Spain

Tuna steaks made from upcycled algae by Poseidona

Poseidona - Image courtesy of Eatable Adventures
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Spain Foodtech Startups Program Reveals 2023 Cohort of Agrifood Pioneers

Spain Foodtech Startups Program announces its 2023 cohort, with four Spanish startups leading the new agrifood revolution with innovative technologies, natural alternatives, and upcycled proteins. Backed by an impressive investment of €10 million, this program aims to support the selected startups over the next three years to make them capable of competing globally. Spain Foodtech, a collaboration between Eatable Adventures, ICEX Spain Export and Investments, and CNTA, seeks to position Spain as a technological leader. According to the data from an Eatable Adventures study, the food tech investment in Spain reached €268 million in 2022, marking a growth of 9.3% compared to the previous year. Four pioneers From over 120 applications, Spain Foodtech selected the following startups: Bio2coat: Develops natural coatings that extend the shelf life …

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UK-born charity Veganuary has opened its eighth country chapter in Spain.

© Veganuary
Charity & Campaigns

Veganuary Opens Office in Spain to Continue the Campaign’s Global Expansion, Vegan Actor Dani Rovira Becomes Supporter

UK-born charity Veganuary, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, announces it has opened its eighth country chapter in Spain. Moreover, the Spanish actor Dani Rovira recently joined Veganuary as a supporter to spread the message and importance of veganism. With the climate crisis making headlines almost daily, the organization says it is intensifying its efforts to promote planet-friendly vegan diets worldwide. Besides the new office in Spain, the charity has chapters in seven countries: the UK, USA, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and India. In addition, it has partner organizations in Mexico, Italy, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, and Singapore to run official campaigns and make veganism mainstream. Amanda Romero, the new director for Veganuary Spain, shares that more than five million people, representing 13% of the …

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Väcka launches at Carrefour Spain

© Väcka
Cheese Alternatives

Väcka’s Cheeses Launch at Carrefour Spain After Winning Plant Based Contest

Three plant-based cheeses developed by Barcelona-based Väcka are set to launch at almost 90 Carrefour Spain stores, after the startup was named a winner in Carrefour’s first ever Plant Based Contest last year. 250 companies applied for the contest, with ten of these — including Väcka and two other Spanish startups —- named as winners. Three of Väcka’s plant-based cheeses (Mözza, Pumpkin Cheddar, and Vrie) will now arrive on Carrefour shelves. Produced using what is described as a “disruptive world unique fermentation process”, the Mözza and Pumpkin Cheddar cheeses are made from melon seeds and olive oil. The Vrie is made from almond milk and cashews, and is said to “offer an organoleptic experience close to animal-origin cheese”.  Claiming the category Earlier this year, Väcka …

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pink albatross

©pink albatross
Sweets & Snacks

Spain’s Pink Albatross Exceeds 2,000 Points of Sale, Expects to Turnover €1.1 million This Year

Pink Albatross, the Spanish 100% plant-based ice cream company, announces that its distribution has multiplied this season and it has managed to expand into more than 10 new retail outlets. In addition, the company has stated that it expects to reach a turnover of 1.1 million euros by end of 2023. The points of sale where these ice creams can be purchased are in all Carrefour locations entailing more than 200 hypermarkets; in around 60 Eroski, Caprabo and Familia shops; and in more than 105 Bon Preu and Esclat supermarkets. Pink Albatross products have also entered more than 160 points of sale of Supermercados MAS and Cash Fresh, of the Sevillian group Hermanos Martín; in 44 Hiper Usera shops, in an in&out in around 60 …

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Tripe use in a Spanish dish calles 'callos'

© Sergio Martínez-stock.adobe.com
Printed Technology

Foody’s and Cocuus Join Traditions with 3D-Printed Plant-Based Tripe

Food tech companies from Navarra, Spain — Foody’s and Cocuus, — leaders in plant-based food 3D bioprinting, have developed an unusual meat analog with hydrogels and printing tech: the first 3D bioprinted plant-based tripe in the world. Tripe, the edible lining from the stomachs of cows or pigs, is the main ingredient of a traditional and popular Spanish stewed dish called callos.  Recreating emblematic dishes sustainably and ethically, such as the plant-based tripe, indicates that technology and traditions are not at odds, argues Cocuus, which unveiled its NPD at the company’s San Fermín lunch — a historically rooted celebration held annually in the city of Pamplona, where people chase running bulls and eat traditional meat dishes. “We believe that technology is not at odds with tradition, so through a …

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CUBIQ

Image courtesy CUBIQ Foods
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

AgriCultura Celular España Launches to Make Spain a Global Player in the Cell Ag Space

AgriCultura Celular España launched recently, as a non-profit organization that aims to make Spain a global player in the cellular agriculture industry by creating new business opportunities and promoting the production, integration, and acceptance of cell-derived products. The organization is poised to promote cellular agriculture technology, especially cultivated meat, and other industry initiatives as solutions to the current challenges that the food system is facing. Players in the alt protein sector established the new initiative: Jordi Morales-Dalmau, director of technology at cultivated fat specialist Cultimate Foods; Paula V. Méndez, quality engineer at cultivated meat food tech Mosa Meat; Iris Gallego, a researcher at Mosa Meat; and Adrian Hirt, co-founder of ‘The Alt Protein Project‘ at EIT Food. Information in Spanish Under one roof, the organization will provide information, share …

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Foodys vegan foie gras

© Foody's
Products & Launches

Foodys Launches the “First” Vegan Foie Gras Produced at Industrial Scale in Spain

Foodys, a Spanish company specializing in the development of plant-based products, continues with its development plans and launches a 100% vegetable foie gras, an ethical alternative to controversial foie gras of animal origin, stating it offers an appearance, taste, and texture almost identical to conventional foie gras. The aim of this launch is to provide a great product while continuing to respond to the challenges posed by the future of food through innovation and sustainability. In addition, the company has emphasized its interest in offering consumers an option that is committed to the planet, as well as healthy, tasty, and accessible. Superior to others in the category For its production, according to the CEO of Foodys, Gonzalo Agorreta, the team was inspired by “a multitude …

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Ouvegg packaging shot

© Ouvegg
Egg Alternatives

Ouvegg Arrives to Provide Spanish Consumers With a Versatile, Bird-Free Egg

Spain’s HEVO Group announces the commercialization of Ouvegg, a vegan egg alternative which is the result of years of R&D to achieve a product with a similar behavior and properties to conventional poultry eggs. The texture of Ouvegg is said to be similar to that of a beaten egg, offering versatility and allowing for a wide variety of preparations from tortillas, scrambled eggs, and batters. Clean-label ingredients such as chickpea and flax flour, corn starch, nutritional yeast, vegetable protein, salt, and turmeric are used to make Ouvegg. All ingredients are rich in protein and micronutrients for a product free of gluten and additives and free of bulking agents, binders, or other excipients. Packaging similar to that of a conventional dozen Ouvegg is presented in a …

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Freshly Cosmetics new store in Palma

Image courtesy Freshly Cosmetics
Cosmetics & Bodycare

Freshly Cosmetics Continues Expansion in Spain With Palma Location, Plans Two More Stores

Freshly Cosmetics, a brand specializing in sustainable cosmetics and operating several stores across Spain as well as one London location, opened a new store in Palma, Mallorca, last Friday. The company has also announced two new Freshly Stores in Spain: one in Madrid, becoming the second store in the capital, and the first store in Galicia, in the city of A Coruña, stating that “with the next confirmed openings, we will be very close to our 2023 target: to have around twenty outlets.” In April of this year, the cosmetics retailer launched a sustainable refilling system for its products called the Freshly Refill, with new cardboard packaging containing more than 75% vegetable fibers. “There are some very intense weeks ahead” In the words of the …

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CUVO FOODS team shot Barcelona

CUVO FOODS, image courtesy of The Vegan Agency
Market & Trends

Spain’s Plant-Based Sector is “Innovative, Growing and Aimed at Young People”

Innovative, growing, and aimed at young people: this is the plant-based sector in Spain, according to a report that finds 75% of vegan companies expect to see veganism experience “favourable” or “very favourable” growth in Spain over the next two years. Dr. Estela Díaz, from the Department of Business Management at the Universidad Pontificia Comilla, together with specialized communication agency The Vegan Agency, both of Madrid, compiled this second report on the state of vegan businesses in Spain. Young people lead the way in post-Covid Spain Dr. Díaz explains: “The sector seems to have overcome the covid-19 crisis, continues to learn quickly, and is becoming more professional”. The main results of her study can be summarised as follows. Vegan companies are innovative: 65% offer a …

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New vegan burger brand called Vungr

Image credit: Hunger Brands LinkedIn
Delivery Services

Spain’s New Vungr Service Delivers Burgers Featuring Heura Patties and Väcka Cheese

Barcelona-based Hunger Brands has announced the launch of a new 100% vegan brand tailored explicitly for delivery called Vungr, created in collaboration with plant-based meat company Heura Foods and vegan cheese startup Väcka. Vungr is a 100% vegan burger brand targeting vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, and even meat lovers, looking for convenient animal protein-free options.  Vungr’s burgers come in pita-bread style buns and, according to the brand, are the first of their kind in the Spanish market. Its range includes Classic Vegan, Four Cheeses, Not Pollo, Porteña Vegan, and Truvada Vegan. It launched initially at Glovo and Uber Eats, but the company announced expansion plans across Spain soon. In addition to its burger offerings, Vungr’s menu includes Not Pollo fingers by Heura in various flavors. Heura+Väcka=Vungr The new burgers feature Heura’s beef burger patties, which recently …

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Cultivated meat dish

© BioTech Foods
Company News

JBS-Owned BioTech Foods Breaks Ground on “World’s Largest Cultivated Meat Plant” in Spain

The world’s largest meat processing company, Brazil’s JBS, announced that its subsidiary, the Spanish company BioTech Foods, has begun construction of its first commercial-scale plant for cultivated meat, reports Reuters. The facility, located in Eskusaitzeta, Donostia’s industrial area, will open by mid-2024 as the country’s first cultivated meat facility (to our knowledge). Biotech Foods claims it will be the world’s largest cultivated meat plant, with an annual production of 1,000 metric tons of cultivated beef. For further growth, it will have an expansion capacity of 4,000 metric tons annually. Additionally, the complex will host the company’s R&D department. In January, Íñigo Charola, the CEO of BioTech Foods, revealed the plans for the future facility: “This new plant will allow us to increase production capacity to …

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VegFest Barcelona 2023

© VegFest BCN
Fairs & Events

VegFest BCN 2023: Barcelona’s 1st Vegan Festival Returns This Weekend

This weekend marks the launch of the second edition of VegFest, Barcelona’s first vegan festival. It will take place on the 3rd and 4th of June at the popular venue Nau Bostik. Organized by AnimaNaturalis, the event aims to raise awareness of animal rights, promote animal and environmentally-friendly lifestyles, and support its campaigns. Founded in 2003, AnimaNaturalis is a non-profit organization working to implement, protect and raise awareness of animal rights in Spain and Latin America. A cruelty-free lifestyle VegFest BCN 2023 is sponsored by cosmetics brand LUSH; nonprofit organization Vegfund, empowering vegan activists worldwide; a well-fed world, a nonprofit advocating for plant-based solutions for a hungry world; and vegan beer company BdeGust. The festival includes conferences revolving around veganism, concerts, DJ sets, and activities for all ages. …

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Spanish restaurant chain Ribs launches four vegan options

© Ribs
Food Service

Spain’s Meat-Heavy Chain Ribs Introduces ‘True American Vegans & Veggies’ Menu

Adapting to emerging trends and consumer habits, the QSR restaurant chain Ribs, with multiple stores across Spain, has launched a new range of vegan dishes that it says do not comprise the brand’s authentic grilled flavor. The new menu, dubbed True American Vegans & Veggies, includes four options: Vegan Nachos, Veggie Onion & Chipotle Burger, Vegan Cheese Burger, and Vegan Burritos. Ribs, a brand of the Ibersol Group, was founded in Madrid in 1991, inspired by the first authentic American steakhouse in Spain, El Descanso. Their charcoal grills cook more than 330 tons of ribs yearly for the more than 3 million customers who visit their restaurants in Spain. Swapping the meat For this vegan offer, Ribs replaces the animal meat often used in these …

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The Vegetarian Butcher at Carrefour butcher counter

© The Vegetarian Butcher
Retail & E-Commerce

The Vegetarian Butcher Launches at Butcher Counters at Spanish Carrefour Supermarkets

The Vegetarian Butcher and European hypermarket chain Carrefour strengthen ties to expand the offer of meat alternatives in some of the butcher shops in Spanish Carrefour locations. Although products from The Vegetarian Butcher were already available last year, from this month the products will be available in a total of 24 Carrefour group establishments. The products that will be available at the butcher counters are crispy burgers; breaded burgers with iron and vitamin B12 called the Kikiricrunch Burger; vegan soy and wheat-based beef burgers; the famous Burghesian Rapshody patty; and vegetable nuggets. With this new agreement, Unilever‘s plant-based meat brand reinforces its commitment to the democratization of these products through Carrefour, which has positioned itself as one of the pioneer distributors in making this type …

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Close up of woman eating Mommus Camembert

© Mommus Foods
Company News

Mommus Foods Inaugurates Facility to Supply Growing Demand for Vegan Cheese in Spain

Earlier this month, Spain’s Mommus Foods inaugurated a new factory that has the capacity to produce 100,000 units per month of plant-based cheese, stating it is expanding production in order to meet the growing demand for its award-winning artisan products.  Born in 2018 in the small town of Elche, Alicante; the startup’s star product, “this is not a camembert cheese” was named one of the ten best vegan cheese products in the world by abillion in 2020 and 2021. Its wide product portfolio includes vegan cheeses in original semi-cured, smoked, truffled, spicy, and pink pepper, as well as creamy savories in flavors such as sun-dried tomato and garlic, natural, and black garlic. Last September Mommus formed an alliance with Dacsa Group to bring its range …

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A Little More Confusing BK print campaign

A Little More Confusing campaign © DAVID Madrid
Marketing & Media

Burger King Embraces Humor and Irony to Promote Plant-Based Menu in “Confusing Times” Campaign

A new Burger King campaign promoting its plant-based menu launched in Spain and the United States in May 2023. Created by the DAVID Agency in Madrid, “Confusing Times” utilizes humor and irony in a series of TV, radio, and print ads. The campaign addresses the concept of confusion to promote the BK menu, with mentions of the chain’s Plant-Based Nuggets and Long Chicken, and the Plant-Based Whopper Jr. The ad shows an array of circumstances when people appear confused about the facts: is an eco-friendly Black Friday purchase good for the planet or not good at all? Should you delete a message or send the wrong message by deleting it? Is Max a dog’s name or a boy’s name?  A kid’s POV Recently, Burger King …

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Foody's and Cocuus to launch bioprinted bacon

Bioprinted bacon © Cocuus

Printed Technology

Foody’s & Cocuus Launch the World’s First Industrial-Scale 3D Bioprinting Facility for Plant-Based Meat

Foody’s and Cocuus, two food tech companies from Navarra, Spain, have signed an agreement to produce and commercialize 3D-printed plant-based foods, starting with bacon. Through the alliance, Foody’s will be responsible for industrializing and marketing Cocuus’s 3D bioprinted alt meat under the Foody’s & Cocuus brand. Last March, the first of a series of 3D bioprinters developed by Cocuus was installed at the Foody’s facilities in Tudela. It will be the world’s first industrial-scale plant-based food bioprinting plant, making Navarra the spearhead of this novel technology, reports local publication Diario de Navarra. “Undoubtedly, this is a technology that will forever change the way we produce healthy, tasty, and sustainable food for the world at scale. It aspires to revolutionize food science through disruptive solutions for …

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Burger King Barcelona exterior

Burger King España
Fast Food

Burger King Opens Plant-Forward Popup in Barcelona, Says it Sold 30M Meat-Free Products in 2022

One Burger King location at the Westfield Glories shopping center in Barcelona becomes a plant-forward popup for the month of May, for the ‘Westfield Good Festival’, an event organized by the mall to celebrate Earth Month. From last Thursday (May 4th) until the end of the month, the fast food giant has converted the space with decorations for Earth Month and will be offering the widest range of meat-free options, entailing vegan and vegetarian products, available thus far in Barcelona. The company claims that throughout 2022, it sold nearly 30 million meat-free products. At the Barcelona location, consumers can purchase plantbased versions of the new Cheesy Doritos, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger BBQ, and Chicken Wrap, as well as The King Huevo, Cheese Bacon XXL and Steakhouse, along …

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Marc Coloma and Bernat Ananos, Heura founders

© Heura
Company News

Heura Raises Over €2.6M in Crowdfunding in Just 48 Hours

Heura, the leading Spanish company in plant-based meat products, has started its third crowdfunding round and has raised more than 2.6 million euros in 48 hours. Since its launch on May 5, the company has 3,400 more investors. The objective of this crowdfunding campaign, which will be active until May 17 through the Crowdcube platform, is to lead the plant-based protein market at the European level, deploy the net positive impact plan, and drive technological innovations under a new patent. European growth The plant-based sector currently generates sales in Europe of €5.7 billion and a GFI report from this February found that alt protein companies across Europe raised nearly 24% more last year than in 2021. Spanish companies in particular attracted €42 million in funding  …

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