Beyond Meat and Wendy’s Georgia announce the launch of a new plant-based meat burger, the Wendy’s Plant Burger in all 19 Wendy’s locations across Georgia.
Food Service

Beyond Meat Continues to Expand in Europe with Launch of Wendy’s Plant Burger in Georgia

Beyond Meat and Wendy’s Georgia announce the launch of a new plant-based meat burger — the Wendy’s Plant Burger — in all 19 Wendy’s locations across Georgia. The collaboration targets the growing demand for meat-free options in the country and marks a further step in the company’s expansion across Europe, where plant-based food sales have been rising, signaling an interest in sustainable alternatives to animal products. The company’s presence on the continent remains strong, with new products launching through retail and food service in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Austria, the Baltics, and Malta. Just last month, McPlant Nuggets made with Beyond Meat’s chicken rolled out to over 1,500 McDonald’s locations across France. “We’re proud to be partnering with Wendy’s …

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A photo of a Odd Burger restaurant

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Investments & Finance

Odd Burger Opens $4M Round to Fuel Vegan Fast Food Expansion Following Strong Q3 Results

Odd Burger Corporation, the company behind the vegan fast food chain Odd Burger, has announced a non-brokered private placement to raise up to $4 million via convertible debentures. As explained in the announcement, the debentures have a 36-month maturity and carry a 15% annual interest rate. Additionally, they can be converted into common shares at $0.25 each and may be forcibly converted if share prices increase significantly. Odd Burger is a franchised vegan fast-food chain with a vertically integrated supply chain and 17 operational stores across Canada. The first Odd Burger restaurant opened in London, Ontario, in December 2016, becoming the country’s first vegan-fast food restaurant. Today, the firm focuses on smart kitchens, advanced cooking technology, competitive pricing, and high-quality ingredients to offer healthier options …

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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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Novo Holdings has announced an initial investment in MATR Foods, a Danish food tech startup leveraging the power of mycelium, traditional fermentation, and upcycled vegetables to make sustainable plant-based meat.

© MATR Foods

Investments & Finance

Novo Holdings Invests in MATR Foods’ Fungi-Powered Fermented Meat Alternatives

Life science investor Novo Holdings has announced an initial investment in MATR Foods, a Danish food tech startup leveraging the power of mycelium, traditional fermentation, and upcycled vegetables to make sustainable meat alternative products. The startup’s flagship product, MATR Fungi Mince, a low-fat and high-protein alternative offering an amino acid profile similar to meat, is said to have a carbon footprint significantly lower (94% less) than beef. MATR currently supplies products to several Danish restaurant chains, including Gasoline Grill, Sticks’n’Sushi, and the online supermarket Nemlig.com. The new capital will help scale the startup’s production capacity and expand its customer base to meet the demand from existing and new customers. Randi Wahlsten, CEO of MATR, said: “We have been extremely well received by chefs and consumers …

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Dutch food tech pioneer Revyve to debut yeast-based egg replacer for plant-based burgers in Chicago

© Alessa Joseph - Image courtesy of revyve

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Revyve Introduces “Super Clean” Yeast-Based Egg Replacer for Plant-Based Burgers at IFT First 2024

Dutch food tech company Revyve announces it will debut its high-performance, clean-label egg replacer designed to enhance the texture of plant-based burgers at IFT First 2024. The ingredient, made with Revyve’s yeast proteins, is said to mimic the functionality of egg whites (heat-set gelling, binding, and emulsification), delivering the sensory experience consumers expect in plant-based meat. According to the Dutch company, its egg replacer — the first to be available on a broad commercial scale — is sustainable, price-competitive, designed for easy use with standard processing equipment, and compliant with all international regulatory requirements. Edgar Suarez Garcia, Revyve’s CTO and co-founder, shares, “At Revyve, we have taken yeast functionality to the next level. Revyve offers exceptional heat-set gelling, binding, and emulsification. Burgers retain water and …

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Spicy Beyond Burger Jalapeño

© Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

Beyond Meat Launches Spicy Beyond Burger Jalapeño in the UK

Beyond Meat has launched a new product, the Spicy Beyond Burger Jalapeño, at retailers across the UK. The launch comes as Europe continues to be Beyond Meat’s strongest market and a focal point for the business. The burger is described as “irresistibly juicy and delivering a spicy kick”. High in protein and made without soy, the NPD is aimed at all consumers who want to “continue eating what they love, no sacrifice required”; this includes meat-eaters, flexitarians, and vegans. The patty is said to be ideal for grilling, with Beyond Meat research indicating that 42.5% of respondents now serve or eat more plant-based foods at barbecues than they did five years ago*. “There is a growing trend for spicy foods in the UK,” said Ellie …

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Beyond Burger

© Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

Beyond Burger Rolls Out at Over 800 Co-op Stores UK-Wide

Beyond Meat has announced that the Beyond Burger is launching at over 800 Co-op convenience stores and supermarkets across the UK. The burger, which has won several awards including Which’s Best Vegan Burger 2023, will be available in the frozen aisle. It contains 19g of protein and is cholesterol-free. A recent life cycle analysis indicates that the Beyond Burger requires 97% less land, 97% less water, and 37% less non-renewable energy than a comparable beef burger, while also generating 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. “Just in time for the warmer weather and BBQ season, we’re delighted to be extending our tasty Beyond Burger into Co-op stores across the UK,” said Lee Crane, Regional Sales Manager UK at Beyond Meat. “Local and convenient, the new launch …

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Image courtesy of Beyond Meat

Marketing & Media

Europe Continues as Beyond Meat’s Strongest Market With Multiple Veganuary Activations

Beyond Meat’s vision is to be a global protein company helping the transition from animal to plant-based meat to address the climate crisis and animal welfare positively. On various occasions, the company has expressed strong ambitions for Europe, aiming to have a localized production to serve the growing demand for meat alternatives in the region. In 2021, the brand created a new position, General Manager of Europe, to expedite its growth in the continent. Since then, the company has expanded its presence in the UK and European countries, including Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, and more recently Romania, launching different products through retail and foodservice. In November it was reported widely that customer demand in Europe is a bright spot for the company amid …

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Spanish startups Väcka and Libre Foods collaborate for The Veggie Burger Warriors Campaign

Image courtesy of Väcka

Food Service

Väcka and Libre Foods Launch Vegan Burger Campaign in 23 Cities Across Spain

Spanish plant-based startups Väcka and Libre Foods have joined forces to launch The Veggie Burger Warriors, a campaign offering 100% vegan burgers in restaurants across Spain from the 6th to the 12th of November. The campaign will showcase Väcka’s 100% plant-based cheddar and Libre Foods’ mushroom bacon as the top choices for burger toppings, providing “equal sensory experiences” to animal products. In this first edition, 23 cities across Spain with over 60 restaurants and nearly 100 points of sale will offer unique takes on vegan burgers, with some including limited editions. Additionally, the public will have the opportunity to choose “the best plant-based burger in Spain” by voting on-site or via a QR code for delivery orders. This initiative follows a successful campaign, The Veggie Pizza …

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Dr Praeger's crunchy burger

© Dr Praeger's

Products & Launches

Dr. Praeger’s New Crunchy Veggie Burgers Available at US Retailers Nationwide

Frozen food producer Dr. Praeger’s unveils the Dr. Praeger’s Crunchy Veggie Burger product line, designed to address consumer concerns around the texture of plant-based products. According to a recent survey by the Plant-Based Food Association, texture is the primary factor discouraging consumers from adopting plant-based alternatives. The new Crunchy Veggie Burger product line aims to provide a crisper and more satisfying mouthfeel than the company’s other veggie burger options. The Crunchy Burgers, which are available in Crunchy Cauliflower and Crunchy Southwestern Sweet Potato, debuted exclusively on the QVC shopping channel last month as a prelude to today’s launch to help create anticipation among consumers.  The Crunchy Veggie Burgers retain the same high-quality ingredients as the rest of Dr. Praeger’s veggie burgers. They are also made …

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The Beefy Boys vegan burger

© The Beefy Boys

Fast Food

UK Chain The Beefy Boys Launches Its First Vegan Burger

The Beefy Boys, a UK burger chain with locations in Hereford, Cheltenham, and Shrewsbury, has introduced its first vegan option. The Beef Free Boy consists of a mushroom-based patty in a bun with lettuce, onion, gherkin, vegan dirty mayo, and vegan cheese. The launch comes in response to growing customer demand for plant-based options; while the chain does already offer three meatless burgers, they all contain dairy cheese. The burger has now rolled out at all three Beefy Boys locations after a successful trial in Hereford in July. Launched in 2011, The Beefy Boys is said to have a cult following and won two categories at this year’s National Burger Awards. The chain prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients and authentic cooking methods. “Our …

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Beyond Stack Burger_with packaging

© Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

The New Beyond Stack Burger, “Closer in Taste & Texture to Beef”, Arrives in US Retail

Beyond Meat announces today the expansion of its burger portfolio with latest NPD, the Beyond Stack Burger, a patty described as even closer in taste and texture to beef and designed for single, double, and triple-stacked burgers. Beyond says the Beyond Stack Burger is described in early reviews as “juicy,” having a “delicate crumble that truly resembles beef burgers,” and being “crispy on the outside, resembling the popular beef smash burgers“, with the launch coming as smash-style burgers continue to grow in popularity, with a 720% increase on menus over the past four years. This May, the company launched its first Smash Burger into foodservice, and this retail expansion allows consumers to enjoy the product at home. Despite recent naysaying regarding the nutritional qualities of …

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Oumph! Smash Burger

© Oumph!

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Oumph! Launches Fava & Pea Smash Burger, the “First Ever” Vegan Smash Burger in Sweden

Award-winning Swedish plant meat brand Oumph! introduces a smash burger created with pea and fava beans, stating the launch makes Oumph! the first Swedish brand to launch a plant-based smash burger.   The product is initially targeted at foodservice, launching into 80+ locations of the Brödernas chain with more restaurants to follow, then it is set to roll out into supermarket retail. Positive consumer feedback at the Fast Food & Café show in Stockholm earlier this year, included comments such as, “This is the best plant-based burger I’ve ever tried” and “WHAT? Is this plant-based?”   Smash burgers represent an emerging trend in foodservice, entailing a larger patty designed for the cooking method of smashing the ‘meat’ into the grill with a spatula resulting in …

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Plantasia Foods microwaveable vegan burger

© Plantasia Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Former Campbell Soup & Garden Fresh R&D Experts Launch Microwaveable Vegan Burgers

Dallas-based company Plantasia Foods has launched pre-cooked, microwaveable vegan burger patties across the US. Plantasia Foods was founded by Carlos Burroso, former senior vice president of R&D at Campbell Soup, along with George Vutetakis, chef and former head of R&D at Garden Fresh Gourmet. The two met when Campbell acquired Garden Fresh, and decided to start a venture that would meet the need for easy-to-prepare, nutritious plant-based products. Sold frozen, the patties can be prepared in just 60 seconds; they contain 22 grams of protein and are free of soy, gluten, and GMOs. For those without a microwave, the burgers can also be grilled, fried, air-fried, or steamed. Plantasia Foods is now planning to launch more products in the near future, including plant-based BBQ burgers …

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New vegan burger brand called Vungr

Image credit: Hunger Brands LinkedIn

Delivery Services

Spain’s New Vungr Service Delivers Burgers Featuring Heura Patties and Väcka Cheese

Barcelona-based Hunger Brands has announced the launch of a new 100% vegan brand tailored explicitly for delivery called Vungr, created in collaboration with plant-based meat company Heura Foods and vegan cheese startup Väcka. Vungr is a 100% vegan burger brand targeting vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, and even meat lovers, looking for convenient animal protein-free options.  Vungr’s burgers come in pita-bread style buns and, according to the brand, are the first of their kind in the Spanish market. Its range includes Classic Vegan, Four Cheeses, Not Pollo, Porteña Vegan, and Truvada Vegan. It launched initially at Glovo and Uber Eats, but the company announced expansion plans across Spain soon. In addition to its burger offerings, Vungr’s menu includes Not Pollo fingers by Heura in various flavors. Heura+Väcka=Vungr The new burgers feature Heura’s beef burger patties, which recently …

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Neat Burger founders

© Neat Burger

Investments & Acquisitions

Neat Burger Raises $18M as Sales at First US Location Beat Expectations

Plant-based fast food chain Neat Burger has raised $18 million in a Series B round led by private institutional investment firm B-Flexion. Other participants included Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (a longtime backer), Chimera Capital, and new investors such as Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Neat Burger will use the funding to continue expanding its global reach. The news comes after the UK-based chain opened its first permanent US location in Nolita, New York City, last month. Sales so far have beaten expectations, and the store is currently the best performing in the group’s estate due to high levels of repeat purchases. “We see New York as a tastemaker gateway to the US, and by all metrics it has been our most successful launch to …

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MAX Burgers

© MAX Burgers

Fast Food

Sweden’s Oldest Burger Chain MAX Burgers Launches “Supreme Green” Meat-Free Menu

Swedish chain MAX Burgers has launched its new Supreme Green meatless menu, as the company works towards the goal of making half the burgers it sells red-meat-free. MAX Burgers’ original Green menu was introduced in 2016, and the chain has now debuted more meat-free options to “make going green the natural choice”. These include the vegan Real Green Burger, which is made from mung beans, and the lacto-ovo vegetarian Crispy Supreme burger, made from Swedish yellow peas. Fully plant-based items on the Supreme Green menu also include the Plant Beef Burger and the Crispy Green Nuggets. Some options are not suitable for vegans as they contain dairy cheese. Founded in 1968, MAX Burgers is Sweden’s oldest restaurant chain and now has 191 locations; most are …

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revyve's healthy foods made with BSY proteins

© revyve

Studies & Numbers

Survey Unveils Surprising Similarity in Taste Preferences for Vegan Burgers Among French and British Consumers

MANE, the French leader in the Fragrance and Flavour industry, contacts vegconomist to discuss the results of an exclusive survey regarding consumer preferences in flavours for vegan beef burgers. The survey conducted for MANE by an independent research agency delves into the key taste features that drive consumer preferences regarding plant-based burgers. During the blind-testing, six beef burger alternatives available on the market along with three MANE prototypes were sampled by 248 consumers from the UK and France to obtain feedback regarding colour, texture, and aromatic profile. Surprising similarities The findings revealed that consumers in France and the UK have remarkably close preferences regarding texture and aromatic profile, despite the highly distinct consumption habits between the two cultures. For instance, grilled and smoky flavours are …

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Beyond Meat plant-based chicken burger

© Beyond Meat

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Beyond Meat Launches Plant-Based Chicken Made With Fava Beans in the UK

Beyond Meat is expanding its range in the UK with three new plant-based chicken products, following the success of the brand’s beef and pork alternatives. The new products are: Beyond Burger Chicken-Style — a twist on the classic Beyond Burger, containing 15 grams of protein per 100 grams. Beyond Fillet — a quick-to-prepare option, described as “crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside”. Beyond Nuggets — breaded plant-based chicken pieces, said to be “tasty, convenient, and easy to make”. Beyond’s existing range in the UK includes sausage, beef-style burgers, mince, and meatballs. While the original Beyond Burger is made from pea protein, the new products are made with fava beans and wheat gluten; according to Beyond, the properties of the beans make them …

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Neat Burger Nolita

Credit: Vito Oliva, image supplied

Fast Food

Lewis Hamilton’s Neat Burger Opens First US Location in New York City

Neat Burger, the plant-based burger chain by F-1 champion Lewis Hamilton, has opened its first permanent US restaurant. Located in NYC, the opening is part of the chain’s plans to open 30 additional outlets around the globe in the coming years, following the success of its eight UK locations. Situated in the Nolita neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, the first US-based Neat Burger offers a menu of plant-based burgers, chick’n sandwiches, hot dogs, tater tots, fries and milkshakes. For the grand opening, Neat Burger offered free burgers to the first 100 guests, and reports it received a huge response, with hundreds of guests lining up to celebrate the occasion.  The Nolita restaurant follows Neat Burger’s six-month temporary pop-up location in UrbanSpace on Park Avenue. The company’s …

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