Project Eaden ham

© Project Eaden

Investments & Acquisitions

Project Eaden’s Textile-Inspired Tech Raises €15M to Scale Next-Gen Whole Cuts

Berlin-based climate tech startup Project Eaden has closed a €15 million oversubscribed Series A funding round to accelerate the European retail launch of its plant-based meat alternatives. Using proprietary fiber spinning technology inspired by the textile industry, the company aims to produce ultra-realistic plant-based whole cuts, starting with ham, for mainstream consumers. The Series A round was led by Planet A and REWE Group, with additional support from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Happiness Capital, and AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance. Existing investors FoodLabs and Creandum also participated in the funding round, which brings the company’s total capital raised to €27 million since its founding in 2022. Commenting on the investment, Christoph Gras, general partner at Planet A, stated: “Research suggests that plant-based products could replace 11–22% …

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Formo, REWE Group, and Infinite Roots discuss fermentation at German parliament

Image: Formo on LinkedIn

Politics & Law

Formo, REWE Group & Infinite Roots Discuss Fermentation Technology With MPs at German Parliament

Fermentation startup Formo recently joined forces with REWE Group and mycelium producer Infinite Roots to host a “political breakfast” at the Bundestag (German parliament). The event explored the potential of fermentation technology to address key challenges such as improving food security, reducing the impact of food production on the climate, and reducing dependency on global supply chains. It was held shortly before the collapse of Germany’s coalition government, which was caused by disagreements on how to revive the country’s economy. According to Formo, the timing underlines the need for European innovation and resilience. Speakers at the event included Formo founder and CEO Raffael Wohlgensinger, Gerald Dohme from the agricultural association Deutscher Bauernverband, Philip Tigges from Infinite Roots, and Clément Tischer from REWE. It was held …

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© REWE group

Retail & E-Commerce

REWE Confident About Success of its Berlin Vegan Supermarket 6 Months After Launch With 5,500 Weekly Shoppers

With the statement, “We’re a real supermarket, just entirely plant-based,” Dennis Henkelman, the operator of REWE voll pflanzlich and REWE Group Management Board member Peter Maly, launched Germany’s first fully vegan supermarket this April. The chain now provides insights into the success so far of the Berlin vegan superstore, revealing that around 5,500 customers are taking their weekly food shopping at the new location, which was previously a supermarket operated by Veganz. With over 2,700 vegan products in a 212 square-metre space, the store offers fresh vegetables, baked goods, refrigerated items, confectionery, and personal care. Henkelman describes how convenience foods top the sales charts at REWE voll pflanzlich, in particular baked items, with around 6,000 chocolate croissants and cinnamon rolls sold in just six months. …

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Better Nature tempeh gains REWE listing

Image credit Samantha Couzens

Retail & E-Commerce

Better Nature Brings its Tempeh to German Chiller Cabinets Through REWE Deal

Tempeh products in Organic and Smoked varieties from UK startup Better Nature are now available throughout Germany at REWE, furthering the company’s German retail footprint in addition to its availability at Edeka in the Rhine-Ruhr region. REWE thus continues its support for plant-based producers and innovations in the field, such as the innovative and sustainable 2d printed Mililk discs made by Veganz, which are supplied to the retail group, whose subsidiaries include the REWE, Penny, and Billa chains. This April, REWE inaugurated its first purely plant-based supermarket in Berlin, offering over 2,700 vegan products. Good for the gut and full of nutrients Tempeh consists of protein-rich soybeans that are fermented with mould to form a firm block. It has a slightly nutty flavour and can be …

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Mililk Packaging shot

© Veganz

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Veganz Supplies its ‘Mililk’ Printed Oat Milk Discs to Rewe

Veganz Group AG is now producing its latest food innovation Mililk, a patented milk alternative from the 2D printer, in-house for the Rewe Group. Under the Food For Future and Rewe Bio brands, the Bio Mililk Barista is available nationally in more than 3,700 Rewe stores and in all 2,000 Penny Stores. Delivery has already begun. Veganz Group AG is thus continuing its strategic expansion into a manufacturing company for vegan innovations. Mililk alternative Last July, Veganz announced the start of production of its new plant-based milk alternative “Mililk” at its new production site in Ludwigsfelde. In addition to sales to end consumers via the online shop, Veganz also offers its oat milk product to catering customers. Mililk is produced using a specially developed 2D …

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Rewe opens vegan supermarket in Berlin

© REWE Markt GmbH

Retail & E-Commerce

REWE Inaugurates its First Fully Plant-Based Supermarket in Berlin

REWE opened its first purely plant-based supermarket in Berlin yesterday. The “REWE voll pflanzlich” supermarket on Warschauer Brücke in the Friedrichshain district offers more than 2,700 vegan products. In addition to more than 3,800 stores in which the food retailer offers everything from organic vegetables to cheese and meat, this marks the company’s first vegan store. Peter Maly, CEO of REWE Group, sees the plant-based supermarket as an important test: “With REWE voll pflanzlich, we are showing how varied and large the selection of vegan products is. In the past, we have been recognised several times as a vegan pioneer in the food trade, and we are also encouraged by the strong response from our customers.” In standard REWE stores, the range includes up to …

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REWE to open fully vegan supermarket

© REWE

Retail & E-Commerce

Germany: REWE to Open First Vegan Supermarket in Former Veganz Store

German retailer REWE is set to open its first fully vegan supermarket, called REWE voll pflanzlich, in Berlin. The store is on the site of the former Veganz supermarket at Warschauer Brücke in Berlin-Friedrichshain, which closed in December after the company decided to focus entirely on product manufacturing. REWE has declined to comment on the news, which was shared by Supermarktblog from an insider source. The publication notes that while a sign with the name of the store is visible on the building, this name has not yet been trademarked. However, Supermarktblog believes the store will open this spring. Notably, REWE Group owns the Austrian supermarket chain BILLA, which has opened two fully vegan stores in Vienna and Graz in recent years. The retailer has …

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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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Beyond Nuggets

© Beyond Meat

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Beyond Meat Launches Beyond Nuggets and Beyond Tenders at REWE Germany

Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) is expanding its range in Germany with two new plant-based chicken-style products: Beyond Nuggets and Beyond Tenders. The product innovations will initially be available in 1,600 REWE stores and in the REWE Online Shop starting this week. In Germany, more than one in three (40%) already follow a flexitarian diet or abstain from animal meat altogether. In 2022, meat consumption in Germany fell to a record low, while the market for plant-based meat continues to grow. By 2029, the European market for plant-based foods is expected to grow to over €16 billion. This puts Europe in a good position to lead the global shift towards a plant-based diet. Beyond Meat continues on expansion course Beyond Meat continues to expand despite many …

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Beyond Burger

© Beyond Meat

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Beyond Burger Arrives in Over 1,600 REWE Stores Across Germany

Beyond Meat is expanding in German retail: starting from this month, the famous Beyond Burger will be available in more than 1,600 additional REWE stores across Germany. With 3,700 stores and a turnover of 26.7 billion euros, REWE Markt GmbH is one of the leading companies in German food retailing. The retailer has been looking increasingly towards plant-based products and this September announced a new vegan counter at several of its stores. “At Beyond Meat, we work tirelessly to make our delicious plant-based meat products accessible to everyone,” says Jaap Veth, Sales Manager Retail DACH at Beyond Meat. “Half of Germans now eat less animal meat than they did five years ago; one in five now consume plant-based meat at least once a week. We …

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©Rewe Group

Retail & E-Commerce

Germany’s REWE Supermarkets Now Offer Vegan Products at Service Counters in 50 Stores

Following the news from last week that one location of the German Rewe supermarket had opened a vegan meat counter, today the retailer announces that, from now on, several vegan products will be available at service counters in selected REWE stores. With 3,700 stores and a turnover of 26.7 billion euros, REWE Markt GmbH is one of the leading companies in German food retailing. According to a press release, this new service once again underscores REWE’s strategic claim to consistently support vegan nutrition and to offer consumers appropriate product ranges. The vegan selection in the service counters includes plant-based alternatives for meat, sausage, cheese and fish. For example, vegan salami and vegan liver sausage, vegan barbecue skewers and vegan steak, various matured cheese alternatives and …

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Rügenwalder Mühle Vegan Filet Type Chicken

© Rügenwalder Mühle

Retail & E-Commerce

Germany: Rewe Supermarket Opens Vegan Meat Counter

Operating around 3,300 stores, Rewe is the second largest food retailer in Germany behind Edeka. This month the operator of the Kaarst location, the Röttcher family, opened a 100% vegan meat counter, following a 45% increase in sales of its vegan range compared to last year. The counter offers sausage and minced meat alternatives amongst other plant-based meats and the staff at the counter are specially trained. The retailer launched its REWE Bio + vegan range in autumn of last year, stating that by 2040, the group wants to become climate neutral at the corporate level. “Some time ago, I started to focus more and more on nutrition instead of just selling food, as I am convinced that customers are more enlightened and pay more …

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Helge Weitz und Tobias Goj von Oatly

© Helge Weitz (li.) & Tobias Goj (re.) – General Manager Oatly DACH.

Interviews

Oatly: “We See Ourselves as Pioneers of the Post Milk Generation”

The demand for plant-based milk alternatives has been growing rapidly in recent years. Oat drinks are particularly popular, which is particularly beneficial for the company Oatly. The Swedish manufacturer of milk alternatives uses oats, cocoa and fruit flavours to make its products. In an interview with Helge Weitz and Tobias, general managers of Oatly DACH – we asked about recent developments and future plans.

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