Omni vegan dog food range

Image: ProVeg International

Pet Food

Omni: What’s Next for the Plant-Based Pet Food Company?

Three years ago, Omni launched as a ProVeg Incubator start-up selling plant-based pet food. In 2023, the company grew by over 100% and boasted seven-figure annual sales. Building a health-first brand based on veterinary knowledge and scientific credibility, Omni is the only plant-based pet food company in the UK to have peer-reviewed scientific research supporting its products. Its product line includes nutritionally complete kibble, wet-food cans and toppers to increase palatability with a meaty taste and texture, and a newly launched range of supplements with functional benefits. Amid teases of a ‘world-first’ cultivated pet food product launch, ProVeg International’s New Food Hub speaks to Co-Founder and Co-CEO Shiv Sivakumar about Omni’s rise to market leadership and the future of pet food from plant-based and novel …

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Cultivated pet food company Meatly, previously Good Dog Food, has revealed what it claims to be the world's first cultivated meat product for cats.

© Meatly

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Meatly and Omni Unveil UK’s First Cultivated Meat Product for Cats

UK cultivated pet food company Meatly, previously Good Dog Food, has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first cans of cat food made with cultivated chicken. The first batch, manufactured with its first commercial partner, Omni, a leader in the UK plant-based pet food scene, is a chicken pâté that blends Omni’s plant, yeast, and algae proteins with Meatly’s cruelty-free meat grown from chicken egg cells. Pets at Home, an early investor in Meatly, will be the first retailer to sell Omni Feast Chicken Revolution presented in 150g tins (enough for a single meal) at roughly £1, according to the announcement. “Owen Ensor, co-founder and CEO of Meatly, said, “It is incredibly exciting to see the first ever cans of cultivated pet food fly off the production …

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UK plant-based protein sector unites in growth commitment

Image: Indy Kaur on LinkedIn

Fairs & Events

40+ UK Plant-Based Companies Gather in United Front to Forge a Path & Propel Sector Forward

Over 40 businesses, retailers, and NGOs in the UK plant-based protein sector recently came together at the inaugural Plant-Based Proteins Workshop, hosted by Plant Futures. Participants included allplants, the Coller Foundation, Veganuary, Veg Capital, The Tofoo Co, and many more. In a move described as “unprecedented”, the organisations made a clear commitment to collaboration and growth, strategising on ways to rejuvenate the sector. They identified seven critical areas to inform the development of a growth strategy: Unity — Collaboration could unlock the sector’s growth potential, and a shared roadmap will be developed as a guide. Leadership — A coherent narrative and governance are necessary, as too much is currently open to interpretation. Positioning — Most attendees agreed that there should be a focus on highlighting …

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Poseidona raises funding for algal protein ingredients

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Investments & Acquisitions

Female-Led Startup Poseidona Raises €1.1M for Innovative Algal Protein Ingredients

Spanish food tech company Poseidona has raised €1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round, with the aim of further developing its innovative and sustainable algal protein ingredients. The round was led by climate tech and blue economy VC fund Faber. Other participants included Dozen Investments, Sprout & About, Proveg International, and WA4STEAM (Women For STEAM). Poseidona uses algal sidestreams and invasive seaweeds to create cost-effective proteins with significantly lower water use, land use, and carbon emissions than animal-based or conventional plant-based proteins. Currently, the company is focusing on side streams from the production of gellifiers, but it also plans to begin using Rugulopterix Okamurae, an invasive seaweed in the Mediterranean. This will contribute to the management of marine ecosystems, and could be expanded to use …

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UK's first vegan theatre to open in Canterbury

Image: The Garlinge Theatre on Facebook

Society

“UK’s First Vegan Theatre” to Open Near Canterbury, Kent

A cooperative is set to open what is claimed to be the UK’s first vegan theatre on an organic farm near the town of Canterbury, Kent. Only vegan foods and beverages will be permitted in the Garlinge Theatre, which has a capacity of 300. This rule will also apply to anyone who hires the venue. The first productions will take place in the theatre next month. The building was previously a Steiner school, which closed last year after problems were discovered during an inspection. However, a new Steiner-inspired school will now open on part of the site. The school, Light Root’s Home Education, is part of the cooperative that has taken over the building, alongside actress Alison Harris and Swale councillor Terry Thompson. A fundraising …

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Semana sin carne

© ProVeg Spain

Charity & Campaigns

More Than 32,000 People Join Spain’s Meat-Free Week Semana Sin Carne

On the occasion of World Meatless Day, which is on March 20, ProVeg has announced the seventh edition of Semana Sin Carne (Meat-free Week), a 7-day challenge to encourage the population to adopt a more plant-based diet and give the health of our planet a break. The seven-day challenge will begin next Monday, March 18 and all interested people will be able to live a different plant experience each day of the challenge. Every day you will be provided with a daily menu, exclusive vegan recipes, nutritional tables, comparisons or nutritional advice and support, among many other things. Eating plant-based saves money The organization states that “a more plant-based diet will make you save on the shopping cart,” which, in turn, is in line with …

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Ilo launches high protein cashew pudding

© Ilo

Sweets & Snacks

Finland’s Ilo Introduces Cashew Pudding High Protein in Choco Caramel and Vanilla Flavours

Finland’s Ilo offers a wide range of artisan cheeses, desserts, dips and spreads, primarily with a cashew base. Ilo’s vegan products are made in Jämsä, where cheese has been processed since the 1950s, by Jokilaakson Juusto, a Finnish dairy company. They have been granted the key flag of the Finnish Labor Association. In 2007, the dairy producer launched its plant-based brand, Ilo, which was initially focused on hummus and since has introduced several vegan cheeses such as its Vegan Mozzis, an alternative to mozzarella slices launched last year, as well as parmesan, slices and shreds, and delicacies like Cashew White Mold and Cashew Black Pepper. A “joyful experience” Ilo recently expanded its offerings with an entirely new line, Ilo Cashew Pudding High Protein, in Choco …

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Beyond Burger

© Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

Beyond Burger Rolls Out at Over 800 Co-op Stores UK-Wide

Beyond Meat has announced that the Beyond Burger is launching at over 800 Co-op convenience stores and supermarkets across the UK. The burger, which has won several awards including Which’s Best Vegan Burger 2023, will be available in the frozen aisle. It contains 19g of protein and is cholesterol-free. A recent life cycle analysis indicates that the Beyond Burger requires 97% less land, 97% less water, and 37% less non-renewable energy than a comparable beef burger, while also generating 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. “Just in time for the warmer weather and BBQ season, we’re delighted to be extending our tasty Beyond Burger into Co-op stores across the UK,” said Lee Crane, Regional Sales Manager UK at Beyond Meat. “Local and convenient, the new launch …

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Revo Foods launches THE KRAKEN plant based octopus

© Revo Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Revo Foods Unveils ‘THE KRAKEN’ Plant-Based Octopus Crafted from Fungi Protein

Austrian startup Revo Foods today announces a “culinary innovation” with what it describes as the world’s first plant-based alternative to octopus tentacles, created with fungi protein. When asked as to its production methods, Revo responded that it is “testing a unique new 3D structuring approach” for which further details cannot be revealed as yet. Branded as “THE KRAKEN – Inspired by Octopus”, the product is ready to eat but can also be grilled, fried, or baked. It can be used to replicate classic octopus-based dishes such as the Spanish Pulpo a la Gallega or Greek Octopus Salad. The mycoprotein tentacles are said to offer an authentic aroma, taste and texture, a Nutriscore A nutritional profile grading, as well as a high omega-3 fatty acid content …

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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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Protein Transition Map

© Foodvalley NL

Company News

Foodvalley NL Launches Protein Transition Map, Showing 450+ Dutch Alt Protein Companies

Food transition organisation Foodvalley NL has published the Protein Transition Map NL, which shows over 450 companies active in the Dutch protein transition. The map includes an economic analysis, carried out in collaboration with Buck Consultants. This shows the added value in euros provided by the companies in each province, along with the number of employees. It indicates that the economic value of companies in the alternative protein industry has doubled since 2015, with their joint annual production value reaching at least €881 million. The total number of jobs provided is at least 3,500. It is hoped that the map could provide a practical way of addressing challenges in the alternative protein industry, such as scaling up production, securing investment, and improving taste and texture. …

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Researchers use mycelium to make loudspeakers

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Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Researchers Use Mycelium & 3D Printing to Make Loudspeakers More Sustainable

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Learning Technology (Fraunhofer IWU) is investigating the potential of mycelium as an effective, affordable, and sustainable material in loudspeaker construction. The researchers aim to process live mycelium using 3D printing, before influencing its growth to achieve both sound-reflecting and sound-absorbing properties. By altering environmental conditions, the properties could be specifically adjusted, creating foam-like structures to absorb sound and dampen vibrations along with solid and smooth structures for sound reflection. Mycelium could therefore be used both for loudspeaker housings and as an insulating material. This technique could reduce the cost of producing transmission line loudspeakers, which are expensive and complex as they contain a pipe up to three metres long to provide bass and reduce resonance. This pipe must …

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A precision fermentation derived fat

Image courtesy of Melt&Marble

Fermentation

Melt&Marble Unlocks Commercial-Scale Production for Animal-Free Designer Fat, Sets Sights on US Market by 2025

Melt&Marble, a Swedish precision fermentation company that specializes in designer fats for food and other applications, has revealed new headquarters with expanded R&D and production capabilities. The facility features “state-of-the-art” molecular biology and microbiology labs, pilot-scale bioreactors, and a food application kitchen to test its “meat-like” fat in meat alternatives and other products. Melt&Marble says that it has already successfully scaled its production to one cubic meter. However, with the new capabilities, the company believes it will be able to achieve commercial-scale production beyond its previous milestone. Anastasia Krivoruchko, co-founder and CEO of Melt&Marble, says: “We are excited about the achievements to date. In the last months, we constantly improved key performance indicators related to rate, titre and yield, successfully achieving metrics relevant for commercial-scale and …

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Antoine Baule of Bon Vivant

Antoine Baule, image courtesy of Bon Vivant

Company News

Bon Vivant Appoints Antoine Baule as Chairman of its Board of Directors

Bon Vivant, a French startup in the animal-free dairy sector, announces the appointment of Antoine Baule as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors. Baule is the former director general of Lesaffre, a key player in the global fermentation industry, and brings a wealth of experience in agro-industry and biotechnology to the firm. Lesaffre has been a leader in the fermentation sector for over a century, boasting a turnover of 2.2 billion euros with operations across all continents, and a workforce of 10,700 employees. The strategic appointment closely follows Bon Vivant’s raise of €15 million in an oversubscribed equity finance round for its precision fermentation-derived whey and casein proteins aimed at the B2B dairy alternative market. The company also announced in October its intentions …

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Plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm expands to Belgium

© Dreamfarm

Cheese Alternatives

Almond-Based Cheese Startup Dreamfarm Expands to Belgium Following “Incredibly Successful” Italian Launch

Italian plant-based cheese startup Dreamfarm has announced it is expanding to Belgium, rolling out at Delhaize stores from March 14. The expansion follows the company’s “incredibly successful” launch in the Italian market. Dreamfarm offers almond-based products that provide healthy alternatives to cheese. While many plant-based cheeses are made predominantly with coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, Dreamfarm’s products have minimal saturated fat and a Nutriscore of A. The company’s flagship product is a liquid-state mozzarella alternative, which is made using a proprietary processing technique and is the first plant-based mozzarella to ever achieve certified liquid status from the Italian government. Dreamfarm has also developed a plant-based cheese spread. “After two years of testing, we are very pleased with the first products we are …

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BENEO unveils innovations in plant-based beef alternatives

Image courtesy of BENEO

Studies & Numbers

Study: 65% of Germans in Favour of Cultivated Meat, 49% Want More Alternatives to Meat, Fish, Eggs & Dairy

A 2024 survey conducted in Germany by the research firm YouGov and the think tank Good Food Institute Europe has revealed a growing appetite among Germans for plant-based meat, plant-based dairy, and cultivated meat.  The survey, which engaged 2,105 participants aged 18 in a representative sample of the German population, however, uncovered that 58% of Germans consider that they eat too many animal products while 49% of the respondents think more alternatives to meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products should be available. Growing interest in alternatives Regarding a shift to plant-based diets, 46% of respondents indicated a desire to reduce their consumption of animal products over the next two years. Specifically, 30% said they want to consume more plant-based meat, while 27% showed interest in …

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Roland Griesebner and Svenja Fritz of Oatly

Roland Griesebner and Svenja Fritz © Oatly

veg+ Interviews

Oatly: “We Measure Ourselves as a Company by How Many Litres of Cow’s Milk We Can Replace with Oat Drink”

With the appointment of Roland Griesebner and Svenja Fritz as new managing directors for DACH & Poland, Oatly aims to continue its success story and drive both growth and innovation. Together, Griesebner and Fritz aim to accelerate the company’s expansion, strengthen relationships with retail partners, expand food service and out-of-home partnerships, and further strengthen the brand in DACH and Poland. Oatly is focusing on a sustainable growth strategy to strengthen its leading position in the DACH markets and Poland. Under the new management of Griesebner and Fritz, the company plans to further expand its presence in the region and develop new product categories. A special focus will also be placed on integrating the core business and sustainability goals in order to advance not only the …

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Planted fermented steak

© Planted

Fermentation

Planted Launches “First of a Kind” Fermented Whole Cut Steak, Unveils Cutting-Edge Facility

Swiss foodtech company Planted has launched a new fermented steak alternative, the first product to be developed using the company’s whole-muscle platform. Made from soy protein, rapeseed oil, bean and rice flours, and microbial cultures, the product is said to be the first plant-based steak to use all-natural ingredients and no additives, while retaining a juicy, tender texture. The steak alternative is high in protein, fibre, and micronutrients such as B12 and iron, with low levels of saturated fat. Additionally, the plant-based steak is said to generate 97% fewer CO2e emissions per product weight compared to animal steak, and requires 81% less freshwater. The use of fermentation boosts the taste of the product while also improving properties such as tenderness. Whole-muscle platform Planted’s whole-muscle platform …

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Image courtesy of Swan Neck Bio

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Swan Neck Bio Launches FlexCell for Fast and Affordable Fermentation Scaling

Swan Neck Bio, a spin-off from White Labs Copenhagen, a global leader in fermentation since 1995, has officially entered the market to unlock the biomanufacturing capacity of precision fermentation and biomass companies. Headquartered in Copenhagen, with supporting labs and production capabilities in the USA (California and North Carolina), Swan Neck Bio leverages a patented “breakthrough” technology developed by White Labs.  Called FlexCell, the technology allows companies to trial, validate, and scale microorganisms from the lab to 1,000 L more quickly and affordably. Fábio Faria-Oliveira, CSO of the company, shares: “Our dream is a world where there are no constraints to the innovative biosolutions our world urgently needs if we’re going to support a constantly growing population.”  Scaling without risks Troels Prahl, a microbiologist with over 20 …

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Ivy Farm Gyoza dish

© Ivy Farm

Cultivated Meat

BSF Enterprise and Ivy Farm Partner to Produce Cultivated Meat in China

Two UK firms, BSF Enterprise, owner of the UK clinical and cell ag company 3D Bio-Tissues (3DBT), and the cultivated meat company Ivy Farm Technologies, have partnered to fundraise, produce, and scale cultivated meat in China. BSF Enterprise (LSE: BSFA) (OTCQB: BSFAF) announced that the commercial agreement involves securing investment to help Ivy Farm enter the Chinese market and find key manufacturers to develop various cultivated meat products. Last year, BSF Enterprise formed a separate entity (BSF HK) and opened an office in Hong Kong to develop a distribution and partner network to commercialize its products and launch cultivated meat in the country. China consumes over 100 million tons of meat (with pork as the preferred meat), which is more than a quarter of global meat consumption, representing a …

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