Spain

Heura opens new innovation laboratory

© Heura
Company News

Heura Opens New Innovation Laboratory, Plans to Register Six Patents in 2025

Spanish food tech company Heura has announced the opening of a new innovation laboratory in the 22@ technological district of Barcelona. The laboratory’s increased capacity will allow for the integration of scientific disciplines and the promotion of technological transfer. It will be used to further Heura’s work to develop healthy and sustainable food solutions. Heura has also announced plans to register six new patents over the next nine months, with the aim of offering products with “an unprecedented impact and nutritional density in the most consumed food categories”. The company will continue to expand beyond the plant-based meat category, in line with the prototypes for healthier plant-based cheese, pasta, and snacks it unveiled last October. The new patents will focus on replacing additives, modified starches, …

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A man eating a plant-based burger

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Market & Trends

Spain’s Plant-Based Market, Ranked Fourth in Europe, Set for 10% Growth by 2025

Spain’s plant-based sector is the fourth-largest in Europe, behind Germany, the UK, and Italy, and anticipates a 10% growth by 2025. The demand for sustainable products fueled the sector’s growth by 9.4% in 2023, reaching nearly €600 million in sales. Over a third of Spaniards consumed plant-based products in 2023, with 46% of households incorporating plant-based beverages into their diets. These are among various figures from a newly released report by the Spanish Association of Plant-Based F&B Producers Vegetales, and International Financial Analysts (AFI), analyzing the impact of the plant-based market on Spain’s economy and society. A recent report by the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, the Spanish Vegetarian Union, and communication firm The Vegan Agency also highlights the significant growth in turnover of the country’s plant-based market, reflecting sustained …

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Dont Turn the Page campaign by Heura

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Politics & Law

Heura Urges Spanish Congress to Address Climate Emergency in Wake of Natural Disasters with New Awareness Campaign

Heura Foods, Spain’s leading plant-based food innovation company, has called on the Spanish Congress of Deputies to take a proactive and urgent role in addressing the climate emergency affecting Spain and the world. In response to recent environmental disasters, such as the devastating floods in Valencia, and the alarming advance of global warming that could exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Heura urges legislators to prioritise sustainability and global health on the political agenda, leaving partisan interests aside. “Heura understands that this challenge has no political colour and requires the unity and commitment of all forces in Congress. Therefore, we call on the people’s representatives to prioritise sustainability and global health over political interests. The climate emergency can wait no longer and urgent action is imperative,” …

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Heura launches vegan chicken sandwich at Rodilla chain in Spain

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Food Service

Heura Foods Launches Vegan Chicken Sandwich at 130+ Rodilla Restaurants Across Spain

Heura Foods and Spain’s Rodilla restaurant chain have joined forces to launch a new vegan chicken sandwich that will be available in 130 Rodilla outlets across Spain from 5 November. The sandwich is made with wholemeal bread, chickpea spread, vegan mayonnaise, Heura’s plant-based chicken, mustard, gherkins, and parsley. With this collaboration, Heura and Rodilla take another step forward in the transition towards a food model where sustainability and respect for animals are central, providing an inclusive option that adapts to the habits of an increasingly conscious society. In the words of Heura Foods CEO and co-founder Marc Coloma, this collaboration helps “accelerate the shift towards a healthier and more sustainable food system,” allowing vegans and non-vegans alike to enjoy a delicious alternative that contributes to …

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report on Spanish plant based market

© UVE, The Vegan Agency and Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Market & Trends

Spanish Plant-Based Market Continues to Grow with Increased Investment & Turnover

The Spanish plant-based market has experienced significant growth in turnover with an increased number of businesses, according to the latest report on the sector by the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, the Spanish Vegetarian Union, and communication firm The Vegan Agency. The report offers a detailed economic x-ray of the evolution of the sector, highlighting both the increase in revenue and the financial challenges it faces in an increasingly competitive market. In 2023, the plant-based sector in Spain consolidated its economic position with a 21% increase in the €100,000 to €500,000 turnover range, reflecting sustained consumer interest and the consolidation of new business models. Catalonia continues to be the region with the highest number of plant-based companies, while Valencia has seen a notable increase, even surpassing Madrid …

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S2 EP1 Investment Climate Podcast NovaMeat

Investment Climate Podcast

Investments & Finance

Investment Climate Podcast: Giuseppe Scionti of NovaMeat, How to Get Funded in 2024

In this podcast series, Alex Shandrovsky interviews investors about benchmarks for funding alt proteins in 2024 and uncovers the investment playbooks of successful climate tech CEOs and leading VCs. Podcast Host Alex Shandrovksy is a strategic advisor to numerous global food tech accelerators and companies, including alternative proteins and cellular agriculture leaders. His focus is on investor relations and post-raise scale for agrifood tech companies. Series 2 Episode 1: Giuseppe Scionti of NovaMeat In this episode, Alex talks to Giuseppe, CEO and Founder of NovaMeat, a food tech company based in Barcelona that focuses on creating next-generation plant-based meat alternatives (whole cuts, deli cuts, and shredded cuts. Giuseppe emphasizes the importance of long-term relationship-building with investors and the concept of lines versus dots. The key …

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Barcelona's UOBO, a food-tech startup on a mission to revolutionize food manufacturing with alternatives to eggs, has raised €500,000 to develop new products.

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Investments & Finance

UOBO Secures Six-Digit Funding, Joins Forces with Cubiq Foods to Create Egg Replacers for Manufacturers

Barcelona’s UOBO, a food tech startup on a mission to revolutionize food manufacturing with alternatives to eggs, has raised €500,000 in a seed funding round led by Enzo Ventures. The new funding will be used to develop new products and expand operations. This January, the startup launched liquid plant-based eggs for food service, which have garnered impressive feedback. The product, made with canola and potato protein, is said to replace eggs in multiple dishes, from omelets to pastries, while offering an authentic taste. “We are thrilled to have the support of Enzo Ventures as we scale our business and bring our innovative solutions to the market,” said Sergi M., co-founder of UOBO. Replacing eggs in manufacturing UOBO has also announced a partnership with the food-tech …

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Heura

© Heura
Company News

Heura Expands Beyond Plant-Based Meat, Transforming Ultra-Processed Foods With Patent-Pending Technology

Spain’s Heura Foods, best known for producing plant-based meat alternatives, has announced it will be expanding into new categories to improve nutritional density and transform foods often labelled as ultra-processed. The company will use its patent-pending technology to replace ingredients such as additives, modified starches, and saturated fats with plant proteins and healthy lipids. The technology works by using thermo-mechanical techniques to structure product textures in categories where this was not previously possible. At Future Food Tech London on October 2, Heura unveiled prototypes of cheese, snacks, and pasta made with the technology. The company explained its vision to enhance nutritional density without compromising on taste at a live demo kitchen attended by over 100 industry leaders. Revolutionising health solutions The technology will not just …

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Mylkcubator: More Than Mylk, a program focusing on alternative food ingredients made with cellular agriculture technologies has introduced the next cohort of the program's third edition.

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Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Pascual Innoventures Invests $2M in Mylkcubator, Third Edition Launches Beyond Alt-Milk

Mylkcubator: More Than Mylk, a program focusing on alternative food ingredients made with cellular agriculture technologies by the Spanish companies Pascual Innoventures and Eatable Adventures, has introduced its next cohort of startups focusing on sustainable ingredients. Pascual Innoventures has invested over $2 million in the Mylkcubator program across all three editions, including a recent investment in the precision fermentation startup Onego Bio. According to the firm, the Mylkcubator ecosystem has generated a total value of $305 million and raised $104.5 million, “underscoring the success and global significance of the program.” Gabriel Torres Pascual, CEO of Pascual Innoventures, commented, “Our goal is to continue identifying and supporting innovative companies that can offer sustainable solutions to the current challenges in the food sector while strengthening an ecosystem …

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Heura plant-based burgers

© Heura
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Heura Study Finds 85% of Spaniards Would Consume More Plant-Based Meat If They Knew Its Benefits

Spanish plant-based meat brand Heura recently conducted a representative survey which reportedly found that 85% of Spaniards would consume more plant-based meat if they knew its benefits. Respondents said they were in favour of eating plant-based meat if it had a high nutritional value, a taste similar to animal meat, and a low environmental impact. 71% said they thought plant-based meat was healthier than conventional meat, while 56% had consumed it within the last six months. Among those aged 24 to 35, acceptance rates were even higher, with just 1.6% saying they would never consume plant-based meat. However, the survey found that most Spaniards were unaware of the environmental impact of eating less meat, with many incorrectly believing that measures such as recycling have a …

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Food tech accelerator Eatable Adventures has released a new report on the Future of Dairy

© Image courtesy of Eatable Adventures
Studies & Numbers

New Report “The Future of Dairy” Advocates for Disruptive Technologies & Partnerships to Address Industry Challenges

A new report on the future of dairy released by the food tech accelerator Eatable Adventures calls for industry leaders to adopt forward-thinking practices and integrate plant-based, fermented, and cell-based dairy innovations for better sustainability and efficiency. The report highlights three main areas to transform the industry: moving toward more sustainable practices, developing and adopting hybrid products (combining traditional and alternative ingredients), and forming strategic innovation partnerships to drive these changes successfully. Scaling emerging technologies However, the study, which compiles insights from medium to large dairy companies across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, has found that the industry is divided on adopting new technologies. Industry leaders pointed out that competition presents a primary challenge to adopting these technologies within the traditional dairy sector and from …

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Novameat shredded beef

© Novameat
Investments & Finance

Novameat Secures €17.4M in Oversubscribed Round, Launches Improved Shredded Plant-Based Beef

Barcelona’s Novameat, a B2B company specializing in different cuts of plant-based chicken, beef, and turkey, announces it has raised €17.4 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Sofinnova Partners and Forbion via its BioEconomy Fund. Existing investors like Unovis Asset Management, Praesidium, and Rubio Impact Ventures also reinvested, betting on the company’s realistic alternatives to meat. The new capital will allow Novameat to expand its product range, including the launch of a new, improved shredded plant-based beef product — Shredded Nova-b*ef — on September 16th. The funds will also help boost commercial activities in new regions and scale production using its proprietary MicroForce technology. Giuseppe Scionti, CEO and founder of Novameat, commented, “This funding marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we …

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BeanStalk Foods, a new plant-based meat brand inspired by Beyond Meat, Moving Mountains, and Heura, is entering the European market with a wide range of plant-based meat products.

Image courtesy of BeanStalk Foods
Products & Launches

New Plant-Based Meat Brand ‘BeanStalk’ Enters European Market with Diverse Range from Burgers to Pastrami

BeanStalk Foods, a new plant-based meat brand inspired by Beyond Meat, Moving Mountains, and Heura, is entering the European market with a wide range of plant-based meat products that the company describes as delicious and high-quality alternatives to animal proteins. Supported by a large international business group with operations in Madrid and Barcelona, a production facility near Shanghai, China, and a sister company in New York to market its products in North America, the company presents itself as a global entity producing and distributing high-quality plant-based meat. After a year of product development and adhering to European regulations, its portfolio includes traditional items like hamburgers and meatballs and less common options such as pastrami, breaded calamari, and pulled meat. It also offers salami and chorizo …

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Heura Fish in wrap

Image courtesy of Heura
Protein

Catalonia’s Alternative Protein Sector on the Rise with €269 Million in Revenue

A recent report on the alternative protein sector in Catalonia by the public agency Catalonia Trade & Investment reveals that the industry comprises 103 companies employing nearly 1,000 people and collectively generating €269 million in revenue. With a global market projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, the report says Catalonia is well-placed to capitalize on this immense opportunity with its community of food innovators, from small startups to established meat and dairy companies to ingredient suppliers. The authors note that despite recent economic uncertainties, the outlook for the plant-based sector remains positive due to sustained consumer demand, growth in emerging markets, and innovative product improvements. “In 2023, the market revenue generated by meat substitutes (plant-based meat) in the European Union (EU-27) amounted to about US$ 1.96 …

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Cargill to compete with plant-based companies

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Protein

Cargill Seeks Profitability with Business Split and Alternative Protein Focus

US agribusiness giant Cargill reportedly plans to split its business into three operating units instead of the current five: Food, Ag & Trading, and a Specialised Portfolio focused on animal nutrition and health. According to Reuters, Cargill and other agricultural merchants are facing financial and operational difficulties due to commodity crop prices approaching four-year lows, resulting in fallen crop processing margins and squeezing Cargill’s profit margins. Alternative protein focus Cargill, the world’s third-largest meat producer, has been active in the plant-based and alternative protein space for several years. In addition to offering a portfolio of plant-based protein ingredients, fibers, texturizers, plant-based oils, and fats, the company invests in companies developing sustainable food solutions. Over the past few years, the Minnesota-based firm has invested in various …

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Frías Nutrición

© Frías Nutrición
Investments & Acquisitions

Refresco to Acquire Private Label Plant-Based Milk Manufacturer Frías Nutrición

Global beverage solutions provider Refresco has announced an agreement to acquire private-label plant-based milk manufacturer Frías Nutrición from Alantra Private Equity and the Frías founding family. Based in Spain, Frías produces milk alternatives made from oats, soy, almond, rice, hazelnut, and coconut. The company’s facility in Burgos employs around 250 people, supplying products to major retailers in Spain and beyond. The transaction is expected to close later this year, but will be subject to regulatory approval. The financial terms have not been disclosed. Refresco is currently best known for offering products such as juices, carbonated soft drinks, and mineral water. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and has production facilities in Europe, North America, and Australia. Through the acquisition, Refresco hopes to strengthen …

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GALY banner

© GALY
Investments & Finance

Inditex, Owner of Fashion House Zara, Invests in GALY’s Cultivated Cotton from Plant Cells

Spanish multinational clothing company Inditex, owner of Zara and Massimo Dutti, among other fashion brands, has announced a minority stake investment (the sum has not been disclosed) in GALY, a Brazilian and US biotech producing cultivated cotton from plant cells. GALY was founded in 2019 by Luciano Bueno, a former Deloitte executive. The startup has raised over $33.5 million from notable investors such as Sam Altman, former president of Y Combinator and current CEO of OpenAI, John Doerr from VC Kleiner Perkins, and investment funds such as Material Impact, Agronomics, and Brinc. According to Reuters, Inditex CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras says the move aligns with the company’s goal of using 25% new-generation materials by 2030. Inditex has already invested in the sustainable material companies Findland’s Infinite …

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Vanetta Food team

© Vanetta Food
Investments & Finance

Spanish Foodtech Vanetta Food Closes  €400,000 Finance Round

Vanetta Food, a Spanish startup based in Galicia and dedicated to the foodtech sector, has closed an investment round of €400,000. Of the funding received, €200,000 came from the direct capital increase by mostly Galician business angels, such as Emilio Froján, María Souto and Fernando Orejón, among others. In addition, ENISA has pre-approved a loan of €150,000 and €50,000 from various grants from the Xunta de Galicia. The financing, which has been obtained in a record period thanks to the impact of the brand and the good acceptance by consumers, aims to consolidate the launch of the company in the Spanish national territory. A fast-growing company Vanetta Food was founded in 2023, developing the first plant-based factory in Galicia for products based on traditional vegetable …

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Awevo Foods, a Spanish plant-based eggs startup based in Madrid, has launched Awevo liquid eggs in two formats, 400 ml and 1000 ml.

© Awevo Foods
Products & Launches

Spanish Startup Awevo Cracks the Plant-Based EGGsperience with Potato Proteins, Launches First Product

Awevo Foods, (huevo being the Spanish word for egg, so pronunciation here being a-huevo) a Spanish plant-based egg startup based in Madrid, has launched its first product for the food service & hospitality sector (canal HORECA) and retail: Awevo liquid eggs in 400 and 1000 ml formats. Awevo’s plant-based eggs are said to be indistinguishable from conventional eggs, providing the same taste, texture, and appearance as their animal counterparts. Made primarily from potato protein, they contain neither cholesterol nor saturated fats. Described as versatile, they can be used to make scrambled eggs, omelets, cakes, and other dishes that traditionally require eggs. “They will challenge all your senses,” says the company on its website. A pipeline of egg products The startup has also unveiled Awevo Clara, …

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Spain’s MOA Foodtech, a B2B platform for alternative proteins and sustainable ingredients, announces the closure of a series A funding round led by the Dutch venture capital firm ICOS Capital.

Image courtesy of MOA Foodtech
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

MOA Foodtech Raises Funds to Scale AI-Driven Production of Highly Nutritious Microbial Proteins

Spain’s MOA Foodtech, a B2B platform for alternative proteins and sustainable ingredients, announces the closure of a Series A funding round led by the Dutch venture capital firm ICOS Capital. Notable investors ClaveMayor, Viscofan, SODENA, and Banco Sabadell also participated. Founded in 2021 in Pamplona, Navarra by Susana Sánchez (CSO), José María Elorza (CFO), and Bosco Emparanza (CEO), MOA Foodtech leverages precision fermentation, agrifood side streams, and AI to discover and deliver carbon-efficient microbial proteins and functional ingredients for the F&B industry. The financial boost aims to facilitate a comprehensive market launch targeting international customers. To do so, the company will expand its operations, including developing a commercialization strategy, production scale-up, and enhancing its AI platform, aiming to position itself at the forefront of sustainable …

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