Revyve launches new gluten-free egg replacer and opens new facility

© Hilde Lenaert/revyve

Egg Alternatives

Revyve Launches “Next-Generation” Gluten-Free Egg Replacer, Kickstarting Production With New Facility

Dutch food tech company revyve has announced the launch of a new gluten-free egg replacer made from baker’s yeast. Described as “next-generation”, the ingredient is said to have excellent texturising functionalities while being fully neutral in flavour and colour. This is said to make it ideal for use in flavour-sensitive products such as sweet baked goods. The baker’s yeast is grown on molasses, a co-product of the sugar industry, in line with revyve’s commitment to circular economy principles. Revyve previously launched a flagship egg replacer made from brewer’s yeast, but this contains traces of gluten. As a result, the company decided to develop an allergen-free alternative that retains capabilities such as gelling, emulsifying, binding, and water-holding. “During the roll-out of our initial brewer’s yeast line, …

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GRO will debut two vegan products—the butterball and croquettes—at the upcoming hospitality trade fair Gastvrij Rotterdam.

Image courtesy of GRO

Products & Launches

GRO to Debut “Irresistibly Tasty” Vegan Oyster Mushroom Snacks at Gastvrij Rotterdam

GRO, a Dutch company crafting vegan, vegetarian, and blended products from the circular production of oyster mushrooms, announces it will debut two vegan products — the bitterball (bitterballen) and croquettes — at the upcoming hospitality trade fair Gastvrij Rotterdam. The oyster mushroom snacks feature a revamped recipe of the original products, including fresh celeriac, a crispy panko coating, and a creamy ragout. Since the fungi add natural umami and a meaty bite, the snacks deliver a satisfying texture and are said to be “irresistibly tasty.” In addition, they are a convenient snack: “Four minutes in the fryer, and you’re ready to indulge!” GRO emphasizes. Compared to the previous products, the bitterballs have remained at 30 grams each, while croquettes have increased to 80 grams. Meanwhile, the …

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Schouten Europe unveils a new product development (NPD) — a plant-based chicken schnitzel — crafted with an innovative fiber technology called NewTextures.

Image courtesy of Schouten Europe

Manufacturing & Technology

Schouten Europe Debuts New Fiber Technology Replacing Texturates in Plant-Based Chicken Schnitzel

Schouten Europe, the first Dutch company to develop meat alternatives and a market leader for decades, unveils a new product development — plant-based chicken schnitzel — crafted with a new fiber technology called NewTextures. The technology, developed in-house after years of R&D, replaces traditional textured proteins with fibers. According to Schouten Europe, these fibers enhance the texture and appeal of products, bringing them closer to the meat experience. The plant-based chicken schnitzel showcases the capabilities of NewTextures, boasting a juicy texture and the white color characteristic of chicken, explains the plant-based expert. Its ingredients include wheat and soy proteins, bamboo fibers, and oils such as rapeseed and sunflower. “Meat substitutes are sometimes prepared incorrectly, which can make them a bit dry. These products retain their …

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Vivera protein bites

© Vivera

Products & Launches

Vivera Launches Plant-Based Protein Bites Made From Whole Food Ingredients

Dutch meat alternatives producer Vivera has announced the launch of a new product, Protein Bites, made from vegetables, grains, and legumes. Three varieties of the product are available — TexMex, Thai, and Green. All the varieties have the highest possible Nutriscore of A and are rich in protein and fibre. The Protein Bites are inspired by research indicating that many flexitarians prefer to eat legumes, nuts, and seeds rather than meat alternatives. Despite this, a large proportion of plant-based companies are focused on developing products that mimic the taste and texture of meat. With the new launch, Vivera aims to offer a protein-rich option that emphasises plant-based ingredients. The new products are said to be suitable for several applications, including as a salad topping, wrap …

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Cosun Beet

© Cosun Beet Company

Ingredients

Cosun Beet Company’s Ambition Leads to Unique Plant-Based Innovation

Cosun Beet Company has developed a novel ingredient specifically designed for plant-based and hybrid products. This ingredient is the result of Cosun Beet Company’s ambition to valorize the full potential of its sugar beets. The name of this ingredient is Fidesse®, a name that is rapidly gaining recognition. Cosun Beet Company’s ambition stems from its vision: ‘The Plant Positive Way’. This vision is based on circularity and maximizing the potential of the crop, in this case, the sugar beet. With smart, sustainable solutions, Cosun Beet Company aims to extract everything possible from the sugar beet in the most sustainable way. The company has been doing this for years but continues to seek even more valuable applications. Climbing the ladder The Research, Development & Innovation department …

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Lidl

Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Somain - Lidl (01) / Wikimedia Commons / Cc-by-sa 3.0.

Retail & E-Commerce

Lidl NL Permanently Reduces Plant-Based Prices, Adds Pea Protein to Beef Mince for Blended Product

Lidl Netherlands has announced a permanent reduction in the cost of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, meaning they will be priced equally to or lower than their animal-based equivalents. The retailer says it aims to ensure price is not an obstacle to making sustainable choices. The news comes after a ProVeg study conducted last year found that people are far more likely to choose plant-based foods when they are priced more affordably. The research showed that most people want plant-based products to be priced the same as animal foods, with similar government subsidies. Lidl has already slashed the prices of plant-based alternatives in other European markets such as Germany, Denmark, Hungary, and Austria. Dutch chain Jumbo has made a similar move, along with various other …

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Image courtesy of ProVeg

Market & Trends

Netherlands: Supermarket Meat-Free Promotions Stagnate While Alt Meat Sales to Caterers Double

According to animal rights organisation Wakker Dier, the number of meat-free promotions available at Dutch supermarkets has barely increased for the third year in a row, remaining about the same on average. Additionally, there have been few reductions in meat promotions, with three available for every meat alternative offer. The organisation noted that there were discrepancies between retailers, with Aldi and Hoogvliet having reduced their meat-free promotions by 38% and 34% respectively. On the other hand, Jumbo has increased its vegetarian offers by 41%, and Spar saw the second-highest increase at 31%. Aldi runs 11 meat promotions for every meat-free offer, making it the worst-scoring supermarket in this area. Jumbo and Albert Heijn are tied in first place, with two meat promotions for every vegetarian …

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Cattle in a farming land in the Netherlands

© Hans-stock.adobe.com

Politics & Law

EU Approves €700M Dutch Scheme for Voluntary Closure of Livestock Farms

The European Commission has approved a €700 million Dutch State scheme to compensate farmers who voluntarily close livestock farming sites in some regions of the Netherlands. The Dutch government is looking to improve the quality of the environment and promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly production in the livestock sector with this initiative. The scheme will apply to priority areas, including peatlands, sandy soils, stream valleys, and areas in and adjacent to Natura 2000. It will be open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers operating in any eligible areas until the 1st of October, 2029. The aid provided under the scheme will consist of direct grants and subsidized advisory services. It will cover up to 100% of eligible expenses, including compensation for the loss of production …

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GRO collage

@ GRO

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Oyster Mushrooms Grow in Waste Coffee Grounds, GRO Harnesses Them to Create Vegan, Veggie & Blended Products

Rapidly expanding Dutch startup GRO focuses on the tasty, versatile and circularly grown oyster mushroom. The circular process starts with the coffee bean used to make a cup of coffee. What remains as raw material, or coffee grounds, is collected from wholesalers and repurposed for growing oyster mushrooms, which are then crafted into products made for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians such as croquettes, ragout rolls, carpaccio, crisps and burgers. Founded in 2011 by Jan Willem Bosman Jansen, GRO Mushrooms was inspired by a sustainable initiative in Zimbabwe, where coffee plantation waste was repurposed to cultivate mushrooms. Bringing this concept to the Netherlands, Bosman Jansen laid the groundwork for GRO, which produces snacks and finger foods from oyster mushrooms grown on coffee grounds collected from corporate …

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Schiphol Airport

© Schiphol Airport

Tourism & Travel

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Make 60% of Food Offerings Plant-Based by 2030

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands’ main international airport and the third-largest in Europe, has announced plans to reduce emissions by expanding its plant-based food and beverage offerings. By 2030, 60% of the airport’s food offerings (measured by ingredient volume) will be plant-based, with appealing product presentations encouraging consumers to choose the new sustainable options. It is hoped that the measures will reduce emissions by 50% across the entire food offering compared to 2023. The menu changes will take place step-by-step in order to keep prices stable. The airport will also introduce other ethical food standards by 2025 — for example, coffee and cocoa will be FairTrade and all products offered will be certified deforestation-free. Food and beverage outlets will be expected to take responsibility for …

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Cedric Verstraeten, Revyve CEO

Image credit Jordy Brada

Opinion

Op Ed: Cedric Verstraeten, CEO of Revyve – It’s Time to Start Eliminating the Hidden Egg

Revyve is creating ingredients that replace egg whites, dairy proteins, and E-numbers such as methylcellulose or calcium diphosphate. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the pioneering Dutch team harnesses the unlimited potential of yeast to create high-performance texturizing solutions. Through its work, Revyve is addressing the food industry’s challenge of sourcing animal-free, natural ingredients that are delicious as well as sustainable. Cedric Verstraeten is the dynamic CEO of Revyve, a role he has held since 2020. Cedric brings over a decade of experience in manufacturing operations and supply chain optimization, having worked with industry giants like Procter & Gamble and AB InBev. In this article, Cedric explains how “we need to stop thinking of plant-based as a target niche category and start removing the hidden egg from everyday …

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Desiree Potters, Commercial Development Lead for Fidesse © Cosun Beet Company

Interviews

Cosun Beet Company: “Sugar Beet Pulp Has Unique Properties That Can Improve the Texture of Plant Products”

With the ambition to become the greenest, most innovative, and successful sugar beet processor globally, Cosun Beet Company endeavours to set new standards in sustainability and efficiency. Employing around 850 dedicated professionals, the company describes itself as one of Europe’s most efficient sugar producers. In addition to producing sugar and sugar specialities, Cosun Beet Company processes all parts of the sugar beet into ingredients for the food, energy, biobased and related industries. Désirée Potters is the commercial development lead for the company’s product, Fidesse®, an upcycled food ingredient made solely from sugar beet pulp. She has a background in food technology and over 25 years of experience in the food ingredient industry. She explores how the innovative use of side-stream ingredients can address key challenges …

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Nutreco has completed the construction and brought into commercial operation the world's first dedicated food-grade powder production facility for cell feed.

© Nutreco

Company News

Nutreco Opens New Facility Dedicated to Food-Grade Cell Feed for Cultivated Meat

Nutreco, a global leader in animal nutrition and aqua feed, has opened a dedicated nutrient facility for cellular agriculture. “This new food-certified production facility is a first for the industry and a first for Nutreco,” announced the company.  Located in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, the facility has commenced operations and produces a food-grade powder for cell feed specifically developed for cultivated meat. Worth noting in this context is that this January, the British biotech Multus also announced a commercial-scale production plant for serum-free growth media for the cultivated meat industry. First successful batch Nutreco says its team has successfully launched its first commercial batch of 50 kilograms of cell feed powder and announces plans to produce several hundred kilograms per week to scale in tandem with the growth …

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EXBERRY colors in bagel spreads

© EXBERRY by GNT

Company News

GNT Partners with Plume Biotechnology to Create “Exciting” Fermented Colors for F&B

Fermented colors to arise from a partnership between Dutch plant-based ingredients company GNT Group, known for its EXBERRY plant-based color solutions, and Plume Biotechnology, a UK-based startup specializing in fermentation science and bioprocessing for natural colors. GNT has been creating colors from fruit, vegetables, and plants since 1978, offering a complete spectrum of stable and vibrant non-GMO colors for food and beverages, including realistic solutions for plant-based meat. Sheffield’s Plume Biotechnology upcycles agricultural waste to produce high-quality natural food colors and nutritious plant-based proteins. Thomas Burns, the startup’s CEO, comments: “The rapid evolution of fermentation-based technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities within the realms of natural colors. “In GNT, we have found the perfect strategic partner with a shared commitment to delivering excellent products whilst keeping …

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NoPalm Ingredients, a Dutch biotechnology company producing yeast-derived oils, has successfully closed a €5 million seed funding round touted as largest funding ever for an alternative to palm oil in Europe.

Image courtesy of NoPalm Ingredients

Fermentation

NoPalm Ingredients Secures €5M for Superior Fermented Oils Validated by Industry Giants

NoPalm Ingredients, a Dutch biotechnology company producing yeast-derived oils, has successfully closed a €5 million seed funding round touted as the largest funding ever for an alternative to palm oil in Europe. The round was led by Rubio Impact Ventures and co-led by Oost NL, Fairtree Elevant Ventures, and Willow Capital Investments, with participation from The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and other private investors. The new capital will help the company to scale and deliver, at price parity, a sustainable alternative to traditional palm oil, which is astonishingly found in 60% of supermarket products. With proven oil quality by industry giants such as Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever, and Zeelandia, NoPalm Ingredients’ innovation, is set to transform the food and personal care industries. “Often, the answer isn’t to prohibit …

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Mosa Meat has conducted the first formal tasting of their cultivated beef product, the Mosa Burger, in The Netherlands.

© Image courtesy of Mosa Meat

meat

Mosa Meat Hosts First Official EU Cultivated Beef Tasting, Experts Rave It “Really Tasted Like Meat!”

Mosa Meat, the company founded by the creator of the world’s first cultivated burger patty, announces it has conducted the first formal tasting of its cultivated beef product, the Mosa Burger, in the Netherlands. The event marks the first official tasting of cultivated beef in the EU, following the single market’s inaugural tasting by Meatable in the Netherlands, which featured cultivated pork sausages. Mosa Meat’s much-anticipated tasting gathered Dutch cattle farmers, food product developers, and industry representatives to collect expert feedback. According to Mosa Meat, participants noted the burger’s authentic meat taste, juiciness, and succulence. “The burger really tasted like meat. […] Usually, I don’t eat meat, but I miss the taste of meat a lot, and this is the way to ultimately add it …

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Three men eating pizza

© Letrino Foods

Fermentation

Fooditive Partners With the World’s Largest Mozzarella Cheese Producer to Commercialize its Animal-Free Casein

The Netherlands’ Fooditive Group, a manufacturer of fermented ingredients, announces a partnership with the US dairy company Leprino Foods Company to commercialize its non-animal casein. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Leprino Foods is the world’s largest mozzarella cheese and lactose producer and a leading supplier of whey protein, micellar casein, and sweet whey. Under a long-term licensing agreement, Leprino Foods will have exclusive worldwide rights to produce animal-free casein using Fooditive’s precision fermentation technology. It will also have exclusive global rights to market and distribute the novel casein for cheese and non-exclusive rights for all other food applications. According to the companies, the partnership aims to promote sustainability while broadening the scope of innovative food products. Fooditive CEO Moayad Abushokhedim emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability …

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© Boermarke

Food Service

Former Dairy Producer Boermarke Partners With Vivera to Launch Wide Range of ‘Vairy’ Plant-Based Alternatives

Dutch company Boermarke, a former dairy producer that now focuses exclusively on plant-based products, has announced the launch of a wide range of plant-based alternatives for food service under its Vairy brand. Vairy products have proven successful after launching at supermarkets in 24 European countries, and Boermarke has now formed a strategic partnership with Dutch meat alternatives producer Vivera to offer a wide range of savoury and sweet plant-based products for food service. These include meat and cheese alternatives, yogurt, ice cream, custard, and more. Boermarke says the products will help the hospitality, catering, and healthcare sectors make progress towards the protein transition. Boermarke goes plant-based After three decades in the dairy industry, Boermarke announced in September 2023 that it would become fully plant-based following …

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Dutch market report, ProVeg

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Market & Trends

Unlocking the Dutch Plant-Based Market

With some of Europe’s most receptive consumer demographics to plant-based foods, it’s no wonder that the Netherlands’ market for alternative proteins is fast-growing. Through the National Protein Strategy (Nationale Eiwitstrategie), significant research and development funding, and a new tax initiative to support sustainable food consumption, the Dutch government demonstrates strong support for the country’s alternative protein industry. But to appeal to Dutch consumers, you should tailor your plant-based strategy. What do they want from their diet? How do they differ from other European consumers? Should you adjust your business and products, and if so, in what ways? These questions are essential for maximising sales and must be continuously monitored. In the latest New Food Hub article, ProVeg International summarises the key insights from its country-specific …

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PlantFWD event stage

Plant FWD 2024 by Fitchd, image courtesy Nederland Veganland

Guest Posts

What Happens to Society if We Only Eat Plants? A Dutch Thought Experiment

What if we only eat plants? When a scientist and a landscape architect work together on future challenges, you get the project The Vegan Netherlands (Project Nederland Veganland). And they might have solved the housing problem… This guest post has been kindly contributed by landscape architect Berno Strootman, one of the people who researched how The Netherlands could be self-sufficient regarding food. Interestingly, and notably, in this hypothetical utopia, society would actually need more farmers. “According to our calculations, we need twice as many farmers in a fully plant-based system than in the present one,” Strootman explains. This is what happens if we only eat plants By Berno Strootman Suppose: everyone eats plant-based food and the import of animal fodder comes to a halt. How …

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