Every week, Plant-based Business Expert Elysabeth Alfano breaks down the headlines with her review and analysis in the Plantbased Business Minute. Elysabeth is the founder of Plant Powered Consulting, the host of the Plantbased Business Hour, and the Consulting Managing Director, vegconomist, North America.
Unilever
Unilever Set to Surpass a €Billion in Yearly Plant-Based Sales in 5-7 years
According to media reports, Unilever has announced that it intends to generate over a billion euros in annual sales in the plant-based sector over the next 5-7 years. The company’s brands Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Hellman’s mayonnaise, Magnum ice cream and The Vegetarian Butcher are set to contribute to this growth.
The Vegetarian Butcher Enters Spain as Spanish Market Continues to Grow
Unilever will launch the meat alternatives from The Vegetarian Butcher, to the following supermarkets: El Corte Inglés, La Sirena, Esclat, and Bon Preu, although they will also be available through Amazon Prime Now and through the Glovo home delivery application.
The Vegetarian Butcher: Whopper in Netherlands, Nuggets in Germany & Upcoming Hong Kong Trial
Dutch plant meat brand The Vegetarian Butcher, a subsidiary of Unilever, has had a busy month. It will supply Burger King with a Plant-based Whopper in the Netherlands, has already begun with its plant chicken nuggets in Germany, and will begin a month-long trial with seven Hong Kong locations also this month.
Unilever Partners With Algenuity to Explore Algae as a Source of Protein for Future Foods
Plant-based products make up about a third of Unilever‘s portfolio and the company is aiming to demonstrate that it is focused on the global transition to sustainable proteins. We reported yesterday that Unilever has pioneer status accredited by the FAIRR Initiative, for its commitment to shifting its food portfolios away from animal-based.
New Report: “Protein Transition Has Gone Mainstream” as Investments in Plant Protein Hit $1.1Bn in 2020
A new report from the FAIRR Initiative states that “2020 is set to be a watershed in the shift from animal proteins towards plant-based and new protein sources. The protein transition has gone mainstream,” stating that investments in plant-based proteins have already reached $1.1bn in the first half of 2020, almost double that of 2019.
The Vegetarian Butcher Applies to German Meat Associations to Help Shape Future of Meat Industry
Dutch brand The Vegetarian Butcher, a subsidiary of Unilever, announces it is applying for membership in two traditional German meat associations, stating its intentions to become the largest plant-based butcher in the world.
Vegetarian Butcher Founders to Transform Dairy with New Brand Those Vegan Cowboys
Jaap Korteweg and Niko Koffeman, founders of Dutch meat alternatives brand The Vegetarian Butcher, have announced that they will turn their attention to developing dairy alternatives. Their new company, Those Vegan Cowboys, seeks to make dairy products without the “unnecessarily painful” use of cows.
Magnum Ice Cream Introduces Non-Dairy Sea Salt Caramel Bars
Unilever‘s ice cream brand Magnum announces the release of Magnum Non-Dairy Sea Salt Caramel Bars. Joining Classic and Almond varieties, Magnum Non-Dairy Sea Salt Caramel Bars apparantly deliver “indulgent taste with a non-dairy sea salt caramel base dipped in a cracking non-dairy chocolate shell.”
LikeMeat: “With LiveKindly Co., Like Meat Becomes Part of a Large Family of Brands”
Following this morning’s news that plantbased consumer platform LIVEKINDLY has been acquired by Foods United, which has now been renamed as LIVEKINDLY Co / TLKC, we speak exclusively with Timo Recker, CEO of Like Meat – a German meat alternative brand which was purchased by the newly formed group as its first aquisition last month.
Global Food Brand Foods United Inc. Acquires LIVEKINDLY
It has been announced today that plantbased consumer platform LIVEKINDLY has been taken over by Foods United, a subsidiary of the Swiss investor Blue Horizon, which also recently acquired a majority stake in the German meat alternative brand Like Meat.
Geltor Names Former Unilever Executive Gina Boswell To Board Of Directors
Geltor, Inc. today announces the appointment of consumer goods industry veteran and former Unilever executive Gina Boswell to its Board of Directors. At Unilever, she led the business delivery of $10B in revenue across all categories in the US, including skincare, haircare, food, and beverage.
Burger King’s Plant-Based Rebel Burger Now Available in 2,500 Locations Across Europe
Burger King today announces the Europe-wide rollout of the Rebel Whopper across Europe in what Bloomberg has termed “one of the largest product launches in its history” with the first large-scale restaurant partnership for The Vegetarian Butcher, a Unilever subsidiary, which will produce the plantbased burger.
Upfield Acquires Arivia / Violife to Form One of the Largest Plant-Based Manufacturers in the World
Last week’s speculations have now been confirmed: Upfield Group B.V., the global leader of plant-based butter and spreads today announced it has entered into a share purchase agreement with Arivia S.A, leader in the plant-based cheese category, and owner of brand VIOLIFE.