Southeast Asia

Popular Topics
with foods plant-based sausages on a plate

© WTH Foods
Products & Launches

Philippines: WTH Foods Launches Frozen Plant-Based Meat Line

WTH Foods, a food technology startup based in the Philippines, has launched a 100% frozen plant-based meat line called Umani. The company claims its NPDs are high in proteins and fibre, free from cholesterol and trans fats, and made using microalgae, soy, and wheat proteins. Based in Manila, the food tech aims to lead Asia’s transition to meat alternatives by innovating with sustainable ingredients and taking inspiration from local flavours. “We have taken the challenge of turning vegetables into something fit for meaty cravings that are healthy and kind to all,” commented WTH Foods co-founder and CEO Carissa Lim. Feeding 10 billion by 2050 WTH Foods was founded in 2019 to help feed the world’s population — set to rise to 10 billion by 2050 …

more

Organisations and brands:

Meatiply duck breast

Duck breast prototype © Meatiply

Market & Trends

This Week in Singapore’s Alt Protein Scene

It’s all happening this week in Singapore’s alt protein scene. Here we touch upon current developments in the city-state from AFTEA, Shandi Global, UnMeat, and Meatiply. Shandi Global announces largest plant-based chicken manufacturing facility in Singapore Shandi Global yesterday announced the launch and the opening of what it claims to be Singapore’s largest plant-based chicken manufacturing facility following a second seed funding round. Shandi produces plant-based chicken products including patties, pieces, shreds, strips, and drumsticks. Shandi claims the new facility will produce the “world’s first and only plant-based chicken product boasting 30% protein content,” and that it is the “only alternative meat supplier in the world with 5 food-technology patents”. Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia (AFTEA) Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia (AFTEA) opens on 26 October as …

more

Organisations and brands:

Interviews

Let’s Plant Meat: “We Saw a 10X Jump in Daily Searches for “Vegan” and “Plant-Based Meat” in Thailand”

Thailand’s Let’s Plant Meat has been at the forefront of the burgeoning plant-based industry in the country since its inception, producing vegan meat alternatives such as burgers, mince, and katsu with locally grown ingredients.  A former winner of Future Food Asia’s Plant Protein award, Let’s Plant Meat products can be found in multiple retail locations across the country, at far lower prices than the imported alt meats of its rivals. With several multinationals now becoming prevalent in Thailand’s plant-based sector, vegconomist spoke with Smith Taweelerdniti, CEO of Let’s Plant Meat, to find out what comes next for the rapidly growing brand. Can you give us a brief background on your journey into the plant-based world? I am the Managing Director of Nithi Foods, a producer …

more

Organisations and brands:

WTH Foods

©WTH Foods
Investments & Finance

WTH Foods, Creator of Plant-Based Filipino Dishes, Closes $1.2M Seed Round

WTH Foods announces a raise of USD $1.2million in seed funding, the launch of an R&D facility, and expansion plans to Singapore as well as other markets across Southeast Asia and globally. The company uses over 60 types of plants in the creation of 60 dishes, aimed at the more than 2.2 million Filipinos living away from home. WTH Foods has also developed a new line of products called Unami, featuring plant-based versions of popular Asian processed meats such as sausages and luncheon meat, due for a 2022 launch. Additionally, the company reports it has co-developed a seaweed-based chicken product with Singapore Institute of Technology food scientists. Investors in the round include Big Idea Ventures and Henry Soesanto, CEO of Monde Nissin, a Philippines based …

more

Organisations and brands:

Growthwell Foods

©Growthwell Foods

Company News

Plant-Based Producer Growthwell Foods Partners With Meat & Seafood Supplier Indoguna

Growthwell Foods, a leading manufacturer of plant-based meat and seafood for the Southeast Asian market since 1989, has announced a strategic partnership Indoguna, a provider of meats and seafood operating for two decades with a presence in Singapore, Cambodia, and Dubai. As we reported in April 2020, Growthwell Foods secured US$8 million in a funding round led by Singaporean holding company Temasek to accelerate growth. Bolstered by this newly formed partnership, the company is now able to further extend its reach in the Food and Beverage Industry and aims to bring its offerings to even more hotels, individual cafés, and restaurants. “Over the years, we have witnessed an encouraging movement towards more sustainable and healthy food solutions,” says Melissa Ng, Senior Business Development Manager, Indoguna …

more

Organisations and brands:

Nestle Malaysia

©Nestlé
Company News

Nestlé Opens Plant-Based Production Facility in Malaysia to Expand Harvest Gourmet Range

The world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer, Nestlé, has opened its first plant-based production facility in Malaysia. In order to cater to the rising demand for plant-based foods, the facility will be the first of its Plant-Based Meal Solutions manufacturing facilities in the ASEAN economic union and one of only two in the whole of Asia. 

more

Organisations and brands:

Green Butcher Burger

©Green Butcher Foods
Investments & Finance

Green Butcher: Indonesia’s First Plant-Based Meat Producer Finalises Seed Round Investment  

Leading alternative protein venture capital firm Unovis Asset Management has announced the closing of its investment in Indonesia-based startup, Green Butcher. Located in Jakarta, the company claims to be the first plant-based meat producer in the Southeast Asian country, developing chicken and beef alternatives using natural, whole-food ingredients. 

more

Organisations and brands:

reen Butcher x Starbucks - ALL menu

Image supplied by Green Butcher
Gastronomy & Food Service

Starbucks Indonesia Launches Plant-Based Menu Created By Green Butcher

Green Butcher, an Indonesian plant-based meat startup focused on Asian flavours, announces the closure of its seed round led by Unovis for an undisclosed amount, as well as the debut of a range of its products at 50 Starbucks outlets. Together, the two companies have developed alternative meal options featuring Green Butcher’s plant-based meat alternatives.

more

Organisations and brands:

Green Common Singapore

© Green Common
Company News

Green Common Enters SouthEast Asia With 3,000 Ft Sq Singapore Store

After completing a US$70 million financing round last September, Green Common has been gradually announcing its plans for Taiwan, Singapore and Europe. Last week, David Yeung’s company opened its first store in Southeast Asia in Singapore, marking the 11th store in total, in addition to nine stores in Hong Kong and China.

more

Organisations and brands:

NEW FOOD Startup 2020

©Newfood Startup 2020
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Singapore’s Float Foods launches ‘NEWFOOD Startup 2020’ for Plant-Based Innovators in Indonesia

A Singaporean plant-based startup called Float Foods informs vegconomist that it has launched NEW FOOD Startup 2020, Indonesia’s first joint cross-border food incubator. The incubator is aimed towards plant-based food innovators in Indonesia and winners can receive up to $25,000 in funding and mentoring.

more

Organisations and brands: