Latin America

women in supermarket stock

Image: Dollar Gill on Unsplash
Retail & E-Commerce

V-Label LATAM Launches ‘Todo Vegan’ App to Help Latin Americans Find Certified Vegan Products

A new mobile app, Todo Vegan, has been launched to assist consumers in locating certified vegan products across Latin America. The app, developed by V-Label LATAM, is available for free on both Android and iOS devices. Todo Vegan allows users to search for vegan products by categories such as country, brand, or product type. It streamlines the shopping experience for individuals following plant-based diets, those with food intolerances, or consumers interested in more ethical and sustainable purchasing options. “We designed Todo Vegan to address the challenges consumers face when trying to identify vegan products. Our goal is to eliminate the need for time-consuming label reading, providing users with a quick and reliable way to find products that meet vegan standards,” said Ignacia Uribe, CEO of …

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Cosmetics stock

Image: zhugewala from Pexels
Cosmetics & Bodycare

Te Protejo Launches Certification Contest for Cruelty-Free Cosmetics in Latin America

Te Protejo, an organization working to end the use of animal testing in the Latin American cosmetics industry, has launched a competition aiming to increase the presence of cruelty-free products in the region. The contest is taking place for the second consecutive year and will allow four cosmetic brands to access Te Protejo’s certification process completely free of charge, along with other benefits. The call is open to brands from 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a special focus on Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. All companies in the cosmetics, household cleaning, and pet care industries are invited to apply. If successful, they could join the more than 180 brands that have been certified by Te Protejo. “True commitment to animal welfare” The …

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SuperMeat cultivated chicken

© SuperMeat
Cultivated Meat

Stämm and SuperMeat Partner to Improve Efficiency and Scalability in Cultivated Chicken

Argentine biotechnology company Stämm has partnered with Israeli cultivated meat producer SuperMeat to enhance biomanufacturing processes for cultivated chicken. The collaboration, supported by mutual investor Varana Capital, will focus on integrating Stämm’s continuous bioprocessing technology into SuperMeat’s production system. The partnership will benchmark the application of Stämm’s Bioprocessor, an automated, bubble-free bioreactor designed to improve efficiency in cell culture. Previously used in biologics manufacturing, the technology has demonstrated a 15-fold increase in volumetric productivity and cost reductions in stem cell production. The pilot will evaluate how the system can be applied to cultivated meat, with a particular focus on muscle fiber growth, elongation, and the formation of mature tissue. “In the coming months, a joint team will benchmark and evaluate how to integrate our Bioprocessor …

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© Melt Pizzas
Charity & Campaigns

More Than 140 Latin American Brands Join Veganuary With Special Offers & New Products

More than 140 brands from Chile, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina have joined this year’s Veganuary campaign in Latin America. The companies have collectively introduced 120 special offers and promotions for Veganuary participants, along with 19 new vegan products and menus. In Chile, participating brands include PedidosYa, Melt Pizzas, and Juan Valdez. Through its PedidosYa Market stores, the former is offering discounts of up to 20% on over 50 plant-based products throughout January. Meanwhile, Veganuary participants can get 20% off the plant-based Vegana Veggie pizza at Melt Pizzas. “The demand for vegan options has grown notably in Chile, which motivated us to create this alliance with NotCo,” said Lucy Garrido, deputy marketing manager at Melt Pizzas. “With this promotion, we seek to encourage more conscious …

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Mexico vegan

© nik0.0kin - stock.adobe.com
Food Service

Latin America Sees a 21.6% Increase in Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Veganuary has partnered with vegan food discovery platform HappyCow to launch its third-ever rankings of the Latin American countries and cities with the most vegan restaurant options. The study reveals that there are now over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants in Latin America, up by more than 1,700 compared to 2023. This represents an increase of 21.6%. Rankings by country Brazil takes the top spot in the country rankings with 2,953 vegan-friendly restaurants. Mexico has only 33 fewer, and also has the highest number of fully vegan restaurants. Colombia is in third place, followed by Chile. The latter has seen a huge 27.7% increase in vegan-friendly restaurants, with almost 200 new options added last year. Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Paraguay make up …

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Maria Angelica Mashali © Alianza Team
Interviews

Alianza Team: “We Believe Mirror Tissue Has the Potential to Revolutionize the Plant-Based Meat Market”

Alianza Team specializes in developing and producing innovative lipid solutions for the food, beverage, cosmetics, and nutraceutical industries. They’re dedicated to crafting tailored fats and oils that enhance product quality, functionality, and sustainability. With a team of over 2.000 employees globally, the headquarters are located in Bogotá, Colombia, where Alianza Team runs multiple production facilities and a global presence with operations in Mexico and Chile, reaching the Latin American market, the USA, and a growing presence in Europe. In addition to Colombia, Alianza Team has operations in Chile (two plants) and Mexico, and a growing presence in Europe. We spoke with Maria Angelica Mashali, Chief Growth Officer at Alianza Team, to learn about their latest innovation and business objectives. Could you introduce your newest advancement, …

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A photo of a pizza slice

© Ergo Bioscience
Ingredients

Ergo Bioscience Creates “Animal Proteins, Without Animals” for the Next Generation of Plant-Based

Ergo Bioscience, recognized in 2022 by FoodBytes! from Rabobank as one of the 15 most disruptive food tech startups worldwide, specializes in developing complex animal proteins such as bovine myoglobin and casein through plant cell culture. Founded in May 2020 with pre-seed investment from CITES, the startup boasts a team of 12 scientists dedicated to innovation and biotechnology to create animal-free ingredients. With biotech research in Wilmington, Delaware, laboratories in Sunchales and Santa Fe, Argentina, and a new subsidiary in Canada, Ergo believes in the potential of plant cells to bring sustainability to the food industry and beyond. Plant cells instead of microbes Ergo has developed a platform called EUKARYA that “programs” plant cells with multiple simultaneous genetic modifications to make them express complete structures …

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Brazil’s Typcal, a startup based Paraná pionering mycoprotein in Latin America, has been selected by the Paraná Anjo Inovador to receive a R$250,000 in funding.

Eduardo Sydney and team © SEI-PR
Fermentation

LATAM’s Mycoprotein Innovator ‘Typcal’ Secures R$250K From Brazilian Government

Brazil’s Typcal, a startup pioneering mycoprotein in Latin America, has been selected by the Paraná Anjo Inovador to receive R$250,000 in funding. A spinoff of Fungi Biotechnology, the startup was founded in 2021 by bioprocess engineer Eduardo Sydney (CTO) and food industry entrepreneur Paulo Ibri (CEO) to leverage biomass fermentation to develop a mycoprotein ingredient for food applications. Typcal was one of the 68 selected in the program’s first call for proposals, which was developed by the regional government through the Secretariat for Innovation, Modernization, and Digital Transformation. According to the announcement, state funding has been crucial in helping the startup navigate the challenging investment landscape and focus on technological development. “The investor is focused on selling and generating revenue and not on developing technology, …

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Salón del Queso Vegano will debut in Latin America by hosting its first international event in Colombia. 

Image courtesy of Singular Foods
Cheese Alternatives

Vegan Cheese Innovation to Take Center Stage in Colombia at Salón del Queso Vegano’s First LATAM Event

Salón del Queso Vegano (Vegan Cheese Salon), a pioneering event connecting innovators, producers, suppliers, industry professionals and cheese lovers that originated in Madrid, will make its Latin American debut with an upcoming event in Colombia.   Organized by the food design and innovation consultancy Singular Foods, the meeting will take place at Herbívoro, an upscale vegan restaurant in Bogotá, on August 29th and 30th, 2024. The event will host cooking demonstrations, wine and cheese pairings, workshops, and offering a unique opportunity for networking. Salón del Queso Vegano first took place in 2022, with vegan cheese startups Väcka, Mommus, and Vegasauria showcasing their innovations to F&B professionals interested in animal-free and sustainable food solutions.  Lyda Durango, vegan marketing specialist and event promoter, comments, “It’s a well-known …

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CEO's Linda Obregon and Karina Zegarra of Peruvian Veef

Linda Obregon and Karina Zegarra © Peruvian Veef
Fundraising

Peruvian Veef Secures $320K in First Funding Round, Aims for Latin American Expansion

Peruvian Veef, a plant-based food startup in South America, has raised $320,000 in its first funding round, led by US-based venture capital investors. This round included contributions from Ahimsa Foundation and Sustainable Food Ventures, along with a non-dilutive government grant from ProInnovate Peru. Founded by Karina Zegarra, with a focus on affordable, locally-made plant-based meat alternatives, the company has developed a range of 11 products inspired by Latin American cuisine, including beef, chicken, cold-cuts, and traditional Peruvian dishes like anticucho and grilled chicken. According to the company, these products are competitively priced at less than half of some imported alternatives. The company has established a significant presence in the local market, with its products available in over 70 stores and leading sales at Peru’s specialty …

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Vegetarianos Hoy vegan certified

© Vegetarianos Hoy
Charity & Campaigns

More Than 50 Companies in LATAM Joined the V-Label Certification Scheme in 2023

Fundación Veg, previously known as Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy, has announced that by the end of 2023, a total of 170 companies and 1,900 products had obtained a V-Label certification in Latin America. Through this program, the foundation encourages companies to include vegan products within sustainability strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of food production. From Mexico to Chile, 164 companies of different brands and product varieties have achieved V-Label certification. In the words of the director of the Veg Foundation, Ignacia Uribe, “Among the companies that have entrusted their certification to the Foundation we have names of multinationals such as Nestlé, Bimbo, Concha y Toro, and Masglo, among others, but we also have local enterprises that even have certified artisanal products, such as the case …

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Chunk Foods 6oz plant-based steak

Supplied by Chunk Foods
Investments & Acquisitions

Chunk Foods Secures $7.5M Amid Strategic Collab with Better Balance for Vegan Whole Cuts

Better Balance, a plant-based subsidiary of Mexico-based multinational food processing company Sigma Alimentos, one of Latin America’s largest meat and dairy producers, announces a strategic partnership with New York-headquartered startup Chunk Foods to develop co-branded plant-based whole cuts for the Latin American market. The strategic collaboration follows a $7.5 million seed extension for Chunk Foods led by Cheyenne Ventures, which the startup says reflects “ongoing investor confidence” in its vision as well as the potential of plant-based whole cuts. The extension brings the seed round to a total raise of $22M, making it one of the largest seed rounds in the alt protein category, according to the company. Through the alliance, Chunk is set to develop a new line of co-branded plant-based whole-cut meats, marking …

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Burger King has launched a plant-based restaurant in Puerto Rico.

© Burger King Puerto Rico
Fast Food

Burger King Launches 15th Plant-Based Restaurant Powered by The Vegetarian Butcher in Puerto Rico

Article update 15 Nov: The Vegetarian Butcher informs us that this location does serve a “limited amount of eggs and dairy,” and as such consumers must be conscious of this if visiting the restaurant. Burger King has launched its 15th plant-based restaurant, powered by The Vegetarian Butcher: “La Casa Veggie,” in Puerto Rico.  Using the motto, “Try the green side of flavor,” the new store in Plaza Trujillo Alto offers customers a “full veggie experience,” including plant-based versions of Burger King classics such as Whopper, Long Chicken Sandwich, Nuggets, and other options, such as salads and wraps, all made with The Vegetarian Butcher’s products.  Simultaneously, Burger King has launched its veggie options on the regular menus in all of its Puerto Rico locations. “The taste …

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Fundacion Veg logo

© Fundacion Veg

Company News

Vegetarianos Hoy Becomes Fundación Veg on World Vegan Day

Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy, the Latin American organization that promotes a change towards sustainable eating, announces today that it has left its old name and logo behind to respond to a more inclusive, empathetic, and changing environment. Although this name change was already indicated with the presentation of the book How to Be Vegan Today, authored by the organization’s founder and general director Ignacia Uribe, it was not until today that the news was publicly announced.  Uribe states, “We are happy to finally present this transformation that we have been working on for many months, which is actually an evolution. Leaving Vegetarianos Hoy y behind to become the Veg Foundation reflects our growth and continued commitment to our mission.” New name, same mission Although it has …

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Como Ser Vegan Hoy, by Ignacia Uribe

Image courtesy of Ignacia Uribe
Marketing & Media

Ignacia Uribe’s New ‘How to Be Vegan Today’ Book Urges “Do What You Can, But Do it Today”

The book “Como Ser Vegan Hoy” (“How to Be Vegan Today”) is presented as an essential guide for those who want to explore veganism and everything it entails, offering a simple, entertaining, educational and friendly guide so that people can immerse themselves in the different dimensions of veganism. This new milestone for Ignacia Uribe, director of Fundación Veg (formerly Vegetarianos Hoy) follows more than 20 years of experience as a vegetarian/vegan and as part of this social justice movement. Within her new book, people will be able to find anecdotes and personal reflections, as well as the explanation of key concepts, practical advice, and recipes to motivate people to explore this path. For her, this book is a necessity for society and the vegan movement, …

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A supermarket cart with vegan products

© Vegetarianos Hoy
Market & Trends

Vegetarianos Hoy Celebrates Milestone of 2,000 Certified Vegan Products in LATAM

Vegan products certified by the NGO Vegetarianos Hoy have reached historic figures, highlighting the growth of the vegan movement in Latin America. According to the organization, over 2000 products from have been registered with the V-Label and the Vegan Seal across seven LATAM countries. The Santiago de Chile-based foundation announced the positive news within the framework of the region’s most important fairs of the F&B sector: the Food Tech in Mexico and Espacio Food & Service in Chile.  “The Foundation has registered sustained growth over the past 5 years in its vegan certification program and we are pleased today to announce this new milestone of more than 2,000 certified products in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Panama, and Costa Rica,” announced Ignacia Uribe, GD and …

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Argentina's URV launches Dulce de Leche Plant Based

© Un Rincón Vegano (URV)
Sweets & Snacks

Argentina Responds to Growing Vegan Demand with Plant-Based Version of South America’s Iconic Dulce de Leche

Un Rincón Vegano (URV), an Argentinian company that claims to have introduced the country’s first vegan alfajor (traditional pastries) in 2015, recently launched its latest creation: Dulce de Leche Plant Based. Dulce de leche, or caramelized milk, is a sweet delicacy well-loved in Latin America, made by slowly heating sugar and milk for several hours. It is an icon of Argentina’s gastronomy, present in many desserts and pastries, including alfajores, where it’s sandwiched between two cookies. Described as golden, and creamy, at the same time delivering the flavor, the new vegan dulce de leche promises to satisfy traditional palates and consumers looking for animal-free alternatives. The new product comes in a 1 kg or 10 kg format to offer an option for individual consumers and …

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Ignacia Uribe of Vegetarianos Hoy

Ignacia Uribe, Vegetarianos Hoy, image supplied
Interviews

Vegetarianos Hoy: “The Vegan Movement in Latin America is Getting Stronger”

Santiago, Chile-based Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy (translating as Vegetarians Today) is an international organization working in Latin America to promote plant-based diets and to reduce the suffering of animals considered to be production animals. Vegetarianos Hoy has worked to certify products with its Sello Vegano (“vegan seal”) since 2013 and with V-Label since 2018, in Chile and other Latin American countries. We were pleased to speak with founder and CEO Ignacia Uribe about all of the great work that her organization is carrying out in LATAM and in particular Chile, where their recent survey with Ipsos found that an impressive 73% of Chileans are interested in plant-based products. Please introduce Fundación Vegetarianos Hoy, what does the organization stand for? We are an international non-profit working in …

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A Little More Confusing BK print campaign

A Little More Confusing campaign © DAVID Madrid
Marketing & Media

Burger King Embraces Humor and Irony to Promote Plant-Based Menu in “Confusing Times” Campaign

A new Burger King campaign promoting its plant-based menu launched in Spain and the United States in May 2023. Created by the DAVID Agency in Madrid, “Confusing Times” utilizes humor and irony in a series of TV, radio, and print ads. The campaign addresses the concept of confusion to promote the BK menu, with mentions of the chain’s Plant-Based Nuggets and Long Chicken, and the Plant-Based Whopper Jr. The ad shows an array of circumstances when people appear confused about the facts: is an eco-friendly Black Friday purchase good for the planet or not good at all? Should you delete a message or send the wrong message by deleting it? Is Max a dog’s name or a boy’s name?  A kid’s POV Recently, Burger King …

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NotCo Argentina

© NotCo
Marketing & Media

NotCo Argentina Launches NotCow Campaign to Promote Cruelty-Free Dairy

Chilean B Corp certified unicorn company NotCo has launched a marketing campaign in Argentina called NotCow, featuring the slogan “Cross out what you don’t want, Keep what you like,” encouraging consumers to switch to cruelty-free, healthier, and more sustainable alternatives.   NotCow aims to promote NotCo’s plant-based products — NotMilk, NotCream Cheese, and NotDulce de Leche — as options for traditional Argentinean favorites such as milk coffee, toast with cream cheese, and dulce de leche (a ubiquitous sweet in the country’s gastronomy). “The category of dairy replacements is a clear example of how countless recipes and occasions at home can become plant-based without effort and without leaving aside taste and enjoyment,” says Matias Latugaye, Country Manager Argentina of NotCo. In Argentina, the vegan population amounts to 4%, and …

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