v2food range

©v2food

Manufacturing & Technology

Australia’s v2food to Close Manufacturing Facility as CEO Steps Down

Australian plant-based meat producer v2food has announced it will be closing its manufacturing facility in Wodonga, Victoria, as co-founder Nick Hazell steps down as CEO. The facility was first opened in 2020 at a cost of $20 million, and employed 30 people at its height. But speaking to Grain Central, director Phil Morle said v2food had to “make decisions that keep the company successful in the near term”. He said that while the brand still aimed to eventually have its own plant, this was not the right time. “We’ve had a crack at it and not really been successful, ” he said. “I will say it’s not a dead plan, but it’s a pause for now plan.” V2food says all the ingredients currently produced at …

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plant-based protein research

© CSIRO

Agriculture / Agribusiness

GrainCorp, v2food and CSIRO Collaborate for $4.4M Plant-Based Protein Research Project

Australia’s GrainCorp has announced it will be joining forces with alt-meat company v2food and the country’s national science agency, CSIRO, to conduct plant-based protein research. Through the partnership, GrainCorp is seeking to improve domestic manufacturing and supply chains for plant-based proteins in order to reduce reliance on imports. The company has already received funding from the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects to process canola, soy, fava bean, and chickpea protein. Together, the three organisations will identify infrastructure improvements needed to commercialise Australian crops — in particular, they will work to improve plant processing capabilities at GrainCorp’s site in Victoria. The Victoria state government has also recently announced it will support plant-based protein research by awarding a A$12 million grant to the Grains Innovation Precinct. …

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Impossible grandma

©Impossible Foods

Products & Launches

Australia: Impossible Foods Beefs Up its Presence & v2food Debuts Plant-Based Chicken

The Impossible Foods beef range becomes available in supermarkets all over Australia, in the same week that v2food announces the upcoming launch of a plant-based chicken line including vegan nuggets, tenders, and schnitzel. “63% of Aussies are now open to buying plant-based meat” After the success of its plant-based mince, burgers, and sausages, the new Australian-made chicken range from v2food will be hitting retail in May this year. “Recent data tells us that 63% of Aussies are now open to buying plant-based meat as long as it tastes good,” explains CEO Nick Hazell, “In order to make a real difference to our planet, we need to create delicious, sustainable alternatives of the foods we love to make the switch easy and tasty for meat lovers”.  …

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Senator Susan McDonald Australia Meat

Senator Susan McDonald, photo source: susanmcdonald.com.au

Politics & Law

Australian Plant-Based Meat Producers Under Fire from ‘Super Butcher’ Senator at Labelling Inquiry

Australian plant-based meat companies face the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs Inquiry into definitions of plant-based meat and other products this week, with chairperson Senator Susan McDonald – former owner of Australian meat retailer Super Butcher – pushing to prevent plant-based producers from using terms like “meat”, “beef”, and “chicken”.  Described by The Australian as “avowedly pro-coal”, Senator McDonald was appointed to the board of Beef Australia in 2016 and is now chairing the senate inquiry. Representatives of US manufacturers Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, as well as Australian companies v2food and Deliciou were present to defend the plant-based meat cause.  The Australian Red Meat Advisory Council – a powerful lobby group in the country famous for its meat consumption – recently commissioned a survey …

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Nick Hazell, CEO v2food

Nick Hazell, CEO ©v2food

Interviews

v2foods: “We Just Refuse to Go Slow With Our Mission, We Take Huge Risks”

With a total capital raise of US$138 million to date, v2food is the Australian alt meat leader with a global vision. Now the most funded alt protein producer in Australia, v2food is on a mission to make meat nutritious and sustainable for generations to come. This year saw the launch of its v2sausage, as well as the continued collaboration with Burger King in Asia to supply its Plant-Based Whopper patty.  Vegconomist had the opportunity to get to know CEO and Founder of v2food, former Masterfoods and PepsiCo Research Director Nick Hazell, to hear his views on being a future unicorn, the plant-based movement in Australia, and expansion into China.  Going back to the start, how was v2food born? Launched in 2018, v2food was formed by …

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[v2food] Nick Hazell in front of v2 display in Woolworths (1)

Nick Hazell ©v2food

Investments & Finance

v2food Secures AU$72M, is Now Most Funded Alt Protein Producer in Australia

Australia’s v2food has announced the closing of a US$54 million Series B Plus funding round, which in addition to its US$57 million round in October 2020, brings the company’s total funds raised to US$138 million. The company reports that, in just two and a half years, its value has increased from $2 million to over $500 million. Launched in October 2019 by CSIRO’s Main Sequence Ventures and food industry leader Jack Cowin, and led by former Masterfoods and PepsiCo research director, Nick Hazell; v2food’s latest round makes it the most funded alternative protein company in Australia. Ten months on from its last raise, v2food continues to expand its market presence, recently announcing its first restaurant partnership with critically-acclaimed Australian chef and restaurateur Neil Perry, launching …

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Carbon Neutral Plant Based Mince

Courtesy of Fenn Foods

Market & Trends

Allen Zelden on Why Plant-Based Meats are Prospering Amid a Pandemic

In times of crisis, people seek transparency. Now more than ever, we ask more questions, take stock of our realities and shift our direction accordingly. It’s in this adversity that industries are also forced to lift the lid, with some so publicly disrupted that it can accelerate a reshaping in consumer behaviour to fuel new and emerging industries.

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V2Food Drakes

©V2Foods

Products & Launches

Australia: V2Food Seizes $3B Opportunity, Now Available in Supermarket Chain Drakes

Australian startup V2Food’s mince and burger products are now available at all 61 outlets of Drakes supermarkets in Australia, the firm seizing the opportunity to gain an early foothold in the Australian-based meat substitute industry, which is estimated to generate $3 billion for the Australian economy by 2030.

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Marley Spoon V2Food

Marley Spoon / V2Food

Gastronomy & Food Service

V2Food Partners With Marley Spoon to Bring Vegan Meal Kits to Australians at Home

V2food is joining forces with leading meal-kit delivery company Marley Spoon to offer Australians an exclusive chance to experience v2mince at home. Marley Spoon specialises in easy-to-follow, flavour-filled recipes complete with seasonal, locally sourced produce. The deliveries will be available on April 27th, 2020.

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Rebel-Whopper Hungry Jack's

Image: Hungry Jack's

Company News

V2FOOD Launches New Meat Alternative for Hungry Jack’s, While Petition is Started About the Product

V2FOOD is an Australian partnership between CSIRO, Main Sequence Ventures and the founder of fast food chain Hungry Jack’s. Together the group now announces its first plant based meat product created for Hungry Jack’s plantbased Rebel Whopper burgers, and it has its sights set on export for the new product.

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