Austria

Lidl Austria equalizes prices for over 30 vegan items from its own Vemondo brand.

Alessandro Wolf, CEO Lidl Austria © Lidl Austria
Retail & E-Commerce

High-Growth Financial Year for Lidl Austria Since Expansion & Price Drop of Vegan Range

Lidl Austria has increased its market share in Austria by 0.6% to 5.9% since December 2022 and generated added value of over EUR 1.1 billion for domestic food companies in the 2023 financial year. The increase in the area of plant-based products is particularly emphasised, with a 24% increase in the number of plant-based substitute products sold and a 13% increase in sales in the vegan range. The vegan range currently comprises over 450 items. Lidl has also announced that it will continue to expand its range until 2025, focusing on regional ingredients and a low level of processing in order to offer healthy and environmentally friendly alternatives. “We are satisfied with the development in our anniversary year. Since December 2022, we have increased our …

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© Kern Tec
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

How Bauer and Kern Tec Turn Apricot Kernels into Plant-Based Milk

The private dairy Bauer launched a range of plant-based drinks, yogurt alternatives and puddings at the beginning of 2024 under the ZUM GLÜCK! brand. The products are based on ingredients made from apricot kernels, an upcycled product from fruit farming. Here, Privatmolkerei Bauer is cooperating with the Austrian startup Kern Tec, which has created an innovative ready-to-use solution for the food industry from previously unused fruit kernels. We spoke to Frank Mayerhofer (Director of Marketing & Innovation) and Sascha Leiser (Sales Director Brand) from Privatmolkerei Bauer as well as Michael Beitl (founder of Kern Tec) about the new brand, product development, and the successful collaboration. Why did Privatmolkerei Bauer decide to launch a vegan brand? How does this fit into the company’s long-term strategy in …

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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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Fermify's team

Fermify's team - Image courtesy of Fermify
Fermentation

Fermify Offers Animal-Free Casein Samples to Industry Partners to “Unlock” Dairy-Free Creations

Fermify, an Austrian precision fermentation company set to revolutionize dairy production, announces that it now provides industry companies with samples of its liquid form animal-free casein to create “groundbreaking” dairy-free products. Fermify’s casein is said to offer a purity level of 94%, while its functionality — taste, meltability, and structure — rivals that of animal-based proteins, as shown in successful pilot-scale testings.  With this initiative, Fermify aims to spark interest and collaboration to accelerate the development of animal-free cheese and dairy products that meet top-notch quality and functionality standards and taste great. “We eagerly anticipate the exciting possibilities that our samples will unlock in the traditional dairy industry, inspiring new creations and advancements in dairy product development,” states Fermify. Cost-effective production Founded in November 2021 …

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Ankerbrot sugar-free vegan donut

© Ankerbrot
Sweets & Snacks

Austrian Bakery Chain Ankerbrot Launches Sugar-Free Vegan Donut in Partnership With NEOH

Ankerbrot, Austria’s largest bakery group, has partnered with sugar-free snack brand NEOH to offer a vegan donut with no added sugar. The donut features a plant-based hazelnut cream filling with a crisp chocolate shell and roasted hazelnut pieces. It is free of palm oil and uses NEOH’s sugar substitute formula, which has little effect on blood sugar levels and is a source of fibre. The product has been launched just in time for Lent, when many people give up refined sugar. “The donut is our first collaboration with a bakery company and opens up a very interesting new sales channel with a lot of potential for us. I am convinced that this will be a successful start project for a long-term collaboration,” said Adel Hafizovic, …

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Revo Foods salmon alternative

© Revo Foods
Politics & Law

Revo Foods is Sued for “Misleading” Consumers That its Plant-Based Salmon is Real Fish, Court Dismisses Case

An Austrian court has dismissed a lawsuit brought against alt seafood startup Revo Foods by Vienna City Council, based on the labelling of its famed plant-based salmon. The lawsuit claimed that the name of the product, “Revo™ Salmon – 100% Plant-Based with Pea Protein”, could mislead consumers into thinking it contained real salmon. However, the administrative court rejected this. “Our packaging declares that only 100% plant-based ingredients are used and clearly labels the products as vegan without animal-based ingredients,” said Robin Simsa, CEO of Revo Foods. “In our view, any accusation of deception is unjustified. Many consumers are specifically looking for these types of products, and it is important to give guidance of the product taste with descriptive names.” According to the startup, this is …

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Lidl Austria equalizes prices for over 30 vegan items from its own Vemondo brand.

Alessandro Wolf, CEO Lidl Austria © Lidl Austria
Retail & E-Commerce

Lidl Austria Joins Price-Parity Movement, Slashes Prices for Over 30 Vemondo Products

Starting today, Lidl Austria is undercutting prices by up to 52% for over 30 Vemondo products (its private-label brand), including alternatives to milk, minced meat, sausages, and other plant-based products. This radical price reduction aims to match the prices of vegan products with similar animal-based items to ensure what the retailer calls “equality on the plate.”  With this initiative, Lidl Austria joins the price-parity trend that started with Lidl Germany, followed by Kaufland, Aldi Süd, Penny, BILLA, Jumbo, Lidl Hungary, Lidl Denmark, and Salling Group to make plant-based alternatives more attractive and affordable for vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians.  “We have abolished the price barrier for vegan products. The animal-based comparison items are not expensive branded products, but our affordable own brands. This means we are foregoing margins and investing a …

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Horst Hartl, Managing Director of AGRANA

Horst Hartl, Managing Director of AGRANA, image supplied
Interviews

AGRANA: “We Offer a Substitute for Methylcellulose Which is in Great Demand in the Organic Sector”

Horst Hartl has been Managing Director of AGRANA Starch since 2009 and is responsible for sales, supply chain management as well as research and development. After studying agricultural economics at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, he began his career in the Austrian sugar and starch industry and then moved to the agricultural machinery industry, where he worked primarily in Eastern Europe and the former CIS countries. Over the last 25 years, he has built up extensive experience in international sales and marketing, both in the food industry and across agribusiness. Could you share some of the most significant achievements or developments for Agrana in the plant-based sector during 2023? What were the key drivers behind these successes? Producers of meat …

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Revo Foods salmon filet on plate with asparagus

© Revo Foods
Fundraising

Revo Foods Launches Crowdinvesting Campaign, Announces Scaling Plans for 3D Printed Seafood Alternatives

Austria’s Revo Foods, the first company to launch a 3D-printed product in retail, has launched a crowdinvesting campaign to support its next phase of production expansion using its latest 3D food printing process, the Food Fabricator X2. The campaign’s goal is to reach €1.5 million and represents the company’s first public investment opportunity in the form of digital company shares. It will be live until the 18th of April. With a strong focus on marine protection, Revo Foods pioneers 3D food printing technologies to produce fish alternatives. Its portfolio includes smoked salmon, sliced salmon with a citrous flavor (Gravlax), and salmon and tuna spreads. Its latest development, THE FILLET, a mycoprotein 3D printed salmon whole cut, recently launched in Austria’s Billa Pflanzilla. Revo’s products are available in over 20 countries …

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© REWE / BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

Reduction in Prices of Plant-Based Products at BILLA Results in 33% Increase in Sales

Recent figures revealed that Austria is leading the way in Europe in terms of veganism, with the vegan population rising from 3% to 5% since 2021. Whether for regional, animal welfare, organic, or purely plant-based products – a sustainable and conscious diet is becoming increasingly important in the lives of people in Austria. Rewe Group’s BILLA chain has been consistently reacting to this shift in recent months and would like to set new industry standards, with plant-based foods in particular playing a key role. The Vegavita own-brand has been an integral part of the world of plant products for more than 20 years. As a pioneer, BILLA set a milestone with PFLANZILLA, the first store in Europe by a classic food retailer with a purely …

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Spar Veggie no tuna salad

© SPAR
Retail & E-Commerce

SPAR Austria Reports Own-Brand Label SPAR Veggie Saw Sales More Than Double in Five Years

SPAR Austria is collaborating with Veganuary for the first time and is supporting the global initiative for a purely plant-based diet in January. SPAR reports that its own-brand range includes over 800 vegetarian and vegan products among various lines, including 120 under SPAR Veggie alone. The meat-free range at SPAR is supplemented by products from various manufacturers, including many startups. SPAR Veggie sales have more than doubled in the last 5 years. In 2023 alone, sales grew by 24%, says the company. Growth at SPAR Veggie The SPAR brand SPAR Veggie now offers 120 vegan and vegetarian products and the company states that sales of this range more than doubled from 2018 to 2023. Compared to the previous year, there was an increase in sales …

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Austrian supermarket chain BILLA opens plant-based area

© BILLA
Studies & Numbers

Diet Shift Continues in Austria: Veganism Surges While Meat Consumption Declines

The latest Smart Protein survey on European consumers has revealed a continuing diet shift Austria, where the number of vegans has risen 2%, and over half of Austrians have reduced their meat consumption since 2021. The study carried out by food awareness NGO ProVeg International, in partnership with Innova Market Insights, the University of Copenhagen, and Ghent University, surveyed 7,500 people in ten countries to compare and analyze the eating habits of Europeans regarding plant-based foods. In Austria, 750 individuals (50% men and 50% women) making the purchasing decisions in their household provided information on their current shopping habits and attitudes towards plant-based foods. Following the analysis, the figures show that Austria is leading the way in veganism, with the vegan population rising from 3% …

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Austrian supermarket chain BILLA opens plant-based area

© BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

Austrian Supermarket Chain BILLA to Open Dedicated Plant-Based Area in 21 Stores

Austrian supermarket chain BILLA has opened a new superstore featuring an area called “PFLANZILLA Welt” (PFLANZILLA World), which is dedicated entirely to plant-based products. The chain has also revealed that a further 20 of these areas are set to open in other stores across the country. The news comes just weeks after BILLA opened its second fully plant-based store, BILLA PFLANZILLA, in Graz. The 100m² store offers around 2000 vegan products, and follows the success of the original BILLA PFLANZILLA store that opened in Vienna last year. The new PFLANZILLA Welt area will feature 150 products, many of which were previously only available at BILLA PFLANZILLA. The concept will help to bring a wide range of vegan options to areas without a dedicated plant-based supermarket. …

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BILLA plant-based range

© BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

BILLA’s Online Store Expands Plant-Based Range by 50% in 3 Years

BILLA, an Austrian supermarket chain operational throughout Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, reports that its online plant-based online offering has doubled in the last three years and currently features 2,300 products. The organic share of the overall range has always been high at 15 percent and has continued to grow as the number of items has increased. Additionally, the gluten-free range in the BILLA online shop has experienced a particular increase in just one year with more than 200 items added. The company has been making consistent strides in its vegan-friendly direction over recent months, opening two 100% plant-based locations in Vienna and consistently listing some of the most innovative vegan brands such as Revo Foods, Juicy Marbles, and Wunderkern. Furthermore, the retailer recently followed …

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Italian company Biolab launches new products in BILLA PLUS, Austria

© Biolab
Retail & E-Commerce

Biolab Expands into Austria with Billa Plus Listings for Vegan Cold Cuts and Seitan

Biolab, an Italian company specializing in vegan cold cuts, has expanded into Austria after securing listings with the supermarket chain Billa Plus. Three products under two different brands — Liveg’s vegetable pastrami slices, Biolab’s vegetable carpaccio slices, and  Biolab’s seitan — have already launched in 150 stores across Austria. All the products, made with Italian organic wheat gluten, are said to be rich in protein, a source of fiber, and low in carbs.   Biolab, a pioneer in the plant-based food industry, has been in operation for over thirty years. The company was founded by Massimo Santinelli in 1991 after discovering the health benefits of macrobiotic and vegetarian cuisine.  Since its inception, Biolab has focused on producing organic plant-based foods, sourcing most of its ingredients from its …

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© AGRANA
Ingredients

AGRANA Starch Ingredients: Optimize the Texture and Protein Content in Your Plant-Based Product

Are you developing a new plant-based product, or are you planning to? Then the following keywords are certainly familiar to you: “meat-like texture”; “protein content”; “methyl cellulose-free”; “clean label”; and even “rich in fibre”. Product development of plant-based meat alternatives can be challenging: We want to meet the demands regarding texture and structure. It is important to find a valuable plant-based protein source. Surely, we want to meet consumer demands for “clean label”, organic, GMO-free, gluten-free or soy-free, etc. AGRANA Starch is your partner for natural ingredients and the ideal complement for your plant-based product. The carefully selected raw materials of AGRANA Starch are corn, potatoes, and wheat. We produce starch products for the food industry as well as for other industrial sectors from these …

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BILLA popup, Graz

© BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

Yet Another EU Retailer Drops Vegan Prices as BILLA Makes “Plant-Based Possible for Everyone”

In addition to the announcement of BILLA’s second vegan store which opened today, the retailer has just announced that “customers can expect new prices in the Vegavita range in all BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores across Austria to make plant-based possible for everyone”. With the goal of making plant-based products affordable for all Austrians, BILLA says that all future products added to its own-brand range Vegevita at BILLA and BILLA PLUS, and have an animal-based counterpart, will automatically be priced at the same level or, if possible, at a lower price. A promising trend yet to be seen in UK or NA The move follows the initiative taken firstly by Lidl in October and followed by Kaufland days later, as well as Penny and Aldi …

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© BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

Second Vegan BILLA PFLANZILLA Store Opens in Austria Today

BILLA PFLANZILLA opens in Graz, Austria on November 9th. After the flagship store in Vienna, this is the second REWE Group store in Austria with a vegan shop concept. The range in the new, around 100 m² BILLA PFLANZILLA store in Graz will include around 2,000 purely vegan products. BILLA PFLANZILLA recently celebrated its birthday, having opened its first plant-based store in Vienna in September 2022. Earlier this year, Billa revealed that it now offers Austria’s largest range of plant-based products, with around 4,000 products verified as animal-free by the Vegan Society Austria. The chain has achieved this by significantly expanding its own-brand vegan range, along with offering products by other brands including Juicy Marbles, Wunderkern, and Revo Foods, whose mycoprotein-based salmon filet launched at …

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Peter Pane founder Patrick Junge

Peter Pane founder Patrick Junge, Image credit Peter Pane
People

Peter Pane Founder: “In 20 Years, Meat Consumption Will Be the Exception. People Who Eat a Meat-Free Diet Are Pioneers”

Patrick Junge, founder of German burger chain Peter Pane, has spoken about sustainability in the company, which operates throughout Germany and Austria. Since its foundation in 2016, the company has become one of the most successful restaurant chains in Germany. Today, more than 2,000 team members work at more than 51 locations, and the goal is to reach 65 locations by 2025. With the company’s “Peter Plant” project, which began in 2012 on its own land, mixed forests are grown, totalling around 1,000 hectares, with at least 150,000 trees added per year, with the project already creating 600,000 square metres of flower meadows. “Greenwashing by certificates he refuses,” states the company in a press release. Junge has implemented the inclusion of vegetarian and vegan burgers …

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Robin Simsa, CEO of Revo Foods

Revo Foods CEO Robin Simsa, image supplied
Interviews

Revo Foods: “3D Extrusion Technology is Not a Far-Fetched Dream, But a Reality That You Can Already Buy in Supermarkets”

When we last spoke with Revo Foods just a year ago, CEO Robin Simsa boldly stated that, in five years, “Revo will be the leading provider of plant-based seafood in the world”. Since then, the young Austrian team has famously gone on to launch its mycoprotein-based salmon filet into REWE’s flagship vegan superstore, the 200-metre square Billa Pflanzilla, marking the first-ever 3D-printed product to be available in supermarkets worldwide and receiving huge amounts of international attention. As Revo works to scale up production in three distinct steps, with the second step set to conclude next year, it will gain capabilities to produce far higher volumes and roll out the product into multiple locations. Exciting times for Austria and for the food industry, as Robin explains …

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