Dr Arne Ewerbeck, The Raging Pig Co

Dr Arne Ewerbeck, ©The Raging Pig Co

veg+ Interviews

The Raging Pig Co: “On a Mission to Remove 1.5 Billion Pigs From Our Global Food System”

When it comes to bold, eye-catching branding, Hamburg-based Raging Pig Co is right there in your face. Along with its cocky tagline, “The pig-less bacon that even your dad will love,” Raging Pig is impossible to ignore. And who can resist the idea of “mouthwatering pigless bacon”? On a mission to eliminate pigs from the food system, Raging Pig was co-founded by Constantin Klass and Dr. Arne Ewerbeck, who set out in 2021 on “an exciting journey to merge the power of bacon, foodtech, and pop culture to drive the positive change our world needed yesterday”. We spoke with Dr Arne who told us about the importance of branding and messaging, two recent NPDs, and some “secret” products set to follow. Also, the world’s largest …

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The Vegetarian Butcher Vegan Bacon NoBacon 2.0

Image courtesy of Unilever

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Unilever’s Vegetarian Butcher Unveils New Vegan Bacon With Patented Fat Technology

Following Unilever’s recent announcement that it aims to achieve €1.5 billion in sales from plant-based products by 2025, the multinational contacts vegconomist with news that its plant-based meat brand The Vegetarian Butcher has launched plant-based bacon, “NoBacon 2.0”, which it says features a new patented fat tissue technology that mimics the same texture, oil release and translucency of real bacon. Unilever states that its food scientists have focused on using plant oils to deliver plant-based bacon that is crispier, juicier, and has 20x more fat release meaning the product can be fried without the need for additional oil. Like the original NoBacon product, this new iteration is made from soy and wheat protein. Unilever claims that the new bacon is unique in terms of fat, …

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Raging_Pig_Pig_Human

© The Raging Pig Company

Food Service

Raging Pig Launches ‘Raging Bacon’ at German Burger Chain Vincent Vegan

The Raging Pig Company announces the launch of its ‘Raging Bacon’ at Germany’s largest vegan burger chain, Vincent Vegan. The team at Raging Pig has developed an innovative production process that, among other things, harnesses side streams from the food industry. With this innovative product, the company aims to meet the growing demand for plant-based alternatives to animal products and offer authentic alternatives to traditional animal bacon. After working with selected local restaurant partners in Hamburg, the company is now taking the next steps in expansion as its vegan bacon rolls out at Vincent Vegan in all restaurants across Germany. Topi Rohde, co-Founder of Vincent Vegan, says of the new collaboration, “We’ve been searching for a long time for a plant-based bacon alternative that deserves …

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Libre Foods bacon

© Libre Foods

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Libre Foods Launches “EU’s First” Mushroom Bacon in Spanish Restaurants

Spain’s Libre Foods has unveiled a bacon alternative made from mushrooms. According to the startup, the product is the first of its kind to launch in the European Union. The bacon is said to be made entirely from natural ingredients, with 70% less fat, 52% fewer calories, and 18% less salt than pork bacon. It will initially launch at burger restaurants in the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia. Positive feedback While other companies have developed bacon alternatives made from mycelium (the root structure of fungi), Libre’s bacon is made from the mushroom itself, ie the fruiting body of the fungus. The product has already been showcased at Vegan Women Summit and the New Food Conference, where feedback has been extremely positive. “There’s something …

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Wheaty's vegan meat b

© Wheaty

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Wheaty “Redefines the Vegan Sausage” in Celebration of 30th Anniversary

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the pioneering vegan meat brand Wheaty has announced new NPDs — two bratwurst-style sausages — that will be unveiled at BIOFACH 2023 this February in Nuremberg, Germany. “Two upcoming Wheaty products redefine the vegan sausage – again,” declares the German brand. “These two products set themselves apart from legacy vegan sausages through an incredible taste, unmatched juiciness, and an edible vegan peel that can be fried in the pan along with the sausage,” says Wheaty. Europe’s alt meat pioneer The Wheaty brand was developed by TOPAS, a European pioneer in the alt meat space, offering meat and sausages made with organic wheat protein, founded by Klaus Gaiser way back in 1993. According to Wheaty, the brand’s commitment to following EU …

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MyBacon package

©MyForest Foods

Company News

MyForest Foods Triples MyBacon Availability, Grows Production and Prepares to Launch First Jerky

Mycelium innovator MyForest Foods Co. announces a series of major growth milestones, including the expanded availability of its flagship MyBacon and the launch of its second product, MyJerky, later this year. The company also reveals new progress in mycelium production and growing its R&D team. MyBacon, MyForest’s best-selling mycelium bacon product, is now available at 32 retailer and foodservice locations across New York and Massachusetts. The news follows MyBacon’s initial debut in New York City with two retail partners in November 2022. The current list of partners includes: A Matter of Health (Upper East Side), Amish Market (East Village), Brooklyn Fare (West Village), Elm Wellness (Greenwich Village), Food For Health (Upper East Side) and Garden Gourmet (The Bronx).  In addition, MyForest announces it is entering …

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Veggie Grill Bacon Cup

©Veggie Grill

Gastronomy & Food Service

Hooray Foods’ Crispy Vegan Bacon Now Served at All Veggie Grill Locations

Alt-bacon brand Hooray Foods announces its innovative plant-based bacon is now available at Veggie Grill – the world’s leading fast-casual vegan restaurant chain. The bacon can now be ordered at all of Veggie Grill’s 35 US locations. Veggie Grill is featuring the crispy bacon – made from rice flour, pea starch and coconut oil – in a signature vegan BLT Avocado Croissant, with romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, Dijonnaise, and mashed avocado on a croissant roll. The bacon is also available as an add-on to a variety of other menu items, such as salads, sandwiches, and sides. “It’s a huge win for us to be able to bring Hooray bacon to a family of restaurants that share our commitment to offering delicious and sustainable plant-based options,” …

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Hooray Foods Improved AWESOME Bacon

©Hooray Foods

Investments & Finance

Hooray Foods Opens First-Ever WeFunder Campaign to Reach Price Parity with Animal Bacon

Plant-based meat innovator Hooray Foods announces the launch of its first WeFunder equity crowdfunding campaign. Officially opening Jan. 25th, Hoorays says the Community Round gives its customers and fans an opportunity to invest for as little as $100 in exchange for company equity and product perks. Ahead of the public launch, the brand says its campaign preview is now live for the company’s biggest supporters.  Wefunder is a platform that allows the general public to invest in pre-IPO startups alongside venture capitalists. Upon reaching this Community Round’s goal of securing $500,000, Hooray says it plans to expand distribution for its innovative plant-based bacon. The company will also increase research and development efforts to help it fill the market gap for indulgent plant-based meats. Achieving price …

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Y'All Vegan Jerky Products

©Y'alls Foods

Company News

Plant Jerky Brand All Y’alls Foods Reports 100% Year-Over-Year Sales Growth

Plant protein brand All Y’alls Foods announces it has achieved it highest sales month yet, with Amazon sales of its jerky and bacon bits exceeding last year’s totals by 100%.  Based in Texas, All Y’alls sells a range of products including It’s Jerky Y’all and Big Crunchy Bacony Bits. The company states its online sales are experiencing strong growth, especially on Amazon, where year-over-year sales more than doubled in November.   “Amazon has grown into a vital part of All Y’alls sales,” said All Y’alls Foods founder and CEO Brett Christoffel. “The size and reach of the audience, the number of folks seeking what we offer, and the repeat purchases have made it a viable channel that continues to support our growth in the plant-based proteins …

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THIS Isn't Streaky Bacon

© THIS

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

THIS Isn’t Streaky Bacon to Launch in 3,000 UK Supermarkets for Veganuary

UK plant-based meat business THIS launches THIS Isn’t Streaky Bacon which it says offers more hyper-realism than its widely sold THIS Isn’t Bacon, into almost 3,000 Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stores from January. THIS says that the new product has three separate patent applications, including THIS’s plant-based fat, Fat 2.0, made from olive oil, to create a smoky, streaky vegan bacon product which it says will remain succulent when faced with high heat, and even crisp and brown, while offering 17 kcal per rasher. The new product will be made available to UK food service; restaurant group Bill’s has been announced as the first operator to pick up the vegan bacon, which will serve it as part of the Plant Plate, a plant-based Full English …

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La Vie Burger King

© La Vie

Fast Food

La Vie’s Vegan Bacon to Become Permanent Option in Burger King Across the UK

La Vie™ announces it has sealed an exclusive partnership with Burger King UK. The award-winning vegan bacon will roll out across the country from 4th January, to coincide with Veganuary, following massive success at BK’s meat-free popups in Bristol and London this year. The announcement concludes a phenomenal year for the French company, having been named ‘Best Plant-Based Bacon in the UK’ at the Plant Based World Expo last month for the second consecutive year as well as ‘Best Vegan Bacon’ at the PETA UK Vegan Food Awards. La Vie states today that the partnership is part of an ongoing deal to support the chain’s plans to become 50% plant-based by 2030 in the UK. Rollout to help accelerate shift from animal meat Chief Marketing …

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Mycelium MyBacon

©MyForest Foods

Company News

Following Strong Demand, MyForest Foods Expands MyBacon into New York City

Food tech startup MyForest Foods Co. announces its mycelium-based MyBacon is now available in NYC, marking the product’s first foray into a major retail market. MyBacon can now be found at Westerley Natural Market and organic grocery store Elm Wellness in Manhattan and the West Village, respectively.  According to MyForest, the launch results from significant momentum the company has gained since unveiling MyBacon in 2020. In addition to retail, MyForest will expand into food service by offering MyBacon at Herbie’s Burgers, a popular burger chain in Albany, NY.  “Westerly Natural Market is New York’s City’s destination for plant-based, organic and all-natural items and supplements, which serves a diverse customer base with equally diverse preferences,” said Ricardo Nieves, store manager of Westerly Natural Market. “We are …

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Thrilling Bakon

©Thrilling Foods

Company News

Thrilling Foods’ Bakon Receives US Patent for ‘World’s First’ Fat Streaked Plant-Based Bacon

Portland, Oregon food company Thrilling Foods announces it has received a US patent for its novel fatty and lean protein-streaked vegan bacon, known as Bakon. The innovation covers a breakthrough protein structure that releases fat during the cooking process, in much the same way as conventional bacon. The company is also planning to open a third production facility to keep up with soaring demand.  The US patent covers Thrilling’s techniques that harness the genuine flavor and texture of pork bacon, specifically its proprietary use of “protein-bound fat layers” that alternate with ultra-lean meaty layers, and the company’s use of the natural umami flavors found in certain proteins.  These special processes allow the product to render and fry in its own fat, just like traditional pork …

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Meati Mushroom chicken burger

©Meati

Marketing & Media

TIME Names Meati Cutlet, Beyond Steak and MyForest Bacon Among Best Inventions of 2022

TIME Magazine has named plant and fungi-based meat creations from Meati, Beyond Meat and MyForest Foods among its top 200 Inventions of 2022, which selects innovations changing how we live. Best-selling cutlets Made from 95% mycelium, or mushroom roots, Meati’s Crispy Cutlet and Classic Cutlet earned glowing praise for looking and tasting like actual chicken. The Colorado startup has identified a unique strain of mushroom root that provides unparalleled flavor, texture, nutrition and speed of growth. According to Meati, it can transform a fifth of a teaspoon of spores into a full cow’s equivalent of meat in four days. The company also reports its first pre-order event in early 2022 sold out in less than 24 hours, while its most recent product drops sold out …

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Just Salad Hooray Bacon

©Just Salad

Gastronomy & Food Service

US Salad Chain Just Salad Adds Hooray Bacon Bits to 2022 Seasonal Menu

Fast casual chain Just Salad announces it is adding plant-based bacon by Hooray Foods to its Fall 2022 Seasonal Menu. Available in the signature Sweet Mama Salad or as an add-on to any menu item, the bacon will be offered at 60+ Just Salad US locations through Dec. 22nd.  According to the chain, Hooray’s meaty plant-based bacon perfectly complements the ingredients in its autumn-inspired Sweet Mama Salad, which includes baby spinach, sliced apples, and non-vegan white cheddar. Customers can substitute Violife Creamy Vegan Feta in place of the cheddar. Just Salad says the new bacon allows guests to enjoy the flavors of bacon without the negative environmental issues associated with animal agriculture.  Made from simple, non-GMO ingredients, Hooray Foods bacon is allergy-friendly and free from …

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