Heura chicken-style fine herbs burger

© Heura

Products & Launches

Heura Launches Chicken-Style Fine Herbs Burger With “Unprecedented Juiciness”

Spanish plant-based meat brand Heura has announced the launch of a new chicken-style innovation, the Fine Herbs Burger. The product is said to have the same amount of protein as a conventional chicken burger, but contains fiber and healthy fats to provide “unprecedented juiciness”. It is designed to replicate the sensory experience of white meat, with no cholesterol or trans fats and low levels of sodium and saturated fat. The chicken-style burger aims to cater to the tastes of Spanish consumers, many of whom have a preference for white meat as a protein source. There are already some signs that acceptance of plant-based products is growing in the country; recent research by Heura reportedly found that 40% of Spaniards identify legumes and their derivatives — …

more

Actual Veggies becomes exclusive veggie burger supplier for Eurest

Image courtesy of Eurest

Food Service

Actual Veggies Becomes Exclusive Veggie Burger Supplier for Eurest

Eurest, a major food service provider for American companies, has announced that Actual Veggies will become its exclusive veggie burger supplier. Through the partnership, Actual Veggies’ chef-crafted Black Bean Burger will be available across Eurest’s more than 1,600 marketplaces US-wide. The launch comes after Chris Ivens-Brown, Chief Culinary Officer for Eurest and Compass Group North America, bought a box of Actual Veggies burgers to try at home. He was so impressed that he submitted an inquiry to the company, which ultimately led to the partnership. Actual Veggies’ burgers are made using fresh whole vegetables, grains, and a signature spice blend. Eurest’s research and development chefs have developed a variety of recipes highlighting the burgers’ flavors and textures; research conducted by the company reportedly indicates that …

more

Hollywood Bowl

© Hollywood Bowl

Food Service

Hollywood Bowl Launches the Beyond Burger UK-Wide in Time for the Easter Holidays

Hollywood Bowl Group, the operator of bowling brand Hollywood Bowl and Putt & Play mini-golf centres, has announced the introduction of the Beyond Burger at all its UK locations. In a launch timed for the Easter school holidays, the meat-free burger arrived at 71 Hollywood Bowl centres and four Putt & Play locations on April 2. It aims to cater to the growing demand for plant-based options among families and groups. The Beyond Burger joins Hollywood Bowl’s Main Features line-up and costs £6.79. It is served in a brioche-style bun with lettuce and tomato. By default, the burger comes with fries, which are not vegan; however, customers can swap these for tortilla chips to make their meals fully plant-based. Extra toppings such as crispy onions …

more

Beyond Meat La Vie

© Beyond Meat X La Vie

Marketing & Media

Beyond Meat and La Vie’s ‘Brandmance’ Leads to New Burger and Joint Campaign in the UK

Beyond Meat and La Vie, two leading plant-based food companies, have announced a new partnership following a playful exchange on social media. The brands, which focus on plant-based meat alternatives, have come together to promote animal welfare and encourage consumers to explore plant-based options through a joint marketing effort. The collaboration includes the launch of Beyond Meat’s “All Taste, No Worries” campaign, which features Barbara the cow. This campaign follows a similar approach to La Vie’s “Relax, it’s plant-based” campaign, which showcased Leon the pig. Both advertisements center on a scenario in which a person prepares a meaty dish, only for the animal typically associated with that meat to appear anxious. The twist comes when the viewer learns the meal is actually plant-based, aligning both …

more

Impossible beef sliders

© Impossible Foods

Products & Launches

Impossible Foods Launches New Beef Sliders in Walmart Stores Nationwide

Impossible Foods has introduced a new product to its portfolio with the launch of Impossible Beef Sliders. These mini-sized plant-based burgers offer the same flavor profile and texture that consumers associate with the brand’s flagship Impossible Burger, but in a more convenient, bite-sized format. A healthier, bite-sized option Each slider contains 0mg of cholesterol, 19 grams of complete, high-quality protein per serving, and 33% less saturated fat than traditional animal beef. They are designed to be easy to cook, whether on a skillet or a grill, making them suitable for quick weeknight dinners or larger gatherings. This convenience aligns with the company’s strategy to offer plant-based products that cater to the growing demand for fast and simple meal solutions. This product launch follows the company’s …

more

The Raging Pig Company

© The Raging Pig Company

Products & Launches

Germany’s Raging Pig Company Rolls Out Pea and Mushroom-Based Smash-Burger for Restaurants

Hamburg-based foodtech startup The Raging Pig Company has introduced a new plant-based burger patty designed for the food service industry. The Raging Burger Patty, made from peas and mushrooms, is intended for use as a traditional burger patty or as a smash-burger, a preparation method that involves pressing the patty onto a grill to create a crispy exterior and a caramelized flavor. According to the company, the patty was developed to meet the needs of professional kitchens and provide a plant-based alternative to conventional smash-burgers. Dr. Arne Ewerbeck, founder of The Raging Pig Company, explained, “Smash-burgers are more popular than ever, but plant-based alternatives are often still overlooked in the foodservice industry. “With our patty, we’re introducing a plant-based smash-burger to the market – flavorful, juicy, and perfect …

more

Actual Veggies

© Actual Veggies

Investments & Finance

Actual Veggies Secures $7M Investment To Scale Distribution and Foodservice Partnerships

Actual Veggies, a company specializing in vegetable-based burgers, has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round to support its retail expansion and product development. The round was led by Relentless Consumer Partners, with additional participation from New Fare Partners, Todd Lachman (Sovos Brands founder and Sauer Brands chairman), and investor Ben Rawitz. In addition to expanding its retail footprint, Actual Veggies has secured a foodservice contract with Compass Group, which will introduce its products to corporate dining programs, hospitals, and schools, including at companies such as Amazon and Google. The company’s Black Bean Burger is also set to launch in all 82 Costco locations in the Southeast region next month. Co-founder and co-CEO Hailey Swartz stated, “We set out to create the most …

more

Beyond Meat Beyond Smash burger

© Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

Beyond Meat Brings Beyond Smash Burger to Tesco Stores UK-Wide

As Veganuary approaches, Beyond Meat is set to launch its Beyond Smash burger at Tesco stores across the UK. The product has the same taste and texture as the original Beyond Burger, but with a slimmer patty that crisps up when cooked. Containing 16g of protein per 100g serving, the burger is said to be suitable for stacking in a bun or crumbling onto salad. Beyond Smash previously launched at Ocado and is kosher, halal, and vegan-certified. “We’re delighted to introduce Beyond Smash to Tesco customers as part of Tesco’s commitment to identify and increase tasty plant-based options both in-store and online,” said Molly Hannah, Assistant Buyer – Frozen Plant Based & Vegetarian at Tesco. “With its unbeatable taste and texture, the Beyond Smash is …

more

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 …

more

A photo of a Odd Burger restaurant

© Odd Burger

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more

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 …

more