London

Concepta Ingredients

© Concepta Ingredients
Fairs & Events

Concepta Ingredients to Present Premium Proteins Derived From Sesame at PBWE Europe

Brazil’s Concepta Ingredients, a division of Grupo Sabará specializing in natural food and beverage solutions, has announced its attendance at this year’s Plant Based World Expo Europe. Taking place in London today (November 13) and tomorrow, PBWE Europe brings together numerous important players in the plant-based industry, including retailers, service professionals, and investors. At this year’s event, Concepta Ingredients will showcase its Arboreto Premium Protein range. One of the highlights of the range is PRO 1000G, a protein asset derived from the extraction process of sesame oil. The product is said to be rich in protein, fiber, and calcium, and a source of essential amino acids. The range also includes PRO 1000GB, which combines sesame with the Amazonian ingredient babaçu. According to Concepta Ingredients, the …

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Cardholders made with the biomaterial new grain.

Image courtesy of Arda Biomaterials
Materials

Arda Biomaterials & Beavertown Brewery Introduce “First-of-its-Kind” Spent Barley Grain Cardholders

UK upcycled materials startup Arda Biomaterials continues to work on introducing its animal- and plastic-free material New Grain — developed from spent grain from breweries — to the public. Following a partnership with the sustainable brand BEEN London, Arda announces today a collection of sustainable fashion accessories crafted with New Grain, developed using spent brewery barley grain from London’s iconic craft beer producer Beavertown Brewery. TJ Mitchell, CTO of Arda Biomaterials, shares: “This partnership is a perfect example of how we can be fast-movers in supporting local supply chains and contributing to a circular economy, all while offering consumers unique products directly linked to their favourite breweries and distilleries, such as Beavertown.” Cardholders from your favorite beer The collection’s first product is a limited edition …

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Image courtesy of Arda Biomaterials
Leather Alternatives

Animal-Free Snakeskin Handbag Marks Debut from Upcycled Arda Biomaterials & BEEN London in a Benchmark for Fashion

UK upcycled materials startup Arda Biomaterials and sustainable brand BEEN London announce the launch of their first product: a snakeskin-type handbag crafted with an animal- and plastic-free leather-like material called New Grain. Arda’s New Grain, described as an extraordinary next-generation material, is developed from spent grain from breweries, sourced locally from London’s Bermondsey Beer Mile — once a leather tanning district. This launch marks New Grain’s first use of an external product, paving the way for its commercial scalability. The handbag, a version of BEEN’s bestselling MILLAIS bag, will be part of a future collection that includes wallets, laptop cases, and more bag styles. Genia Mineeva, the founder of BEEN London, emphasised the partnership’s role in pioneering sustainable fashion. She added, “As a brand making premium …

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Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein established at Imperial College London

© Imperial College London
Science

Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein Opens at Imperial College London, Will Receive $30M in Funding

The Bezos Earth Fund has announced the launch of a new Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London. The Center will span seven academic departments, focusing on the development and commercialization of sustainable, affordable, nutritious, and tasty alternative food products. This will include research into cultivated meat, precision fermentation, AI, machine learning, nutrition, bioprocessing, and automation. Engineering biology and biofoundries (where cells effectively become mini factories) will be used to develop and scale up new bio-based processes. The Center will also encompass several institutes and facilities, including the Center for Synthetic Biology, the Center for Translational Nutrition & Food Research, and SynbiCITE (the UK’s industrial translation center for synthetic biology). These institutes will help with education, translating discoveries into real-world applications, and commercialization. …

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La Vie plant-based ham campaign

© La Vie
Marketing & Media

La Vie “Turns London Pink” With New OOH Campaign Celebrating Its Plant-Based Ham

French brand La Vie is celebrating the success of its plant-based ham with a new OOH advertising campaign in “one of the UK’s most ham-centric cities”, London. La Vie’s ham alternative arrived at Tesco and Ocado earlier this year, and is now one of the top three plant-based ham brands sold at Tesco. The product also recently launched at Waitrose stores UK-wide. To mark this success, some of London’s famous black cabs have been turned pink with the message “Take me to BuckingPlant-Basedham Palace”. Additionally, billboards have appeared around the UK with messages such as “For those who love animals, the planet and kids having a future but can’t give up ham sandwiches”. The aim is to ignite conversations about the significance of plant-based meat …

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Michael and Nadina with their mugs and Milky Plant

© Milky Plant

Company News

Milky Plant Reports 400% YOY Growth, Expects £10M Turnover in 3rd Year of Business

London-based Milky Plant, creator of what the company describes as “the only true appliance that can make plant-based milk in the UK”, was founded during lockdown by Nadina Grigoras, originally from Moldova, and Michael Kalu, originally from Nigeria, with a budget of just £500. While other appliances “claim” to make plant-based milk at home, according to Milky Plant, other machines available on the market do not provide the same functionality, operating more like extra fine blenders, not separating the leftover pulp from the milk. With Milky Plant, users can easily create their choice of plant milks, from buckwheat, oat, rice, macadamia, or more adventurous blends like blueberry quinoa, in the luxury of their home. An impressive list of achievements In the space of just a …

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Vegandale touring vegan experience

© Vegandale
Fairs & Events

“World’s Largest Touring Vegan Experience” Vegandale Expands to the UK

Vegandale, the North American festival described as the world’s largest touring vegan experience, is expanding to the UK in 2024. The festival has announced a London event at Clapham Common from July 13-14, and a Manchester event on July 6 (location to be announced). Additionally, there will be an event in Philadelphia this year, adding to the six existing North American locations — New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas. Vegandale features a range of musical performances, with last year’s headlining acts including Rick Ross, Coi Leray, and DJ Khaled. London artists are expected to be announced next month. A diverse range of food, beverage, and lifestyle options will also be available, with the London and Manchester events featuring both local food and …

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Keith Lesser, Vegan Accountants

Keith Lesser Vegan Accountants
Interviews

Vegan Accountants: “Building a Vegan Team is a Great Way to Ensure Retention and Compatibility with Values”

Vegan Accountants, based in East London, serves the unique needs of ethical and plant-based businesses in the UK, having pivoted around five years ago to a purely vegan business model when partner Keith Lesser became increasingly focused on the vegan lifestyle, wanting to work with mission-aligned founders in the space. Recognising the distinct financial and ethical considerations of vegan businesses, Vegan Accountants offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to support businesses in navigating the complex landscape of sustainability-focused finance. With a commitment to promoting ethical business practices, the firm offers expertise in tax, accounting, and financial planning to empower clients ranging from startups to established enterprises. What advice can you give to businesses looking to incorporate ethical practices into their financial management? To be …

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Spacegoods products

© Spacegoods

Investments & Finance

Functional Mushroom Brand Spacegoods Raises £2.5M to Solidify Leadership Position in UK & Europe

Spacegoods, a London-based wellness brand specialising in functional mushrooms and nootropics, announces it has secured £2.5M in a seed round led by FoodTech specialist venture capital firm Five Seasons Ventures, with participation from Redrice Ventures, Slingshot Ventures, and G-FUND. Combining adaptogen mushrooms with nootropics such as ashwagandha and lion’s mane, the products are available in a chocolate flavour and are all vegan, cruelty-free, and can be enjoyed with water or milk or added to teas or protein shakes. The company states It has gained significant momentum since its foundation in 2021, gaining impressive growth primarily through DTC sales, and says it has achieved a strong position in the UK as well as in the Netherlands and Germany. The capital will enable Spacegoods to solidify its …

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© Neat
Fast Food

Neat Burger Announces Rebrand to “Neat” with New Look and Focus on Fresh, Healthy Ingredients

Plant-based fast food concept Neat Burger has announced that it will rebrand to Neat, rolling out a new menu featuring “brighter, healthier and fresher” ingredients. The rebrand is a response to customer feedback and will feature a new look and feel at physical locations, along with the removal of self-service tablets in favor of more interactive customer service. In terms of menu offerings, the change will cater to growing consumer preferences for natural, whole food plant-based meals. The new concept was soft-launched at Neat Victoria and Neat Soho yesterday, February 12, and will officially open at these locations, along with Neat Camden, on February 19. Neat Wembley, along with the chain’s international locations in New York City and Milan, will follow later in the year. …

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© Future Food Systems

Fairs & Events

London’s Spitalfields to Host Future Food Systems 2024: Igniting Innovation

Independent Forums brings Future Food Systems 2024: Igniting Innovation to London for a third year on Thursday 1st February. Taking place at Fora Spitalfields, the event will feature speakers from Nestlé, PepsiCo, Mars, Kellanova, Diageo, Kraft Heinz Company, and Nomad Foods. Future Food System states that the event, which is sponsored by V-Label, will gather stakeholders from the food and beverage sector to discuss how the industry can harness innovation, technology, and financial models to improve the current food system. The 2024 event theme is Igniting Innovation, and sessions include: Unlocking Innovation in the Value Chain: A Systems Approach Realising the Full Potential of Regenerative Agriculture Solving the Protein Puzzle Changing Consumer Habits: Health, Nutrition & Innovation “I’m excited to announce the latest developments for …

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Le Cordon Bleu Plant-Based Culinary Arts Diplomas

© Le Cordon Bleu
Society

Le Cordon Bleu London Introduces Two Plant-Based Culinary Arts Diplomas

Le Cordon Bleu, the international network of hospitality and culinary institutes teaching French haute cuisine, will begin offering two new plant-based culinary arts diplomas in London. The institute introduced its first Plant-Based Culinary Arts qualification in 2019, but has now added two new plant-based courses — Cuisine and Patisserie — in response to the growing demand for vegan and vegetarian food. The three-month diplomas are open to students of all levels, with no prior culinary experience required. The Cuisine course will explore the flavours and textures of minimally processed whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes, looking at how they can be used in global cuisines. Students will learn fundamental skills such as how to prepare stocks and sauces, along with techniques …

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Neat Burger to close four London locations

© Neat Burger
Fast Food

Neat Burger to Close Four London Locations Following Decrease in Footfall

UK-based vegan restaurant chain Neat Burger has announced it will be closing four of its London locations due to “macro pressures reflected across the industry”. The company said the shift towards remote and hybrid working patterns had reduced footfall, while rising food, energy, and property costs were also negatively impacting sales. Neat Burger’s losses increased by 140% last year, reaching £7.9 million. Consequently, the chain’s restaurants in Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf, Oxford Street, and Westfield Stratford will close before Christmas, leaving four remaining locations. Neat Burger says any future expansion will focus on compact, high-footfall locations, and has dropped plans for new sites in Kings Road, Waterloo, Queensway, and the O2 Arena. The chain will also work to expand its delivery radius in partnership with …

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Plant Based World Expo Europe

© Plant Based World Expo Europe
Fairs & Events

Plant Based World Expo Europe Welcomes Over 3,700 Attendees From 25 Countries

Plant Based World Expo Europe — the continent’s largest fully plant-based trade event — took place in London for the third time from November 15-16. This year’s event saw over 3,700 attendees from more than 25 countries, including representatives from food service, retail, and the wider food and beverage sector. Notable attendees included senior decision makers from major companies such as Sodexo and Nestle, as well as university academics, government advisors, and research leads from ProVeg and Plant Futures. Exhibitors such as Upfield highlighted the environmentally friendly credentials of their foods, while others demonstrated products made from vegetables and whole foods — a growing trend as consumers look for less processed and more nutritious options. Meanwhile, plant-based pizzeria Purezza announced its merger with artisan vegan …

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vegan business conference organisers Lisa and David

© Vegan Business Tribe
Fairs & Events

Vegan Business Tribe Live Returns to VegFestUK London with “Rockstar” Speaker Lineup

After a hugely successful premiere in 2022, Vegan Business Tribe Live returns to VegFestUK London 2023 with a speaker lineup of vegan business owners, including the founders of THIS, One Planet Pizza, and Better Nature. Organised by the online vegan business support community Vegan Business Tribe and sponsored by Vegan Accountants, the programme features live events, panels, workshops, and networking to “showcase the best of the vegan scene and help those looking to grow a vegan business.” “I attended the first Vegan Business Tribe Live last year with some ideas about setting up my own business. A year on, I’m now running an award-winning food business in Bristol and am already expanding. The information I learned at the event was crucial for getting me off …

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Lambeth borough endorses the Plant Based Treaty

© Plant Based Treaty
Charity & Campaigns

Lambeth Becomes First London Borough to Endorse Global Plant Based Treaty

Lambeth has become the first borough of London, UK, to endorse the global Plant Based Treaty in an attempt to cut food-related emissions. As part of the endorsement, Lambeth Council has pledged to improve access to plant-based foods among residents, with the aim of promoting food security and better health as well as lower emissions. Vulnerable households will receive vouchers to buy fresh local produce, while fruit and vegetable intake will be promoted to children through school activities. The council will also measure its food-related emissions and work to reduce them; this will include lowering the consumption of animal products at council-run events. Businesses that prioritise sustainable agriculture practices and food procurement will be supported, while council communications channels will be used to promote sustainable …

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PBWE Europe

© PBWE Europe
Fairs & Events

PBWE Europe Reveals Plant-Based 2.0 Trends, Highlights The UK’s Long-Term Growth

Ahead of the upcoming event and its return to London next month, Plant Based World Expo Europe (PBWE Europe), the largest 100% plant-based trade event in the region, provides insights on the present and future of the sector and unveils its predictions on food trends for what it calls the plant-based 2.0 industry. PBWE Europe says it projects long-term growth for the UK’s plant-based food industry, with the market growing by 9.58% and London being “officially” the most vegan-friendly city in the world, according to the organisers. The UK’s growth is framed under the global plant-based food market, expected to reach $115.3 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of 16.5%. Mirroring the market, PPBWE Europe says it is also experiencing growth and preparing …

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Mike Hill of veg-net

Mike Hill. Image supplied.
Fairs & Events

New Plant-Based Brand Event veg-net Sees “Unprecedented Demand”

veg-net, a new in-person event that will connect plant-based brands with buyers and experts, says it is seeing huge demand and support from the industry. Several leading plant-based organisations — including Veg Capital, Kale United, The Vegan Society, ProVeg International, and Vegan Business Tribe — have already come on board as strategic partners of the event, which will take place for the first time on June 5 next year. “As ProVeg, we are thrilled to support and attend the inaugural veg-net networking event set for June 2024,” said Mathilde Alexandre of ProVeg International. “In these dynamic and transformative times, it is paramount to foster events that unite the entire plant-based sector, bringing together brands, buyers, and industry organizations. This event presents a unique opportunity for …

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Colourful plant-based signage at PBWE 2022

© Plant Based World Expo Europe
Fairs & Events

PBWE Europe Reveals Lineup for November Including Veganuary Film Premiere

Plant Based World Expo Europe reveals the conference lineup for the Plant Based World Pulse Theatre, taking place at ExCeL London on 15th and 16th November 2023. Excitingly, PBWE, the largest 100% plant-based trade event in Europe, is set to feature the UK film premiere of “It’ll Never Catch On: The Veganuary Story 10 Years On” (Nov 16, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm), a short film marking a decade of the world-famous vegan movement. The viewing will be followed by a Q&A session with the charity’s founders Jane Land and Matthew Glover. Leadership addresses and panels The theatre will bring together academics, regulatory advisors, thought leaders, and industry organisations, discussing the collective challenges affecting the UK’s vegan food industry and strategies to plan and implement …

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© En Root/The Railway Tavern
Food Service

South London’s The Railway Tavern Becomes Latest Pub to Go Permanently Vegan

Following the sad closure of many vegan restaurants due to rising costs, there has been some good news this month as London’s The Railway Tavern confirms it is becoming permanently plant-based. For the past three months, the Tulse Hill pub has been hosting a popup by En Root, a London restaurant group offering Indian-inspired vegan cuisine. The collaboration has proven such a success that En Root has permanently taken over The Railway Tavern’s kitchen, making it South London’s first fully plant-based pub. The menu features dishes such as crispy oyster mushroom burgers, Tandoori wings with chickpea batter, and a poppadom-based nacho-style dish. Desserts include mango lassi cheesecake and beetroot blueberry cacao brownies, while on Sundays a plant-based wellington is available. All drinks are also plant-based. …

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