Japanese food tech company Dr. Foods has announced the launch of its vegan truffle butter, which is ready for B2B distribution in Japan and internationally.
The truffle butter is made with Italian summer truffle from Tuscany, combined with a proprietary plant-based butter made from Italian extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Foods has previously launched vegan foie gras and caviar, and says the truffle butter will complete its lineup of alternatives to “the world’s top three delicacies”.
The company has already held tasting sessions for all three products in the U.S., Singapore, the Netherlands, Thailand, and the UAE. The response has been positive, and Dr. Foods will now make “full-scale efforts” to export the delicacies to hotels and restaurants worldwide.
Since September 2023, 160,000 servings of Dr. Foods’ vegan foie gras have been sold across 28 Japanese hotels. The foie gras and caviar have also been launched in the Netherlands.
International distribution
Last year, it was reported that Next Meats, a Dr. Foods spinoff, would launch vegan foie gras and caviar across North America. The company also said it would introduce a range of new shelf-stable meat alternatives.
Next Meats is said to have been the first Japanese plant-based company to gain a listing on the American OTC market, and already offers a range of products in the US and Canada. These include alternatives to short-rib and skirt-steak, both claimed to be world firsts.
In January, Next Meats and Dr. Foods announced they were looking for a partner in Thailand to increase the international distribution of their products at a competitive price.
“[We are] seeking a mutually benefitable local production and distribution partner in Thailand for even greater and wider international distribution of the products, aiming for higher price competitiveness while maintaining the highest production quality in Thailand,” said the companies. “We would like to team up together with such an industry-leading company to scale up the international vegan business from Asia to American and European markets towards the future.”
