Impossible Foods Impossible Quality Meats

© Impossible Foods

Food Service

Impossible Foods Debuts First In-Person Foodservice Concept at XMarket in Chicago

Impossible Foods has announced the launch of its first foodservice industry concept, Impossible Quality Meats. The pop-up restaurant, located in the XMarket Food Hall in Uptown Chicago, will officially open on Tuesday, August 13, offering a range of plant-based dishes made from Impossible’s meat alternatives.  The Impossible Quality Meats menu will feature options like the Impossible Breakfast Sausage Sandwich, Impossible Asian Style Meatballs, and the Impossible Chicago Style Hot Dog, among others. For dessert, the pop-up will offer Oatly Soft Serve in flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, and a swirl of both. Peter McGuinness, president and CEO of Impossible Foods, explained the company’s motivation behind this new venture: “Impossible began as a foodservice brand, launching our flagship beef product in 2016 with some of the best …

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Vegan Korean BBQ Brisket

© UNLIMEAT

Retail & E-Commerce

PlantX Adds UNLIMEAT to Ecommerce Portfolio

Plant-based food platform PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) is further expanding its ecommerce offerings by adding South Korea’s UNLIMEAT to its brand lineup.  UNLIMEAT, owned by Korea’s Zikooin Company, specializes in a variety of Korean-inspired plant-based meat products, such as Korean BBQ, pulled pork, tuna, jerky, mandu, rice balls, and frozen Kimbap, made using upcycled ingredients like repurposed grain, rice and soy.  Among the products soon to be available through PlantX are UNLIMEAT’s plant-based Korean BBQ, pulled pork, mandu dumplings, and a selection of ready-to-heat products inspired by Korean flavors, including frozen Kimbap and rice balls.  Lorne Rapkin, CEO of PlantX, commented on the new distribution agreement, stating, “We are excited to support UNLIMEAT’s US expansion with this new logistics and distribution agreement. The brand …

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PlantX Market Storefront

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Gastronomy & Food Service

PlantX to Open XMarket Food Hall as Chicago’s “Largest Vegan Food Hall” This Summer

Plant-based digital platform PlantX (CSE:VEGA) announces it has partnered with restaurant developer Macromia Group to launch Chicago’s largest vegan food hall. The XMarket Vegan Food Hall will feature a multi-concept, 6,500 sq. ft space and is scheduled to open in early September.  Located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, XMarket Vegan Food Hall will offer six unique dining concepts, including a coffee bar serving PlantX’s Portfolio Coffee and a bodega-style grocery store with a Good Planet cheesemonger. The hall will also feature a central bar with plant-based bar food and wine pairings provided by VeganWines.com. “Chicago has emerged as one of the largest vegan and health-conscious communities in North America, making it an ideal location to introduce our all-in-one vegan food hall concept,” said PlantX CEO, Lorne Rapkin. …

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Vegan Essentials / PlantX

©Vegan Essentials

Investments & Acquisitions

PlantX Plans to Acquire 25-Year-Old US Shopping Domain VeganEssentials.com

Digital platform PlantX announces it will acquire the online e-commerce domain www.veganessentials.com and associated intellectual property and assets.  Operating since 1997, Vegan Essentials is known as a “one-stop shopping destination” for plant-based grocery items, household goods and apparel. Stocking over 2,200 products in diverse categories, the US-based website also sells a large selection of plant-based meats and cheeses and offers worldwide shipping. According to the terms of the transaction, PlantX and Veji Holdings Ltd. (CSE: VEJI)(OTC: VEJIF) will acquire veganessentials.com and associated assets for an aggregate purchase price of C$900,000 (US$675,000), to be paid in cash and post-Consolidation Common Shares. The closing is expected to be completed no later than October 15, 2022.  Building the portfolio  “The acquisition is expected to build upon and complement …

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©PlantX

Retail & E-Commerce

PlantX Opens ‘XMarket Uptown’ – 6,000 Sq. Ft. Vegan Grocery Store in Chicago

Canada’s PlantX (CSE: VEGA), a plant-based digital platform, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest brick-and-mortar superstore, XMarket Uptown in Chicago. At 6,000 sq. ft., PlantX says the new market may be the world’s largest all-vegan grocery store.  First opened in late July, XMarket Uptown is the company’s second US store, and sixth location globally. Offering a vast selection of plant-based foods, shoppers can find everything from meat, dairy, egg and seafood alternatives, to snacks, sauces, bakery items, soups, pasta, cereals and much more.  The store also features a conventional produce aisle with fresh fruits and vegetables, a grab-and-go section for prepared meals, and offers delivery via grocery apps like Instacart and Mercato.  “It’s cool to see the world moving in a way where …

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PlantX Falafel Salad

©XMeals/ PlantX

Company News

Canada’s PlantX Launches XMeal Plant-Based Meal Delivery in US

E-commerce platform PlantX announces the expansion of its XMeals delivery service to the US. Under the new xmeals.com domain, customers can learn more about the service and easily order premium plant-based meals and meal plans.  First launched in 2021, XMeals offers both subscription-based and one-time purchase options via an interactive navigation system. Subscribers can order weekly or monthly deliveries of high-quality meals developed by executive chefs, trainers and nutritionists. The subscription also provides access to the company’s 3 and 5-day meal plans, where customers select nutritious plant-based breakfasts, lunches and dinners curated by a registered dietician.  One-stop shop Based in Canada, PlantX has experienced strong growth in recent years as a “one-stop shop” for all things plant-based. Its online marketplace stocks over 10,000 items ranging …

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PlantX Market Storefront

©PlantX Market

Fairs & Events

PlantX Expanding Pop-Up Initiative With More Brands at Venice Beach, CA Store

PlantX, a plant-based e-commerce platform, is expanding its Pop-up Initiative to feature more brands at the company’s brick-and-mortar store in Venice Beach, CA. Inspired by previous pop-up success, the initiative aims to support innovative plant-based products by offering its Venice Beach space to promote selected brands.  As part of the initiative, both new and established brands will operate a custom pop-up installation inside the store, allowing companies to test-run products in a retail environment while growing brand awareness through interactive events, like pizza nights. To promote diversity and inclusion, PlantX is using a three-month rotational system to maximize the number of brands that can participate in the event. “To our knowledge, the PlantX vegan pop-up concept is the first of its kind – so far, …

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PlantX Xmarket

©PlantX

Retail & E-Commerce

PlantX Rebrands Brick & Mortar Stores in Collaboration With BESTIES Vegan Paradise

Plant-based retailer PlantX has announced a strategic collaboration with BESTIES Vegan Paradise, a vegan supermarket in Los Angeles. BESTIES was founded in 2019 by vegan activists and entrepreneurs Asia Phoenix and Matt Fontana. The supermarket has been named Best Grocery Store for two years running in the VegNews Veggie Awards. As part of the collaboration, PlantX’s two brick-and-mortar XMarket stores — located in Hillcrest and Venice, California — will be rebranded as BESTIES stores. The locations will also begin selling some BESTIES branded products, such as vegan soft serve. Additionally, PlantX customers in Los Angeles and San Diego will now be able to receive same-day deliveries when they order from the PlantX website. The PlantX journey PlantX began as an e-commerce platform, described as “the …

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PlantX Xmarket

©PlantX

Gastronomy & Food Service

XMarket, San Diego: PlantX Opens First Grocery Store in the US

PlantX – the plant-based e-commerce platform – has opened its first brick-and-mortar store in the US. Named XMarket, the vegan grocery store is based in Hillcrest, San Diego, and was born from the recent partnership between Chef Matthew Kenney and PlantX.  The 4,500 square foot XMarket location includes a plant-based retail store, a state-of-the-art café and sandwich shop, and a plant-based education center. The retail store showcases a wide variety of plant-based items and aims to increase public engagement by offering an interactive shopping experience. Founded by vegan entrepreneur Sean Dollinger, the Canadian plant-based e-commerce platform PlantX appointed Matthew Kenney as its Chief Culinary Officer this year, with the deal including a five-year partnership with the vegan chef’s global plant-based lifestyle brand, which prepares all …

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Matthew Kenney Cuisine

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Company News

PlantX Appoints Chef Matthew Kenney as Chief Culinary Officer & Announces Retail Acquisition

After recently posting a record-breaking Q3 – including a 298% sales increase – Canadian plant-based ecommerce platform PlantX has announced the appointment of vegan chef Matthew Kenney as its new Chief Culinary Officer. The deal also includes a five year partnership with his global plant-based lifestyle brand and the acquisition of its California-based vegan store New Deli. 

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