France: Latest Plant-based and Cellular Agriculture Market News from France on vegconomist

La Vie Hits €1M Crowdfunding Target in Just Over an Hour

September 27, 2023

La Vie, the French producer of plant-based pork products, has exceeded its €1 million crowdfunding target within just over an hour of launching the campaign. The company is now overfunding, with the general public able to participate alongside expert investors. The news is the latest in a long line of successes for La Vie, which has achieved 379% year-on-year growth and sold 2.5 million products over the past 18 months. The campaign will run until October 3. “We are so thrilled to have hit our target of raising €1 million in just over one hour since we went live with our crowdfunding campaign,” said Nicolas Schweitzer, CEO and co-founder of La Vie. “It reinforces the promising future for the plant-based category and it is brilliant …

Organisations and brands:

La Vie Foods

Land&Monkeys has launched 'le Parisien,' a vegan version of one of the most popular snacks in France: ham-and-butter sandwich.

Products & Launches

Land&Monkeys Unveils Vegan Version of France’s Favorite Sandwich ‘Jambon Beurre’ with La Vie’s New Ham

September 14, 2023

French plant-based bakery Land&Monkeys has launched ‘le Parisien’, a vegan version of one of the most popular snacks in France: the ham-and-butter sandwich. Known in the country as jambon beurre, the two-ingredient sandwich became a symbol in Paris in the 1950s, and it is “indisputably” France’s favorite sandwich, explains Land&Monkeys. To replace this bakery classic with ethical and sustainable alternatives, Land&Monkeys partnered with two food tech companies. Zero pig, zero cow The zero pork ham is the latest development of the French startup La Vie. The vegan ham is said to have the same taste and texture as traditional charcuterie without using texturizing agents and is a source of protein (19 grams of protein per 100). La Vie will launch a virtual restaurant next month in collaboration with Taster. …

Organisations and brands:

La Vie Foods

Land&Monkeys

Fundraising

La Vie Announces €1M Crowdfunding Campaign, Launches Vegan Ham & Virtual Restaurant

September 8, 2023

La Vie, a French producer of plant-based pork products, has announced a new crowdfunding campaign and product launch as it continues to see rapid growth across Europe. The campaign will take place on Crowdcube from September 7 to 28, with the aim of raising €1 million. It follows a period of considerable success for the company, with 2.5 million products sold in the past 18 months — equivalent to one every 12 seconds. Despite challenging market conditions, La Vie has seen 379% year-on-year growth, and can now be found at 4,600 retail stores and 3,000 restaurants across Europe. In the UK, the brand has seen 144% growth since its launch last year, and is present at major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado. Through …

Organisations and brands:

La Vie Foods

Study: Animal-Free Milk Generates 96% Fewer Emissions Than Dairy

September 18, 2023September 8, 2023

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) has concluded that Bon Vivant‘s animal-free milk uses significantly fewer natural resources than cow’s milk and has a much smaller environmental footprint. The milk is made with animal-free whey and casein, which are produced using precision fermentation. The LCA, performed by an independent third party, compared one liter of animal-free milk made with Bon Vivant’s whey to an equivalent amount of dairy milk that had the same amount of protein. Huge environmental benefits The results show that Bon Vivant’s milk generates 96% fewer emissions than cow’s milk, while using 99% less water, 92% less land, and 50% less energy. According to Bon Vivant, the dairy sector is responsible for 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions — more than aviation. Consequently, a …

Organisations and brands:

Bon Vivant

Egg Alternatives

France’s Le Papondu Sells the Equivalent of 30,000 Plant-Based Eggs, Aims to Raise €300K

September 6, 2023

Le Papondu, a female-led French startup producing plant-based egg alternatives, recently reported a tenfold increase in turnover between June 2022 and May 2023. The company launched its first commercial product, an alternative to beaten eggs, last year. Since then, it has sold a quantity equivalent to over 30,000 chicken eggs, and has been named a “startup to follow” by LSA. Le Papondu now aims to surpass €1 million in annual turnover in 2025. The startup is also currently raising funding, with the hope of securing €300,000 by the end of this month. Le Papondu previously received €30,000 from the French Tech grant last year, but further capital is needed now that the company has moved from laboratory to production scale. According to Maddyness, the funding …

Organisations and brands:

Le Papondu

Politics & Law

France Continues Fight Against “Meat Names” on Plant-Based Meat Labelling

September 5, 2023

France has revealed renewed proposals to prohibit using meat-related terms such as “steak” and “ham” to describe and market plant-based meat products made and sold in the country. A new draft decree bans 21 meat names used to describe “foodstuffs containing plant proteins,” including “steak”, “ham”, “escalope,” or “spare ribs“, and even “butcher” or “meat maker”. However, over 100 meat-related names, such as “cooked ham”, “poultry”, “sausage”, or “bacon”, will be permitted as long as the products contain plant proteins within the range of 0.5% to 6%. The term “burger” is not included in any of the lists. France, the first country in the EU to take such measures against plant-based meat labels, tried to pass a decree last year backed by the country’s meat industry and …

HappyVore launches plant-based bacon pieces (allumettes)

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

HappyVore Launches Plant-Based Bacon Pieces Made From Pea Protein

September 4, 2023

French alt meat brand HappyVore has launched plant-based allumettes — matchstick-shaped bacon pieces said to be ideal for use in dishes such as quiche and carbonara. The allumettes feature a smoked taste and are made with just seven ingredients — textured pea protein, water, natural flavors, soluble corn fiber, salt, red beet, and carrot concentrate. They are rich in protein and fibre, contain less than 3% fat, and can be cooked in three to five minutes. The products add to HappyVore’s extensive range of meat alternatives, which includes fish sticks, breaded supremes, meatballs, sausages, steak, nuggets, and more. In April, the brand reported a +40.2% growth in value sales, putting it at second place in the French plant-based delicatessen sector. Repeat purchase rates were at …

Organisations and brands:

Happyvore

Astrid Lefournier, image supplied

Interviews

Association Végétarienne de France (AVF): “Changing Our Food Model is Now a Necessity on a Societal Scale”

August 29, 2023

Head of V-Label France at AVF since March 2020, motivated by the ethical, ecological, and health challenges of animal issues, Astrid Lefournier is committed to leading the food transition, convinced that democratizing the plant-based offer is essential to support collective and individual action towards change. Thanks to her studies in food security and sustainable development, Astrid realized the importance of global consumption on the environment and biodiversity. Passionate about sustainable food systems, she is convinced that protecting the planet and our environment depends above all on a healthy, local, plant-based diet. What is Association végétarienne de France and what does the organization stand for? Founded 25 years ago, Association Végétarienne de France (AVF), a non-profit, strictly non-religious and independent of political parties, is France’s leading …

Organisations and brands:

Association Végétarienne de France (AVF)

Fundraising

Gourmet Vegan Cheese Producer Les Nouveaux Affineurs is Fundraising to “Build the Food of Tomorrow”

August 24, 2023August 24, 2023

Les Nouveaux Affineurs, known for its award-winning plant-based alternatives to traditional French cheeses, today announces the launch of its participative fundraising with French crowdfunding and crowd-equity platform TUDIGO. This new round of financing will enable the company to step up its sales and marketing drive, improve industrial performance, and make further R&D investments to continue the development of innovative products. Founded in 2017 by Nour Akbaraly, Les Nouveaux Affineurs “imagines, manufactures and markets” 100% plant-based and natural alternatives to traditional cheeses — such as its most recent launch La Bûche (“the log”), a vegan goat’s cheese created with fermented cashews — harnessing a combination of gastronomy, plants and innovation. Since opening its production unit in 2021, Les Nouveaux Affineurs has employed an omnichannel distribution strategy …

Organisations and brands:

Les Nouveaux Affineurs

Politics & Law

France Asks European Court of Justice to Clarify Legality of Alt Meat Labelling Ban

August 7, 2023

The French Conseil d’Etat has asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether the government’s decree banning the use of meat-like terms for plant-based products is compatible with EU law. The governmental body is requesting information on whether individual member states can introduce this type of law, or whether EU-level harmonisation prevents this. If it is considered allowable to introduce the law, the Conseil D’Etat is seeking clarification on whether the decree is a proportionate way of achieving the goal of consumer transparency. The requests come in response to a court case brought by The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) and other parties — who claim that the decree violates EU law — against the Conseil D’Etat. Once the ECJ has provided clarification, the …

Organisations and brands:

Conseil d'Etat

Sweets & Snacks

Cocoa-Free Choc Ice Cream by WNWN Wins Award at Häagen-Dazs Start-Up Innovation Challenge

July 7, 2023

British company WNWN Food Labs has won ‘Best Demo’ at the Häagen-Dazs Start-Up Innovation Challenge, after showcasing how its cocoa-free vegan chocolate could be used to make ice cream. In the final phase of the competition on June 13, WNWN presented its developments in the category of ice cream with the lowest carbon footprint. The company had developed nine preparations, including three varieties of chocolate hazelnut ice cream — one encased in a WNWN chocolate shell with WNWN choc chips inside, one in a tub, and one in the form of bite-sized pieces. As well as winning the Best Demo award, WNWN has been named as one of three finalists in the lowest carbon footprint category; the others are France’s YUMGO and Denmark’s Agrain. A …

Organisations and brands:

WNWN Food Labs

Fermentation

Animal-Free Casein Producer Standing Ovation Joins Precision Fermentation Trade Organizations

June 27, 2023

Standing Ovation, a French company that produces animal-free casein using precision fermentation, has joined the Precision Fermentation Alliance (PFA) and Food Fermentation Europe (FFE). The two trade organizations represent the precision fermentation industry in the US, Europe, and Israel, acting as spokespersons to government bodies, industry, and consumers. They work to promote the sustainability benefits of precision fermentation, including advocating for fair regulatory frameworks and educating food industry stakeholders. The other members of the Precision Fermentation Alliance are Change Foods, The Every Co., Helaina, ImaginDairy, Motif Foodworks, New Culture, Onego Bio, Perfect Day, and Remilk. Food Fermentation Europe consists of Better Dairy, Bon Vivant, Formo, ImaginDairy, Onego Bio, and Those Vegan Cowboys. “Important role” Standing Ovation uses microbial fermentation to produce non-animal caseins, which can …

Organisations and brands:

Standing Ovation

Cheese Alternatives

Bel France Launches Nurishh Vegan Feta Cubes & Goat’s Cheese

June 21, 2023

Bel France has launched two new plant-based cheeses under its Nurishh brand, as it works towards the goal of making half of its portfolio dairy-free by 2030. Nurishh dés Végétaux à la Grecque is an alternative to feta cubes, made in France at the company’s Saint-Nazaire factory. Another new product is the Palet Végétal Saveur Chèvre, a wheel-shaped plant-based alternative to goat’s cheese. Both are made from coconut oil and are available for retail and food service. Nurishh first launched in 2021 in the US, offering a variety of sliced and shredded vegan cheeses; it was Bel’s first fully dairy-free brand. At around the same time, the company announced it would be developing plant-based versions of its conventional cheese brands, including Babybel, Boursin, and The …

Organisations and brands:

Bel

Nurishh

Company News

Umiami Selected for French Tech 2030 in Recognition for its Whole Cuts of Plant-Based Meat

June 15, 2023

Plant-based whole cut pioneer Umiami has been selected to join the French Tech 2030 program, a governmental initiative to strengthen France’s industrial and technological sovereignty. The 125 selected participants were required to meet at least one of France 2030’s objectives; they had to demonstrate capabilities to accelerate their development and have high technological level and economic potential, among other prerequisites. Announced on June 14, the program’s participants will benefit from financial and extra-financial support for one year. La French Tech alongside the Secrétariat général pour l’investissement and Bpifrance, operate the program. Sustainable proteins Founded in 2020 by Tristan Maurel and Martin Habfast, with the support of AgroParisTech and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Umiami manufactures 100% vegan meat and fish to transform the food production system. The …

Image: Planted on LinkedIn

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Planted & Fleury Michon Launch Meaty Plant-Based Products Across France

June 15, 2023

Swiss alt meat brand Planted has joined forces with French agrifood business Fleury Michon to launch a range of gourmet plant-based products into retail. The Emincés Végétaux line consists of seasoned, sliced plant-based chicken, and comes in three varieties — roasted, mildly spiced, and with herbs. The products are clean-label and have received a Nutriscore of A, the highest possible rating for nutritional quality. The perfect pair “We are thrilled to be working with industry expert Fleury Michon on this exciting launch,” said Pascal Bieri, co-founder and member of the executive team at Planted. “Although Fleury Michon predates Planted by over 100 years, they still operate independently and are family-owned to provide products at an affordable price. “As a result, Fleury Michon is the second …

Organisations and brands:

Eatplanted

Fleury Michon

Investments & Finance

Jay&Joy’s New CEO Raises €2M to Continue Modernising French Cheese

June 13, 2023

French plant-based creamery startup Jay&Joy has raised €2 million in a fundraising round led by High Flyers Capital. Additional investors include Jean-Baptiste Rudelle (founder of Criteo), Guillaume Dubois and Cédric Meston (co-founders of HappyVore), and other private investors. Jay&Joy, which describes itself as the first plant-based creamery in France, has been making organic, artisan vegan cheeses from almond milk, cashew nuts, and coconut since 2014. New CEO A pioneer in the field, the startup rapidly expanded to other European countries such as Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal. In February, Jay&Joy landed in the UK market. But in January 2023, in France, a massive recall of Jay&Joy products was issued after several cases of listeria caused premature delivery in several women. A few months …

Organisations and brands:

Jay&Joy

Roquette opens new food innovation center

Image courtesy of Roquette

Company News

Roquette Opens €4.5M Food Innovation Centre: “We See This Opening as an Innovation Boost for the Global Food Sector”

July 20, 2023June 9, 2023

Global leader in plant-based ingredients, Roquette celebrated yesterday the launch of a new €4.5 million food innovation centre in Lestrem, France. As demand for new, healthier, and more sustainable diets grows, Roquette’s Food Innovation Center will foster innovation and accelerate the launch of novel products. The center will be a “key part” of the company’s R&D global network and a unique place to develop a more collaborative relationship with customers, Roquette said in the announcement. “The ultimate goal of the Food Innovation Center is to partner with food industry players to speed up innovation, from the earliest stage of product development. To ensure this is possible, the teams can rely upon a worldwide network, as well as in-house expertise, co-development sessions, and technical training. The site …

Organisations and brands:

Roquette

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Alt Meats Approach Price Parity in France as Beyond Meat Becomes 40% Cheaper

May 31, 2023

New figures from France suggest that plant-based meats are close to price parity with conventional meat, as high inflation amongst other factors continues to affect the price of animal products. According to market analyst Xerfi, meat alternatives have been less affected by rising costs, due to increased economies of scale and the compression of margins. In fact, the prices of some plant-based meats have actually fallen, despite inflation, mirroring a GFI report from April in which data from 13 countries demonstrated that the prices of these foods have been less affected by inflation than conventional animal products. For example, Beyond Meat’s burgers dropped from €27 to €16.34 per kilogram between 2020 and 2023 — a 40% reduction that brings them close to price parity. Meanwhile, …

Organisations and brands:

Beyond Meat

Vegan goat cheese by Les Nouveaux Affineurs

Cheese Alternatives

Les Nouveaux Affineurs Presents La Bûche, a Gourmet Goat’s Cheese Likely to Ruffle Feathers in France

May 23, 2023May 23, 2023

Paris-based Les Nouveaux Affineurs this week presents its new creation, La Bûche (“the log”), a veganized goat’s cheese created with fermented cashews. Founded in 2017 by Nour Akbaraly, and receiving a €2M cash injection in 2020, Les Nouveaux Affineurs says that it “imagines, creates, and produces natural, vegan & vegetable alternatives to cheese”. Its popular products are indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts, and during a blind-testing amongst the public, Parisians were shocked and amazed to learn that this cheese did not come from cows. La Bûche is described by the French startup as a “ripened and fermented product handled with care for multiple weeks. Its delicate white crust and its soft center reveal notes that will remind you of goat cheese.” The product is crafted …

Organisations and brands:

Les Nouveaux Affineurs

The VERY Food Co. develops animal-free functional ingredients for bakery and pastry

Investments & Finance

The VERY Food Co. Seeks €1M to Remove Animal Ingredients from French Foods

May 17, 2023

The VERY Food Co., a “very” French startup developing and marketing functional animal-free egg and dairy ingredients at scale for the bakery and pastry industries, has announced a €1 million pre-seed financing round. The B2B company launched commercially six months ago and is seeking for capital to structure the company and finalize its first commercial contracts, which are currently in the testing phase with manufacturers. Founded in 2022 by CEO Arnaud Delacour, and Oscar Castellani, scientific and technical director; The VERY Food Co. aims to help the world transition towards a more sustainable, resilient, and delicious food system. It has a pre-money valuation of €6 million and €800 thousand of non-dilutive financing secured with the participation of Big Idea Ventures. “If we want to change …

Organisations and brands:

The VERY Food Co.

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers