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni and Chao Creamery Creamy Original Shreds nationally at Whole Foods Market stores in the US, making Whole Foods the first national retailer to carry both products. Greenleaf claims that its vegan pepperoni was the first to be made with pea protein as opposed to soy. Clearly, Greenleaf is increasingly solidifying a supplier relationship with Whole Foods; as we reported earlier this month, the Maple Leaf subsidiary is to exclusively provide Lightlife chicken to all Whole Foods Market prepared foods departments across North America, serving the product in its hot bar, cold salad bar, and grab-and-go offerings. Back in April, Greenleaf launched three Lightlife and Field Roast products into the discount store, …

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Smart-Tenders-Chickn Lightlife

©Lightlife

Food & Beverage

Maple Leaf’s Greenleaf Foods Signs Exclusive Deal With Whole Foods to Provide Plant-Based Chicken 

Greenleaf Foods, the plant-based arm of meat giant Maple Leaf, is to exclusively provide un-breaded, plant-based chicken produced by subsidiary Lightlife to all Whole Foods Market prepared foods departments across North America. Whole Foods Market will be the first national retailer to offer the pea protein-based “whole cut” at over 500 prepared foods departments in the United States and Canada. Lightlife Plant-Based Chicken is now available and will be used in a variety of recipes across its popular hot bar, cold salad bar, and grab-and-go offerings.  “Whole Foods is known for its high-quality, nutritious and convenient meal options, and we are excited to partner & launch this innovation to satisfy their customers. This unique, versatile design is the result of collaboration with the Whole Foods Market’s culinary …

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Plant based pepperoni at ©Pizza Nova

Products & Launches

Pizza Nova Adds “Plantollini” Chicken to Menu at all 144 Toronto & Chicago Locations

Pizza Nova announced today the addition of Plant-Based Chicken across all Pizza Nova locations throughout Toronto and Chicago. The chicken product is produced by Field Roast, owned by Greenleaf, the plant-based arm of Maple Leaf. Pizza Nova and Field Roast partnered earlier this year to introduce the ‘Planteroni Pizza’ made with Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni (which can be ordered with vegan cheese), and have come together again after receiving positive feedback from customers, reporting that orders continue to increase for Pizza Nova. “We are proud to expand our plant-based offering and continue to deliver on our Puro Promise of sourcing high-quality products that do not compromise on taste”, says Domenic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova. “Our new mouthwatering PLANTOLLINI will help address the growing demand …

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Lightlife Chicken x Pizza Pizza

Image supplied

Products & Launches

Canada’s Pizza Pizza Adds Plant-Based Chicken at Over 400 Locations

Pizza Pizza, a QSR chain operating throughout Canada, headquartered in Toronto and whose subsidiaries include Pizza 73, announces a partnership with Lightlife, part of Greenleaf Foods, the plant-based arm of meat giant Maple Leaf. Pizza Pizza will offer Lightlife Plant-Based Chicken as a permanent menu item, including the following varieties: Plant-Based Chick’n Sandwich – available in either Classic or Spicy, topped with pickles and vegan mayonnaise Plant-Based Chick’n Bites – available in varieties of 10 or 20 Plant-Based Combo Box – comes with 16 Chick’n Bites, plus a choice of two more items, including french fries, potato wedges, onion rings or sweet potato fries and two dipping sauces. The new menu items are available for walk-in and delivery at more than 400 Pizza Pizza restaurants, …

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Field Roast

©Field Roast

Products & Launches

Field Roast Brings Plant-Based Nuggets to Costco as “Chicken Wars” Continue

Plant-based producer Field Roast has partnered with Costco to launch a 24-ounce club pack of plant-based chicken nuggets. The Field Roast Plant-Based Nuggets will now be available at over 50 Costco locations in the LA metropolitan area and is the first time that the product will be sold at any Costco store in the US. As part of Field Roast’s growing frozen portfolio, the Plant-Based Nuggets were first introduced to conventional retailers in January 2020 and have proven highly successful, selling nearly 1.75 million plant-based nuggets in the last 12 months. The new Costco collaboration contains twice as many nuggets as the regular retail pack, as well as a new-and-improved formula that utilizes several relevant food technologies including high moisture extrusion (HME) technology. Chicken Wars …

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Field Roast

©Field Roast

Products & Launches

Little Caesars Becomes Largest National Chain to Offer Plant-Based Pepperoni in the US With Field Roast Launch

Field Roast has teamed up with US restaurant chain Little Caesars to offer a pizza topped with plant-based pepperoni. The partnership represents Field Roast’s largest national restaurant partnership to date, with a retail launch expected to roll onto shelves in North America later this year. As of today July 12, Little Caesars is launching the Planteroni Pizza, made with Field Roast’s Plant-Based Pepperoni, in hundreds of outlets across the US. Little Caesars becomes the largest pizza chain to offer Field Roast’s Plant-Based Pepperoni in key markets across the country, as the brand claims it is the first pepperoni alternative on the market to be made with pea protein.  Is It Vegan? However, despite the inclusion of Field Roast’s Plant-Based Pepperoni, Little Caesars’ Planteroni Pizza is …

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Lightlife reformulation

©Lightlife Foods

Food & Beverage

Lightlife Reformulation “Raising the Bar for Other Brands in the Category” In Round Two of Last Year’s Burger Wars?

Are we witnessing round two of last year’s Burger Wars? Plant-based brand Lightlife – owned by Greenleaf Foods, a subsidiary of Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf – has overhauled 19 of its plant-based products, removing ingredients like carrageenan, eggs and maltodextrin, and claims to be laying down the gauntlet for its competitors to follow suit.

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lightlife tempeh

©Lightlife

Company News

Maple Leaf Completes Purchase of $100M Indianapolis Lightlife Facility

Meat giant Maple Leaf Foods has announced that its plant-based subsidiary, Greenleaf Foods, has completed its previously announced purchase of a 118,000 square foot plant in Indianapolis where it will be installing new equipment to increase tempeh production capacity for the Lightlife brand.  Initial production at the plant is targeted to begin in the first half of 2022, and when fully operational, it will employ approximately 115 people. Michael McCain, President and CEO, said at the time of the initial announcement: “At this juncture, given the high demand for our tempeh products, this Project offers us the ability to deliver incremental capacity in a cost-effective, timely manner in a location that has synergies with our long-term vision.”

Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog

©Field Roast / Greenleaf Foods

Products & Launches

Field Roast Launches First Pea Protein Hot Dog in North America?

Meat giant Maple Leaf‘s plant protein division, Greenleaf Foods, introduces its newest product, the plant-based Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog, to the American market. According to the company, this is the first plant-based hot dog in North America that is made from pure pea protein and not soy. Since 1 February,US consumers can purchase the Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog in selected branches of the fast food chain Wienerschnitzels in three variants – “Backyard Veggie Dog”, “Barbeque Veggie Dog” and “Chicago Veggie Dog” – at selected Wienerschnitzel locations in California, Texas and New Mexico. “This is not just another hot dog. A lot of investment has gone into creating a truly unique product. The new Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog was inspired by the flavours …

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Marketing & Media

Lightlife Launches Campaign Against Impossible Foods & Beyond Meat: “Enough With the Hyper-Processed Ingredients and Fake Blood”

Lightlife, owned by Greenleaf Foods, a subsidiary of meat giant Maple Leaf, has announced that it is “making a clean break from its competition” with an open letter to Impossible and Beyond, claiming it is championing clean ingredients and carbon neutrality whilst exposing competitors that are attempting to mimic meat at any cost.

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