Chile

Fundación Veg (formerly Vegetarianos Hoy)

Fundación Veg (previously Vegetarianos Hoy) has launched a campaign in the Santiago Metro to encourage a vegan diet during the Fiestas Patrias celebrations.

Charity & Campaigns

“Be Like Joaquin Phoenix” Urges Fundación Veg in Campaign Promoting Vegan Diet in Chile

August 23, 2024

Fundación Veg (previously Vegetarianos Hoy) has launched a campaign in the Santiago Metro to encourage a vegan diet during Chile’s Fiestas Patrias, when traditional dishes made with meat and other animal products are widely consumed. The campaign features an image designed by national artist Fab Ciraolo, showing vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix surrounded by happy, alive farm animals and holding a vegan burger certified by V-Label. According to the non-profit the phrase is a nod to Phoenix’s 2020 Oscar speech promoting veganism. The phrase, “Be like Joaquin and discover the great variety of vegan products that exist today,” leads the campaign to encourage citizens to explore vegan options. A QR code on the panels directs users to the website www.sellovegano.com, offering a comprehensive resource of V-Label-certified …

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Chile: New Bill to Define and Label Plant-Based Alternatives as “Simulated Food”

August 12, 2024August 12, 2024

In Chile, a new bill to regulate the food tech industry and establish a statute for fair competition between traditional and plant-based food industries is being considered. The proposed legislation, authored by Representative Harry Jürgensen, aims to protect consumer rights and prevent misleading practices in the food industry. “The proposal establishes a statute for fair competition between animal-origin foods and plant-origin foods when the latter imitates the properties of the former. To this end, it distinguishes between natural and synthetic origin so that all people are clearly aware of the types of foods they are consuming,” says the press release from the Chamber of Deputies. “Simulated food” The bill, which has recently passed through the Agriculture Committee and is now being debated at the Chamber …

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Gastronomy & Food Service

Chile’s Vegy Seeks Co-Founding Partners to Fuel Growth

July 31, 2024

Vegan start-up Vegy, founded in 2019 in Pucón, Chile, is seeking investors and co-founding partners to take its business to a new level of accelerated growth. The company, known for its gourmet and healthy dishes, has incorporated recent innovations including fortifying its products with vitamins and minerals. Cristóbal Esparza, the founder behind Vegy, started his entrepreneurial venture with a small vegan restaurant in Pucón. With limited resources and the support of a Sercotec fund, as well as some loans and reused equipment, Esparza formed Vegy’s first team, composed mainly of nutritionists committed to his vision. Despite initial success, the pandemic forced the closure of the Pucón location, leading the company to adapt by creating a website and implementing an online sales and delivery model from …

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Vegy

NotCo Shakes Up Sports Nutrition with New AI-Powered Less Sweet Protein Drinks

©NotCo Brazil

Products & Launches

NotCo Shakes Up Sports Nutrition with New Zero Sugar Protein Drinks in Funky Flavors

July 2, 2024

NotCo, Latin America’s fastest-growing plant-based food tech company, known for its NotMilk and NotBurger, continues its portfolio expansion by tapping into the growing market for protein foods and drinks aimed at athletes. Following the launch of NotSnack Protein Bars, a fortified cereal bar that contains caffeine and the sugar substitute palatinose launched less than a year ago, the company has presented “Not Shake Protein,” a range of protein-enriched sports drinks. The new product range offers exclusive flavors such as Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon and Strawberry with Dates, as well as regular options such as chocolate, coffee caramel, and vanilla with coconut. All flavors contain 16g of protein per unit, 3.5g of carbohydrates, vitamins D and B12, and no added sugars. They are also lactose, cholesterol, …

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Tourism & Travel

NotCo Partners with LATAM Airlines to Offer NotBurger & NotChicken Aboard Domestic Flights

April 10, 2024

Chilean foodtech company NotCo and LATAM Airlines Group have announced the introduction of NotCo’s plant-based products in the Premium Economy cabin of LATAM’s domestic flights in Chile as part of a menu update. This partnership will see the integration of six unique sandwich options into LATAM’s in-flight service, crafted through a joint effort between the airline’s chefs and NotCo. The menu options, which will vary weekly, feature NotCo’s plant-based products, including NotMila, NotChicken, and NotBurger, in combination with a variety of other ingredients. Max Silva, the country manager of NotCo in Chile, stated, “Getting on board LATAM planes is simply a dream for the company. Bringing the revolution and innovation that so distinguishes us to a company of such magnitude as LATAM makes us feel …

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Image courtesy of The Live Green Co.

Fermentation

The Live Green Co. Unveils Yeast-Derived Breast Milk Fat and Gut Health Postbiotic

April 11, 2024April 10, 2024

The Live Green Co. (TLGC), a US food tech company headquartered in Boston since 2022, unveils two active functional ingredients developed with precision fermentation: GreenTAGs — an analog of human breast milk fat known as OPO — and GutRevyv, a postbiotic for gut health. Human milk fat, mainly containing Triacylglycerols or OPO, plays a crucial role in infant development and health: It benefits nutrient absorption, supports neurodevelopment, boosts immunity, favors gut health, and promotes infant well-being. Yeast-derived, GreenTAGs is said to closely mimic the nutritional profile of this human milk fat providing essential nutrients for infants. The functional ingredient is described as a game-changing alternative to the commonly used vegetable oils in infant formulas, capable of bridging the nutritional gap between breast milk and formula feeding. CEO …

NotCo wins appeal in Chile as court rules in favour of using the word 'milk'

“NotCo is Officially NotGuilty” – Chilean Unicorn Defeats Dairy Union as Court Allows ‘Milk’ on NotMilk Labels

January 25, 2024January 18, 2024

After filing an appeal against a court ruling prohibiting using the NotMilk trademark in Chile, NotCo has received positive news. As reported by local media, the Court of Appeals of Valdivia revoked the first instance’s sentence and rejected the lawsuit filed by the Association of Milk Producers of the Los Ríos Region, which accused NotCo of unfair competition for using the name milk on its plant-based beverages. “We’re officially NotGuilty,” Matias Muchnick, founder and CEO, shared on social media. The legal action against NotCo started in 2020, and last May, the court ruled in favor of the dairy union, mandating the cessation of any branding or imagery related to the dairy industry. However, NotCo fought back and, during the appeal, presented a study by Cadem, the country’s …

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NotCo Challenges Dairy Allegations in Court: 99% of Consumers Know it’s NOT MILK

December 18, 2023

In a recent appeal against a court ruling prohibiting the use of the NotMilk trademark in Chile, NotCo presented a study by Cadem, showing that most consumers understand that NotMilk is a plant-based beverage despite its branding and packaging displaying the word “milk,” reports La Tercera. Cadem, the country’s leading market research and public opinion company, demonstrates in its Analysis of the reception of the NotMilk product by consumers in Chile that only 0.1% of participants believe that NotMilk comes from a cow. The legal battle began in late 2020 when the dairy farmers union Aproval (Los Ríos Region Milk Producers’ Association) filed a lawsuit alleging “unfair competition” and accusing the food tech company of capitalizing on the reputation of milk and confusing consumers. Last May, the court’s …

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Image: Melt Pizzas/NotCo

Food Service

NotCo Partners With Chile’s Melt Pizzas to Launch Two Vegan Pizzas Topped With NotCheese

November 6, 2023

Chilean food tech company NotCo has partnered with Melt Pizzas, a popular Chilean restaurant chain, to develop two plant-based pizzas. Both pizzas — The Vegan Pesto Margarita and the Vegan Veggie — are topped with NotCo’s mozzarella-style plant-based NotCheese. The Vegan Pesto Margarita also features cherry tomatoes and vegan pesto, while the Vegan Veggie is topped with red onion, green pepper, mushroom, black olives, corn, and tomato. Melt Pizzas said it chose NotCheese because the product’s melting properties are superior to other vegan cheeses, hinting that it may also roll out more options using the cheese alternative in future. The chain added that it has previously offered four vegan pizzas, which have all been a “complete success”, as the trend towards plant-based foods continues to …

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Melt Pizzas

©Uber Eats

Delivery Services

Vegan Food Delivery Soars in Chile as Uber Eats Sees 45% Increase in Vegan Offerings

November 3, 2023

To celebrate Vegan World Month with good news, the charity Veganuary and Uber Eats have revealed positive findings from their latest research on vegan food delivery in Chile: more restaurants are offering vegan food on the app. Figures from the analysis show that the vegan category of Uber Eats has experienced a 45% increase compared to the previous year. And interestingly, it has already surpassed the 2022 growth mark so far this year. “We have seen that there is a great interest on the part of app users to open up to new options. At the same time, restaurants and associated businesses have made an effort to satisfy these new consumer trends, offering much more. Therefore, we believe that this is a trend that will continue to grow”, says Verónica …

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Uber Eats

Veganuary

Fairs & Events

Athletes at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023 Have Vegan Options for the First Time

October 20, 2023

The celebration of the Pan American Games starting today and ending on November 5 for the Pan American Games and from November 17-26 for the Parapan American Games will feature a varied offer that will include vegan options for the first time. For context, in Chile, 43% of consumers recently stated they are reducing their consumption of animal-based foods, and in another study, 73% responded that they are likely or very likely to consume a plant-based product given that it is of equal or better nutritional quality than the animal-based alternative. This initiative has counted on the collaboration of the Santiago 2023 Corporation and the Vegetarianos Hoy Foundation, which has actively participated in the review and suggestions to veganize some of the planned menu preparations. …

Market & Trends

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

September 29, 2023September 28, 2023

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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Products & Launches

Nestlé Announces New Shelf-Stable Line in Chile After Registering 333 Plant-Based Patent Applications

August 31, 2023

Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, is expanding its plant-based portfolio with the launch of a range of shelf-stable plant-based meat products for the Chilean market. These new items, launched under the brand name Maggi Veg, are certified vegan and include the company’s first shelf-stable plant-based mince meat made from soy. The launch is part of Nestlé’s efforts to expand its plant-based offerings and give consumers more options for affordable alternatives to meat. The new product line bulks out the company’s plant-based portfolio, which features plant-based eggs, chocolate, and plant-based toddler milk. “We continue launching plant-based products in many regions of the world to offer people tasty, nutritious alternatives to meat that they can enjoy with family and friends,” said Torsten Pohl, Global …

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Nestlé

Company News

Chilean Biotech Fotortec Partners with Sustainable Firms to Introduce Food Waste Upcycling Technology in Sweden

August 29, 2023

Chilean biotech Fotortec announces a partnership with Swedish consultancy firms A Better Future AB and Xylo Sweden AB to introduce its innovative food waste upcycling technology and mushroom-based ingredients into the Swedish market. Fotortec aims to redefine waste by repurposing food waste or by-products into new and valuable items. The company has developed a scalable technology for cultivating mushrooms using food waste. These mushrooms can be transformed into beneficial ingredients, including flavor enhancers, protein isolates, fertilizer, energy-boosting methane gas, animal feed, and raw materials suitable for packaging. The company franchises its technology to third parties and this collaboration marks Fotortec’s expansion into the Nordics. Better Future AB and Xylo Sweden AB will represent Fotortec in Sweden, promoting sustainable and circular solutions for the region, aligning with their sustainable future goals. “This …

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Fotortec

drawing of a black chicken crossed in purple purple on a yellow background

Market & Trends

46% of Chileans Are Decreasing Consumption of Animal-Based Foods

July 12, 2023

Market research company Ipsos, together with the international organization Vegetarianos Hoy, has launched the report “Estudio de Opinión Pública: Alimentación y Productos de Origen Animal“, which regards the opinion and practices of the Chilean population regarding their dietary choices. This year there was a significant increase in those who reported having tried to reduce their consumption of animal-based foods, from 36% in 2021 to 46% in 2023. Among those who have tried to reduce their intake of animal foods, 75% (-7%) have reduced their consumption of red meat, 66% (-8%) pork, and 25% (-6%) chicken or turkey. While in derived foods, 27% (-5%) tried to reduce their intake of cheese, 24% (+4%) of milk, and 14% (-4%) of eggs. 6% of the population identify as …

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Market & Trends

Ipsos Survey: A Huge 73% of Chileans Would Consume Plant-Based Products

June 6, 2023

Market research company Ipsos, along with non-profit Vegetarianos Hoy, has published a report titled “Public Opinion Study: Plant-based Foods”, regarding the knowledge and consumption of meat-free foods in Chile. The survey reveals that 73% are likely or very likely to consume a plant-based product of equal or better nutritional quality than the animal-based alternative, an increase of 12 points compared to the previous survey. In addition, 72% would buy plant-based products at similar or even lower prices than animal-based products. The plant-based situation in Chile Interest in plant-based foods is growing in Chile. For example, as we reported in January, product sales in the Horeca segment grew by an impressive 41% in 2022. Sadly, however, the Chilean government recently passed a bill to redefine the …

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NotCo appeals lawsuit against its trademark NotMilk

NotCo Fights for NotMilk Trademark Following Dairy Lawsuit in Chile

May 31, 2023

Yesterday Chilean giant NotCo announced that in the next few days, it will appeal against a ruling prohibiting the use of the NotMilk trademark in Chile. At the end of 2020, Aproval, the Valdivia dairy farmers union, filed an “unfair competition” lawsuit to the 1st Civil Court of Valdivia, accusing NotCo of taking advantage of “milk’s prestige.” Aproval argued that NotMilk’s advertising strategy uses the word milk to sell its product and, at the same time, disqualifies natural milk, saying it is harmful to health and the environment. The court, which ruled in favor of the dairy union, ordered the “cessation and prohibition of the use of any mark, labeling, distinctive or image, of any nature (whether on the packaging of its product or in …

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Chile Passes Bill Banning Meaty Terms to Safeguard Meat Industry

May 2, 2023

On April 17th, Chile‘s government passed a bill to redefine the concept of meat and prohibit meaty terms for non-animal origin products, including plant-based foods. The bill proposes that words such as hamburger, chorizo, sausage, or jerky, for example, cannot be used to describe, promote, or market foods that contain a higher proportion of vegetable matter than meat. Vegetarianos Hoy, an international organization working in Latin America to promote plant-based diets (check its guide on vegan products in LATAM ), called on the country’s organizations and brands operating in the plant-based industry to make a statement. Last Friday, seven organizations, including ReVeL Foods, Vegusta, VegMonkey, Rikü, Pow! Foods, Seitan del Bueno, Carno, and Vegetarianos Hoy, signed an official document titled NO to the law against products of …

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