Germany

Formo completes Series B funding round

© Formo
Fermentation

Formo Raises $61M, Launches Fermented Cheese Alternatives at 2,000+ Stores

Formo, a German producer of fermented cheese alternatives, has raised $61 million in a Series B funding round. The round saw participation from existing investors such as Foodlabs, EQT Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital, Elevat3 Capital, and Grazia Capital. New investors, including Sazaby League, Seven Ventures, Woodline Partners, The Nature Conservancy, and REWE Group, also took part. Formo will use the funding to achieve several objectives, including expanding internationally, diversifying its product range, driving revenue growth, and achieving net profitability by 2027. The company is also working to accelerate the commercialisation of animal-free casein, which will enable the production of hard cheeses. Product launches Additionally, Formo has announced that two of its cheese alternatives — Frischhain and Camembritz — are now available at over 2000 …

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Planted increases production capacity

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Manufacturing & Technology

Planted Ramps Up Production Capacity With New Facility in Germany

Planted, a Swiss food tech company making meat alternatives from clean ingredients, is increasing its production capacity with the construction of a new facility in southern Germany. According to Planted, the site will be the most modern plant-based meat production facility in Europe, with green energy playing a key role in its construction. The announcement follows the success of the brand’s plant-based steak, which has reportedly proven very popular with both consumers and restaurateurs. Previously, all Planted’s research and production was carried out at the company’s site in Kemptthal, Switzerland. However, the German market now accounts for the largest proportion of sales, so Planted has decided to construct a new facility to carry out production as close to consumers as possible. The new plant will …

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Formo animal-free cream cheese

© Formo
Fermentation

METRO Germany Becomes “First” Wholesaler to Sell Formo Animal-Free Cream Cheese

METRO Germany is now offering Frischain, an animal-free cream cheese produced by the German startup Formo. The wholesaler claims to be the first in the world to stock the product. Frischain is made using microfermentation, which produces functional proteins that can be processed using traditional dairy cheese production methods. These proteins are derived from koji, a fungus traditionally used in soy sauce, miso, and sake to break down complex molecules and enhance flavours. The resulting cheese alternative is said to be almost indistinguishable from dairy cream cheese. METRO is offering the product on its refrigerated shelves in a 1.5 kilogram catering container. The wholesaler operates 102 stores and 11 delivery depots across Germany, boasting around three million customers. “With Frischhain, we are pleased to be …

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Fi Europe

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Guest Posts

Fi Europe Startup Challenge: Plant-Based Innovation is Driving the Transition to a More Sustainable Food System

The Fi Europe Startup Challenge has become an important platform for advancing potentially transformational solutions from young companies. Although it is built around an awards programme, the Challenge does more than recognise innovation. It nurtures startups by giving them business support, constructive feedback, industry exposure and an opportunity to make the connections they need to scale up and grow. The Challenge was the brainchild of nutrition consultant and food industry expert Sandra Einerhand, who worked with the team at Fi Europe to make it a reality. Since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength, and is now in its ninth edition. “The Challenge offers a front-row seat to witness the cutting-edge ideas and creativity that are shaping the future of the food industry. …

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Headshot of Lea Stockmeier, Project Director NFC and Senior International Event Manager

Lea Stockmeier, Project Director NFC and Senior International Event Manager © ProVeg
Interviews

ProVeg: “At This Year’s New Food Conference, We’re Exploring Everything From Consumer Preferences to the Role of Legacy Dairy Companies in the Protein Transition”

The New Food Conference (NFC) stands as one of Europe’s top events in the food industry, bringing together international food experts, scientists, innovative startups, retailers, and policymakers. The conference focuses on the latest advancements in the alternative protein sector, delving into the future of food through high-profile talks, networking opportunities, and live product tastings. The NFC 2024 kicks off on September 3 with insightful sessions on the European market, featuring leading pioneers and top innovators from the food industry. We spoke with Lea Stockmeier, Project Director NFC and Senior International Event Manager at ProVeg, to learn about this year’s New Food Conference’s key highlights. What is unique about this year’s New Food Conference compared to previous editions? This year, the conference will not only focus on the consumer …

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Zur Mühlen Gruppe makes first alt protein investment

Image: Tönnies Holding ApS & Co. KG
Fermentation

Leading Sausage Producer Zur Mühlen Gruppe Makes Its First Alt Protein Investment in Fermentation Startup Nosh.bio

Zur Mühlen Gruppe (ZMG), a leading German producer of sausages and plant-based alternatives, has made its first ever investment in an alternative protein startup. The company has provided funding to Berlin-based Nosh.bio, which produces nutrient-rich products using fermentation technology and koji mushrooms. The resulting proteins can be used to make meat and fish alternatives, sauces, confectionery, pet food, and more. Following the investment, ZMG will use koji mushrooms to produce a new range of protein-rich meat-free products. The first to be developed are “koji strips”, which can be fried or used in salads. While this is ZMG’s first alt protein investment, the company has been expanding its presence in the plant-based sector for several years under the brand names Gutfried, Vevia 4 You, and Es …

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Ritter Sport Vegan Variety Tower

© Ritter Sport
Sweets & Snacks

Ritter Sport Adds New Double Crunch Flavour to Vegan Variety Tower

German chocolate brand Ritter Sport is expanding its Vegan Variety Tower with a new flavour, the Double Crunch. The 100g bar contains crunchy roasted corn pieces and cornflakes embedded in almond-based vegan milk chocolate. It appears that the new flavour will take the place of the brand’s plain Smooth Chocolate bar in the Variety Tower; the other flavours in the selection are Salted Caramel, Roasted Peanuts, Crispy Cookie, and Crunchy Almonds. The Vegan Variety Tower was launched last year and is part of Ritter Sport’s Travel Retail range, which will be showcased at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes from September 30 to October 3. The new Double Crunch flavour will be launched in early 2025. While Ritter Sport has offered several “accidentally vegan” dark …

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AI Vegan nutrition plans lack advice on essential nutrients like vitamin B12, say German researchers.

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Studies & Numbers

German Researchers Uncover Flaws in Vegan Diet Plans by ChatGPT and Gemini

Researchers at the University of Hohenheim and the Max Rubner Institute conducted a study on the suitability of AI chatbots ChatGPT and Gemini (previously Bard) to create meal plans that meet the daily intakes of macro- and micronutrients for different dietary patterns: omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan. Although the chatbots’ meal plans generally met most dietary reference intakes (DRI), the study found that vegan diet plans “concerningly” lacked advice on essential nutrients like vitamin B12, which is critical for nerve function, blood formation, and neurological processes. The authors explain that ChatGPT suggested using vitamin B12 supplements for vegan diets in five out of 18 instances. Meanwhile, Gemini never recommended them and erroneously included milk products in vegan plans. Sam Tucker, the developer of VEG3, a vegan and animal …

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meat vs vegetables

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Fairs & Events

Hear How Society is Reaching “Tipping Point” and Eating Less Meat is Becoming Normalised at This Event

Attendees at this year’s New Food Conference will hear how “a societal tipping point” is approaching, as eating less meat becomes normalised. Among the key speakers is Professor Armando Perez-Cueto of Umeå University in Sweden which last month released the results of a survey of 7,800 EU consumers from nine European countries. The study found that 27% of survey respondents who described themselves as omnivores eat meat less than three times a month. “This consumer study has shed light on the development towards a societal tipping point. With about 27% of omnivores eating as flexitarians, without identifying as flexitarians, this is a step forward, as it suggests that reducing meat consumption is becoming the new normal,” Professor Perez-Cuteo commented. The Berlin conference on 3 September, …

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SimplyV launches parmvegan on Ocado

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Cheese Alternatives

German Market Leader SimplyV Launches Vegan Parmesan ParmVegan at Ocado UK

SimplyV, the no.1 plant-based cheese brand in Germany with a 35% market share, recently launched its grated vegan parmesan ParmVegan, created with a base of coconut and almond, at Ocado UK. Joining SimplyV’s existing range which includes gourmet slices (intense and mild), a mature block, and grated plant-based cheese, ParmVegan is free from soy, palm oil, gluten, and preservatives. SimplyV states that it dedicated a decade to developing a “best in class” almond-based cheese which it claims offers “unrivalled authentic taste and melt”. Food for Biodiversity Following consumer concerns around the sustainability of ingredients like coconut and almond, SimplyV conducted a survey to understand the growing conditions of these crops, which led to the development of joint measures and projects aimed at promoting sustainable practices. …

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German investment management firm Comitis Capital ("Comitis") has acquired The Tofoo Co., the UK's No. 2 meat-free brand, which commands over 60% of the market share in tofu.

© The Tofoo Co.
Investments & Acquisitions

The Tofoo Co., the UK’s No. 2 Meat-Free Brand, is Acquired by Comitis Capital

German investment management firm Comitis Capital (“Comitis”) has acquired The Tofoo Co., the UK’s No. 2 meat-free brand, which commands over 60% of the tofu market share. Comitis Capital, which sees The Tofoo Co. ready for its next growth phase, aims to leverage its investment, expertise, and network to expand the brand. Founders David Knibbs and Lydia Smith will remain invested and continue to oversee the company’s growth in the UK and international markets. Nikolaus Bethlen, Managing Partner at Comitis, shares: “The Tofoo Co has firmly established itself as a leader in the plant-based meat alternatives market with a strong brand image offering high-quality products. David Knibbs and Lydia Smith have built a remarkable enterprise that is ready for the next phase of growth. The Tofoo …

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Veganz Mililk

© Veganz Group

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Veganz’ 2D Printed Oat Milk Discs Arrive on Organic Grocery Stores Following €10M Investment

The gluten-free organic Mililk oat milk discs are produced by Veganz Group with 2D printers and sold in sheet form. Veganz claims that this form saves 94% packaging waste and 85% weight compared to products in milk cartons. The sustainable product, first revealed last summer, is now available in organic food stores in Germany. The milk alternative is now available under the Veganz Bio Mililk® Oat Barista brand from Terra Naturkost, the organic wholesaler for north-east Germany. Five-litre packs with printed sheets of gluten-free organic oats (grown in Europe) in barista quality are now available at the chain, in addition to its existing availability at REWE. Rapid success The innovative product has been an instant hit among retailers and consumers. Veganz reports that in taste …

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Fi Europe startup challenge

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Fairs & Events

Fi Europe Startup Challenge: Competition for Young, Innovative Ingredients Companies Enters Next Round

For the ninth time this year, the Fi Europe Startup Challenge will be held at the upcoming Fi Europe trade fair in November, a competition for young, innovative ingredients companies in the food ingredients sector. This year prizes will be awarded in four categories. New to the event is the award for the most innovative solution in the food technology segment and the jury’s Choice Award, which is this time presented for the most innovative sustainable solution. The Fi Europe Startup Challenge recognises innovative products and ideas in the field of ingredients for food and beverages as well as young companies that are driving positive changes in the industry. The Fi Europe Startup Challenge also offers an excellent platform for startups to present themselves to …

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Future of Foods Interviews Senara Foods

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Future of Foods Podcast: Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO of Senara, is Producing Cell-Cultivated Milk

Alex Crisp, host of Future of Foods, Interviews Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO and founder of German company Senara which is developing a better way of feeding the world. Senara says it is the first company in the EU to develop and produce cell-cultivated milk. Founded in 2022 in Freiburg by Dr. Svenja and Dr. Philipp Prosseda, Senara claims to have developed a cost-effective platform for cultivating “real” milk at a pilot scale. Instead of using animal samples, Senara selects the best milk cells and grows them in bioreactors through a continuous, high-throughput process that reduces production costs. The final product is real milk, not a plant-based alternative, which contains essential nutrients like lactose, casein, whey, and micronutrients. It’s also free from bacteria and yeasts and …

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Ferrero to launch plant-based Nutella

© Ferrero/Nutella
Sweets & Snacks

Plant-Based Nutella and Hanuta Coming Soon to German Supermarkets?

According to recent reports, Ferrero will soon be offering vegan versions of two of its most popular classic products on the German market — Nutella and Hanuta (a German hazelnut wafer snack) At the end of May, the Italian confectionery company Ferrero announced its intention to launch plant-based Nutella on the Italian market in autumn. The new vegan Nutella was presented at the NielsenIQ event Linkontro in Sardinia at the beginning of May to mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic chocolate-hazelnut spread. According to a recent report by LZ Direkt, the new plant-based Nutella variant will most likely also be available in German supermarkets from January 2025. According to the report, Ferrero Germany has already registered a word/figurative mark for the new variant with …

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Better Nature tempeh gains REWE listing

Image credit Samantha Couzens
Retail & E-Commerce

Better Nature Brings its Tempeh to German Chiller Cabinets Through REWE Deal

Tempeh products in Organic and Smoked varieties from UK startup Better Nature are now available throughout Germany at REWE, furthering the company’s German retail footprint in addition to its availability at Edeka in the Rhine-Ruhr region. REWE thus continues its support for plant-based producers and innovations in the field, such as the innovative and sustainable 2d printed Mililk discs made by Veganz, which are supplied to the retail group, whose subsidiaries include the REWE, Penny, and Billa chains. This April, REWE inaugurated its first purely plant-based supermarket in Berlin, offering over 2,700 vegan products. Good for the gut and full of nutrients Tempeh consists of protein-rich soybeans that are fermented with mould to form a firm block. It has a slightly nutty flavour and can be …

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Transport of a process water tank from the Cruise Terminal Altona via the Reeperbahn to Hamburg-Wandsbek

© Ohly
Company News

Ohly to Open State-of-the-Art Fermentation Plant in Hamburg

Ohly, a manufacturer of yeast-based specialities, is opening a new state-of-the-art fermentation plant in Hamburg next year, as consumer and investor interest in fermentation derived products and yeast-based ingredients continue to surge. The new fermentation plant will be built according to the latest hygiene design standards, which guarantee sustainable cleaning, says the company. A key feature of the new plant is the heat recovery system, which conserves and reuses enough thermal energy to supply almost 800 single-family homes each year. “Hamburg is the birthplace of our production. The city not only offers us an excellent infrastructure, but also access to qualified specialists and important markets. With the new fermentation plant, we are not only securing jobs in the region, but also contributing to a more …

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Boris Brockhaus of UHPT

Boris Brockhaus © UHPT
Interviews

UHPT: “The Fields of Application for the High-Pressure Process Are Very Extensive and Continue to Grow”

Uhde High Pressure Technologies (UHPT) is a high technology subsidiary of German multinational conglomerate thyssenkrupp. Founded in 1930, it is one of the world’s leading companies for industrial high-pressure systems and equipment, with an international customer base in several markets. UHPT serves customers along the entire plant life cycle, from the planning phase with in-house engineering to the operation phase with service and spare parts supply. The company combines local manufacturing at its premises in Germany with a global supplier network to ensure high quality at optimized costs. Qualified supervisors support installation and commissioning worldwide, along with customer support over the entire service life of the machines. We spoke to Boris Brockhaus, Product Manager HPP at UHPT, to find out about the applications of high-pressure …

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Mililk_lifestyle shot

© Veganz
Investments & Finance

Veganz Secures €10M to Scale Production of Mililk 2D-Printed Milk Alternatives

German plant-based food producer Veganz Group AG has signed a Securities Purchase Agreement with Global Corporate Finance LLC (GCF), securing equity financing of up to €10 million. The funding will allow Veganz to scale up the production of Mililk, an innovative milk alternative supplied in the form of 2D-printed sheets that can be blended with water. By optimizing and automating manufacturing processes, the company hopes to increase its capacity for the production of milk alternatives by a factor of five to meet growing demand. Veganz will also use the funds to increase the output of Peas on Earth, a pea protein-based meat alternative. The contract with GCF allows for a flexible use of the financial resources over a 30-month period. Funds will be raised by …

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The PHW Group will establish a new subsidiary focusing on traditional and precision fermentation to develop ingredients for alternative products.

© PHW Group
Fermentation

Poultry Giant PHW Enters Precision Fermentation Ingredients With New Subsidiary 

PHW Group, the largest poultry producer in Germany known for the Wiesenhof brand, will establish a new subsidiary later this year, focusing on traditional and precision fermentation to develop ingredients for alternative protein and blended products. The firm, which has invested millions in its plant-based meat brand Green Legend, intends to integrate plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation technologies under its roof to position itself as a critical player in the sector. As part of this expanding strategy, the company launched an ingredients platform in 2023 and recently invested in the Dutch company Mosa Meat, which focuses on cultivated beef and fats. “It is going to be a core technology” Marcus Keitzer, Board Member for Alternative Proteins at the PHW Group, told Cultivated X, “Precision fermentation technology …

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