Canada

Stay up-to-date with the latest news, trends, and developments in Canada’s thriving vegan, plant-based market, and cutting-edge cellular agriculture sector. Discover Canada’s vegan market for food & beverage and fashion, beauty & design. Notable companies leading the way include Daiya Foods, bettermoo(d), Lallemand, Protein Industries Canada, Wamame Foods and Future Fields.

Yumasoy Gina Arsens

Gina Arsens - Courtesy of Yumasoy
Interviews

Yumasoy: “I Embarked on a Mission to Put the Plant Back in Plant-Based Food”

Yumasoy is a Vancouver-based startup specializing in plant-based chicken alternatives called Om Noms. Led by founder Gina Arsens, previously CFO at Digital Supercluster, Yumasoy was established to improve the plant-based meal experience with products that are nutritious, convenient, and taste good. The company’s flagship product, Om Noms, is a line of chicken-style strips made with whole soybeans. In this interview with vegconomist, Arsens details the founding principles of Yumasoy, the development of Om Noms, and the company’s commitment to sustainability. She also discusses partnerships in the foodservice industry, and plans for expansion and product development. Can you give us an intro to Yumasoy and what inspired the company’s creation? When my family decided to increase the number of plant-based meals, I found the experience of …

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outlier protein wamame foods

© Wamame Foods
Protein

Wamame Foods Unveils “World’s Highest Protein Content” Meat Alternative, Outlier Protein

Wamame Foods, a company recognized for its plant-based product line Waygu, has launched a new protein alternative called Outlier Protein. This product, made using only seven ingredients, boasts a protein content that the company claims is 64% higher than that of cooked ground beef. The launch of Outlier Protein was announced in a press conference today, with Blair Bullus, president of Wamame Foods, commenting, “This is a complete protein, and it uses only seven ingredients. […] It uses the same protein isolates that you’d find in protein bars and protein shakes, but we’re now able to create them into meat products, which allows us to actually create new products that have a significant nutritional advantage over other animal-based proteins.” The product is formulated from natural, …

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Plant Based Food Week Canada

© Plant-Based Foods of Canada

Fairs & Events

Canada’s Third Annual Plant Based Food Week to Showcase Innovation in Plant-Based Sector

Canada is gearing up for its third annual Plant Based Food Week, slated for April 15-29, 2024, a joint initiative by Plant-Based Foods of Canada (PBFC) and Protein Industries Canada. The event is designed to draw attention to the growth, variety, and ecological benefits of plant-based food products. Studies highlight a growing interest in plant-based products in Canada, with Dalhousie University reporting that one in five Canadians buy plant-based alternatives. Although a large proportion of Canadians may be unwilling to give up meat entirely, as revealed in a recent survey from Sodexo, nearly half of consumers are interested in reducing their intake. The upcoming Plant Based Food Week seeks to support this trend by motivating Canadians to try more plant-based foods, encouraging the incorporation of …

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Plantbased Business Hour

What You Need To Know Before You IPO: George Khalife of Toronto Stock Exchange

George Khalife, VP of US Capital Formation on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) at TMX Group joins Elysabeth on The Plantbased Business Hour With Elysabeth Alfano to discuss taking Plant-based Innovation brands public on the exchange. Here, they break down what you need to know before you IPO. Specifically, they discuss: What is the TSX history with taking plant-based brands public? What have been the TSX successes and trouble spots with that? What is your view on taking plant-based brands public on TSX going forward? What is your view on the sector as a whole: past, present and future? What do companies need to know before they IPO? Below is a highlight clip and transcription from their long-form conversation. Podcast link here. Display content from …

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Four cows in a field

© AF -stock.adobe.com

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Toronto Startups AuX Labs & Genuine Taste Join BioCreate Accelerator to Create Alternatives to Cheese and Beef

Two cutting-edge biotech startups from Ontario, Canada — AuX Labs and Genuine Taste — have been selected to join BioCreate, an accelerator program that supports innovative companies in the health, food, agriculture, and cleantech sectors. AuX Lab was founded in 2021 by Ted Jin to create affordable bioidentical animal proteins using precision fermentation and engineered yeasts. The company is working to develop yeast strains with high protein-yielding capabilities and a bioprocess fueled by low-cost feedstocks established in “capital-light” fermentation facilities.  AuX Lab’s first protein — milk casein — is used to create animal-free cheese with the same taste and melting and stretching functionalities as dairy cheese. The startup has raised $3 million in a seed round from investors Bluestein Ventures, Congruent Ventures, and Flying Fish Partners. Meanwhile, Genuine …

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The Cultivated B Canada, a subsidiary of Germany’s The Cultivated B, has been renamed as n!Biomachines.

© n!Biomachines
Company News

The Cultivated B Canada Rebrands to n!Biomachines, Pioneering Fit-for-Purpose Bioreactors

The German biotech The Cultivated B. announces that its subsidiary The Cultivated B Canada has been rebranded to n!Biomachines to reflect its mission in bioreactor engineering for successful biomanufacturing. (The notation ‘n!’ represents ‘factorial’, hence the name can be read as ‘factorial biomachines.’) n!Biomachines, located in Burlington, Ontario, develops and manufactures fit-for-purpose, affordable, and automated bioreactors, to enable the commercial scalability of cellular agriculture-derived ingredients for for food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and more. The Cultivated B. opened its bioreactor facility in 2022, as part of a strategic partnership with Ontario Genomics, a government-funded non-profit, to develop the economic potential of the cell ag industry.  Hamid Noori, CEO of n!Biomachines and The Cultivated B., comments: “The mathematical term, ‘n!’, or n factorial, acknowledges the core of our mission: scalability and …

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Two Opalia product mockups

© Opalia
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Opalia Receives Investment from Dairy Supplier Hoogwegt Group for “Cow-Free” Cell-Based Milk

Opalia, previously BetterMilk, reportedly the only company developing cell-based milk in Canada, has secured CAD$2 million to accelerate the development of its first milk product and establish a commercial strategy. The financial round was led by the Netherlands-based Hoogwegt Group, the world’s largest independent supplier of dairy products and ingredients, operating since 1965 and with a presence in over 130 countries. Other investors including Ahimsa Foundation, Box One Ventures, Cycle Momentum, Kale United, and the Québec government’s Impulsion PME program, also backed the cell-based milk startup. Opalia has received additional funding from Natural Products Canada through its Proof of Concept Program. Jennifer Côté, Opalia’s CEO, shared: “With Hoogwegt leading our round, we’ve not only gained essential customer validation but also tapped into their extensive network and global market expertise, setting …

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The Kraft Heinz Not Company KD mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company
Products & Launches

Daiya and The Kraft Heinz NotCompany Both Launch Vegan Mac & Cheese in Canada

Two major, noteworthy brands in the alternative foods space have launched vegan mac & cheese products this week in Canada, a country known for its love of the traditionally dairy-heavy dish. The Kraft Heinz Not Company, a joint venture between Kraft Heinz — the name most closely associated with packet mac and cheese — and Chile’s NotCo, has today debuted KD NotMacandCheese in Canada, marking the first plant-based addition to its Canadian product line. Concurrently, Daiya, known for its dairy-free cheese alternatives, announced the introduction of a new line of Dry Powdered Mac & Cheese. Canada as biggest market for mac & cheese In November of last year, The Kraft Heinz Not Company debuted the plant-based Mac & Cheese in the United States. However, the …

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hemp

©cendeced - stock.adobe.com
Protein

Protein Industries Canada Announces $6.9M Project for Novel Hemp and Sunflower Protein Ingredients

Protein Industries Canada unveils a new initiative aimed at bolstering the nation’s supply of protein-rich ingredients derived from hemp and sunflower. This venture, backed by a collaboration with Burcon NutraScience, HPS Food & Ingredients, and Puratos Canada, aims to bolster the supply of plant-based protein ingredients in Canada and offer food manufacturers an expanded array of protein alternatives focused on both functionality and taste. This project is notable in its approach to acknowledging the applications of hemp and sunflower flour, through which Burcon seeks to extract hemp protein isolate, sunflower protein isolate, and sunflower protein concentrate. These ingredients, novel to the market, are anticipated to cater to the needs of food and beverage manufacturers striving to provide Canadian consumers with nutritious, sustainable, and flavor-neutral protein …

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Future of Foods podcast with Celeste Trujillo of Better Butchers

© Future of Foods
Cultivated Meat

Future of Foods Podcast: Celeste Trujillo, Food Science, Product Development at The Better Butchers

Alex Crisp of the Future of Foods podcast here interviews The Better Butchers, a Canadian company headed by Mitchell Scott previously of The Better Food Company, which intends to create hybrid cultivated meat products. The interview with Celeste Trujillo from The Better Butchers was carried out in September 2023. Since then the following updates have taken place and are reported by the company. We have launched a new line of products to start generating revenue and build our brand: three mycelium-based crumble SKUs, an original unflavoured, a chorizo and an Italian. We launched just two weeks ago and we have sold out and are scaling to grow and meet demand. We have a minimal ingredient list, we season with spices and herbs and don’t add …

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Avena Foods oats and pulses

© Avena Foods
Investments & Acquisitions

Protein Industries Canada Announces $19.2M Investment in Canadian Plant-Based Ingredients Project

Global innovation cluster Protein Industries Canada has unveiled a $19.2 million investment initiative to develop innovative Canadian ingredients for new snack and food options. Avena Foods, a key player in this project, will leverage the funding to create oat and pulse ingredients that will replace processing aids in products by Big Mountain Foods, Danone Canada, and Old Dutch Foods. This will lead to new consumer offerings, including allergy-friendly alternatives. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, stated, “The global food market is in need of sustainable and nutritious ingredients, and Canada is helping meet that demand. By supporting projects like this one, Protein Industries Canada, one of Canada’s global innovation clusters, is securing Canada’s position as a global supplier of plant-based ingredients.” Protein …

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Girl drinking milk in school

© Lightfield Studios - stock.adobe.com
Fermentation

Canada’s Renaissance BioScience Receives Government Funding to Develop Yeast Solution for the Off-Flavors of Plant Proteins

The Vancouver-based yeast bioengineering company Renaissance BioScience has been awarded CAD $232,000 in funding from the Canadian Food Innovation Network to develop a revolutionary product for plant-based protein products.  Renaissance is working on a pioneering project with food industry partners to develop and commercialize a non-GMO solution to neutralize compounds that lead to off-flavors and undesirable aromas in plant-based flours and proteins. In addition to enhancing taste, the yeast aims to eliminate the need for commonly used “flavor masking” ingredients by providing a clean-label solution for manufacturers; on a product’s ingredient list, the yeast solution will be simply identified as “yeast.” Better flavor for a growing market Despite the health and sustainability benefits that plant-based alternatives to animal products offer, widespread consumer acceptance is hindered …

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Louis Dreyfus Company pea protein plant

© Louis Dreyfus Company
Agriculture / Agribusiness

New Pea Production Facility in Canada Set to Boost North American Pea Protein Supply

The Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a multinational agriculture and food processing company, has announced plans to establish a pea protein isolate production plant within its industrial complex in Saskatchewan, Canada complex. The new facility aims to enhance the company’s Plant Proteins business line, catering to the rising demand for sustainable, plant-based protein alternatives. Michael Gelchie, CEO of LDC, noted that the production plant is a pivotal element of the company’s North American growth strategy, which includes other industrial centers in Claypool, Indiana, and Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in the US. Gelchie commented, “Like other key development projects for LDC in North America, the investment announced today is an important step in the Group’s global growth strategy, as part of our plans to diversify revenue through value-added …

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Konscious Foods

© Konscious Foods
Investments & Finance

Protein Industries Canada Partners with Konscious Foods to Elevate Plant-Based Seafood

Protein Industries Canada has introduced a significant initiative for the Canadian alternative seafood sector with its collaboration with Konscious Foods, Avena Foods, and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds (CPS). Leveraging the success of Konscious Foods’ frozen and ready-to-eat plant-based sushi, this project aims to enhance the nutritional value of existing plant-based seafood products while also developing novel offerings. The project has already garnered praise from government officials for its contribution to addressing the global demand for seafood alternatives and bolstering Canada’s position in the plant-based food market. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, stated, “There is an ever-growing global demand for seafood, and this project is helping to meet that demand by offering an alternative plant-based option that expands the range of healthy …

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Remilk has become the first company to receive the green light in Canada for a precision fermentation-derived protein.

Image courtesy of Remilk
Fermentation

Remilk Receives No Objections Letter for Sale of Animal-Free Milk Protein, Heralding “New-Dairy Revolution” in Canada

Israeli biotech company Remilk announces that it has obtained Health Canada’s “Letter of No Objection,” allowing the use and commercialization of its animal-free milk protein called BLG within Canada. With this achievement, Remilk has become the first company to receive the green light in the country for a precision fermentation-derived protein.  According to the announcement, Health Canada conducted a thorough evaluation and deemed Remilk’s animal-free protein safe for consumption. As a result, Canada has opened the door for new dairy products, including milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cream cheese, made with novel proteins instead of traditional milk proteins. “This is an important day for us at Remilk, and a historic one for Canada as it opens its doors to the new-dairy revolution. We developed a strategic roadmap for …

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© Komo Plant Based Foods
Market & Trends

Why it’s Imperative for Meat-Free Products in Canada to Target Meat-Eaters

A recent survey conducted by food services management company Sodexo Canada finds that while a huge proportion (74%) of Canadians are unwilling to completely give up meat — significantly higher than the global average of 42% — followed by 67% for fish and 54% for dairy, almost half (46%) are interested in reducing animal proteins for plant proteins and 46% are willing to reduce their intake of dairy products. Ultimately, this data as well as the further data below evidences that Canadian consumers refuse to quit animal products but do have a desire to replace some meat and dairy with animal-free alternatives. Producers and marketers should therefore strive to make this easy for the consumer and target the flexitarian group with inclusive language and marketing. …

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Plant Up

Supplied by Plant Up
Products & Launches

Plant Up Unveils New Plant-Based Appetizers, Now Available at 650+ Canadian Retailers

Plant Up, a Canadian producer of plant-based frozen meals, has expanded its product range with the launch of two new appetizers: Butter Chik’n Bites and Shawarma Bites. These latest additions are a continuation of Plant Up’s globally inspired plant-based product lineup, aiming to cater to the growing diversity of consumers in Canada. Aamir Malkani, the founder and CEO of Plant Up, comments on the growing diversity in Canadian food preferences: “With over 500,000 people moving to Canada each year, mainstream retailers seem to have taken notice of this. As the lines between the international aisle and mainstream aisles blur, ethnic foods have gone from a ‘Nice’ to have to ‘Need’ to have. “Plant Up is positioned in a sweet spot as it embraces this diversity …

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Swiss biotech company Evolva

© Evolva
Investments & Acquisitions

Canadian Yeast Specialist Lallemand Acquires Swiss Biotech Company Evolva

Lallemand Inc., a Canadian company specializing in yeast-based ingredients, has confirmed that its subsidiary Danstar Ferment AG has acquired Swiss biotech company Evolva AG. Similarly to Lallemand, Evolva is focused on researching, developing, and commercializing natural yeast-derived ingredients. The company’s products are used in several sectors, including flavors and fragrances, health ingredients, cosmetics, and health protection. The transaction was announced to the Swiss Stock Exchange on November 21, and was confirmed by shareholders of Evolva Holding — Evolva’s previous parent company — at a general meeting on December 21. The initial purchase price is CHF 20 million (US$23.5 million), though this may be adjusted. Evolva Holding may also receive a payout of up to CHF 10 million (US$11.75 million) if certain product-based sales targets are …

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chicken bouillon Lallemand

© Lallemand
Ingredients

Revolutionizing Plant-Based Eating: A New Sensory Experience with Savor-Lyfe® CI

In recent years, a growing awareness of sustainability concerns, food security issues, and the environmental and public health consequences associated with industrial animal agriculture has prompted a shift towards plant-based diets. While the demand for plant-based products has surged, there remains a challenge to develop alternatives that not only cater to niche markets but also resonate with mainstream consumers. Flexitarian consumers, consciously reducing their meat intake for health, environmental, and animal welfare reasons, are driving significant expansion within the plant-based food market. According to Mintel’s 2024 Global Food & Drink Trends, consumers are no longer willing to compromise taste and cost for sustainability credentials. As the cost of living rises, companies are faced with the challenge of delivering on all fronts – taste, cost, and …

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WOOP4 plant-based seafood

© WOOP4
Products & Launches

Vegan Piranha, Anyone? WOOP4 Arrives on the Alt Seafood Scene with Innovative Fish Alternatives

WOOP4, a new plant-based food company, arrives on the Canadian market this week, debuting with a new line of 100% vegan and allergen-free fish alternatives including vegan piranha (also the name of a hardcore punk band, apparently). The product line includes plant-based versions of popular fish such as salmon, smoked salmon, and tuna, as well as innovative options currently untapped in the market, like tropical piranha and mahi-mahi. These products are designed to replicate the taste and texture of their conventional counterparts and are free from allergens like soy, gluten, peanuts, nuts, dairy, eggs, sesame, or mustard, which serves as a main selling point for the brand. Additionally, WOOP4’s offerings contain omega-3, vegetable proteins, and other nutritional benefits. The company’s new fish alternatives are available …

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