Bacon Archives - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

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

February 14, 2023

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 …

Organisations and Brands:Libre Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

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

February 7, 2023

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 …

Organisations and Brands:TOPAS Wheaty

©MyForest Foods

Company News

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

February 1, 2023February 1, 2023

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 …

Organisations and Brands:MyBacon MyForest Foods MyJerky Whitecrest Mushrooms

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

January 31, 2023

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,” …

Organisations and Brands:Hooray Foods Veggie Grill

©Hooray Foods

Investments & Finance

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

January 18, 2023

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 …

Organisations and Brands:Hooray Foods WeFunder

©Y'alls Foods

Company News

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

December 16, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:All Y'alls Foods Amazon

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

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

December 16, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:THIS

Fast Food

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

December 21, 2022December 15, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:Burger King La Vie

©MyForest Foods

Company News

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

November 18, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:MyForest Foods

©Thrilling Foods

Company News

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

March 11, 2023November 11, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:Thrilling Foods

©Meati

Marketing & Media

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

November 11, 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 …

Organisations and Brands:Beyond Meat Meati MyForest Foods

©Just Salad

Gastronomy & Food Service

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

October 27, 2022October 27, 2022

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 …

Organisations and Brands:Hooray Foods Just Salad

Oscar Mayer / Kraft Heinz

Marketing & Media

Oscar Mayer Invites Americans to Abstain From Bacon on World Vegan Day

October 26, 2022

Oscar Mayer, a US brand belonging to Kraft Heinz and famous for its processed meats, has launched a PR campaign called “BacOFF,” inviting Americans to quit bacon for World Vegan Day on Nov 1st. And the prize? A lifetime of free bacon. Yep. Animal bacon. The Chicago based meat producer known for its cold cuts, hot dogs, bologna, bacon, ham, and Lunchables products, claims that 63% of vegans wish they could eat bacon and 56% of vegans admit that the taste of animal bacon is tempting to them. The brand claims it will help to “reduce temptation and do its part by removing all bacon from paid media, and censoring, blurring and removing bacon from its social media”, and as part of the campaign, fans …

Organisations and Brands:Kraft Heinz

Company News

La Vie Celebrates 12 Months of Incredible Success in France and Beyond

October 5, 2022

French startup La Vie, well known for its next generation plant-based pork products, this week celebrates a year of successful operations, from record fundraising, multiple awards and successful partnerships with restaurant chains in France and throughout Europe. Yesterday La Vie announced the launch of celebrations on its social networks, reaffirming its mission: to bring together all consumers with its healthier, more sustainable and pleasure-filled alternatives to intensive farming. Here we list the startup’s incredible achievements over the past year. October 4, 2021: Official launch of La Vie™ at the SIRHA in Lyon, after 3 years of R&D and more than 5,000 recipe trials. October 2021: Plant-based lardons climb to the top of the podium at the Plant Food Trophies. Prior to this victory, La Vie …

Organisations and Brands:La Vie

Gastronomy & Food Service

5 US Coffee Chains Embracing 100% Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwiches

September 30, 2022

While coffee giants like Dunkin’, Starbucks and Tim Hortons have gradually adopted more vegan-friendly options in recent years, such items have largely been limited to dairy-free milks and the occasional plant-based sausage. Now, a growing number of smaller US chains are taking the initiative to offer consumers fully vegan versions of breakfast favorites, including bacon, sausage, eggs and cheese. Here we present some of the most notable names leading this trend: 1. Peet’s Coffee Peet’s, which operates over 200 locations in 11 states, first introduced the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich as a limited-time offering in early 2021. But the item, which features a Beyond Sausage with folded JUST Egg and melted vegan cheddar, was so phenomenally successful the chain added it back permanently one year later. …

Organisations and Brands:Alfred Peet's

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers