Else Plant-Based Formula

©Else Nutrition

Company News

Else Nutrition Triples Production Capabilities, Will Produce in Europe in the Future

Else Nutrition triples its production capacity with the addition of a second powder production facility in the United States and the start of manufacturing in Europe. Else Nutrition recently opened a second powder production facility in the United States and announced commercial production operations in Europe in March 2023. With the additional facilities, Else can more than triple its production capacity. Until the end of 2022, Else Nutrition had only one powder manufacturing facility in operation, which handled the company’s sales both in North America and internationally. With the two new production facilities, Else aims to meet the rapid increase in demand from brick-and-mortar retailers and online sales through Amazon and Else’s own e-store. Thanks to the increased production volumes, the risk of future supply …

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Woman buying fruit

Image: US Department of Human Health and Services

Society

Proposed Updates to the USDA’s WIC Nutrition Program Would Add More Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt and Cheese Options

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to add more dairy-free products, including milk, cheese and yogurt, to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Under the proposed changes through the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, millions of mothers and children would receive access to more dairy-free foods as well as increased provisions for fruits and vegetables.  WIC is an assistance program that aims to safeguard the health of low-income women and infants under the age of 5. Designed to fill in nutrition gaps, the program provides free vouchers for foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs and cheese. Currently, the only dairy-free alternative the program currently allows for is soymilk.  Through the proposed revisions, WIC would expand …

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Veg Out School Lunch Program

©Chartwells K12

Society

Chartwells K12 Launches ‘Veg Out’ Plant-Forward Lunch Menus Across US Schools

Dining service provider Chartwells K12 announces its newest culinary concept, “Veg Out”, is launching at US schools across the nation this fall, including school districts in Texas, Indiana and Washington state. The new program features over 100 new vegan and vegetarian lunch options. According to Chartwells, a subsidiary of Compass Group North America,  1 in 3 school-aged students rated vegan or vegetarian options as “extremely” or “very important” when choosing school lunch, while 37% said they would eat school lunches more often if there were better vegetarian and vegan choices.  Armed with this knowledge, Chartwells partnered with the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Kids Collaborative, as well as other industry leaders, to create over 120 vegan and vegetarian options including: Watermelon Poke Bowl Tuscan Bean …

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Kiki Milk Organic Vegan Kid's Milk

©Kiki Milk

Products & Launches

Organic Plant Milk Brand Kiki Milk Launches 32oz Shelf-Stable Cartons

Kiki Milk, which produces the “world’s first” organic plant milk designed for kids, announces it is launching a 32oz, shelf-stable size on September 26th.  By popular demand Driven by consumer request, the new 32oz product will be available in Original and Chocolate flavors, and provides a clean-label, non-dairy alternative for both kids and adults. The resealable spout also allows for multi-purpose uses such as coffee, baking, cooking, pouring into cereal, oatmeal and more. First launched in December 2021, Kiki Milk originally debuted in 8oz Tetra Paks. The product was developed by Alex and Lauren Abelin, and formulated in partnership with leading pediatrician Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh and nutritionist Vicki Kobliner, RD. The product is made exclusively from organic ingredients such as oats, hemp seeds, sprouted …

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Mighty Yum Plant-Based Lunchables

©Mighty Yum

Products & Launches

Mighty Yum Unveils New Line of “Nostalgic” Plant-Based Lunch Kits

Seeking to fill a major market gap for fun and healthy finger foods, Mighty Yum is debuting a new line of nutritious, meat-and dairy-free lunch kits at the Plant Based World Expo, taking place in New York City from Sept. 8th – 9th.  Made with 100% plant-based ingredients, Mighty Yum’s products offer a healthy twist on nostalgic children’s lunch kits, with a significantly improved nutritional panel. Available in classic flavors such as turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, and pepperoni pizza, Mighty Yum’s meals are non-GMO and filled with superfood ingredients, with the same flavor and texture as traditional meat and cheese.  Better kids’ meals The brand was founded by Marc Elkman and Howard Pane, two fathers who recognized the difficulty of finding healthy, tasty …

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2FITBRANDS_BrownieBites

©2FITBRANDS

Sweets & Snacks

Latina Women-Owned 2FIT BRANDS Launches Healthy Vegan Brownie Bites

2FIT BRANDS, based in Virginia USA, has introduced a third healthy snack to its popular product line. Brownie Bites are vegan, gluten-free, and low sugar. The healthy treats join the current product portfolio including Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla Crunch and a 2FIT sample pack.    According to Colombian-born entrepreneurs Nathalia Rojas and Marcela Charry, 2FITBRANDS is one of the fastest-growing healthy snack food firms in the US, progressing in three years from production in their home kitchens to Amazon sales that increased 830% YOY last year. The vegan snack company launched in 2019 with Vanilla Crunch and Chocolate Peanut Butter varieties. “People are loving the products and you can find our Chocolate Peanut Butter and Vanilla Crunch Protein Bars at LifeTime health clubs around the …

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Impossible Foods Wild Nuggies

©Impossible Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Impossible Foods Launches Kid-Friendly Wild Nuggies and New Sausage Patties

Impossible Foods announces the company is rolling out two new retail products: Wild Nuggies plant-based nuggets and breakfast sausage patties.  Wild Nuggies are Impossible’s first animal-shaped nuggets, and are made to represent several vulnerable or critically endangered wild species: the Galápagos tortoise, black rhino, polar bear and right whale.  Through the designs, the company hopes to help kids and families connect their food choices to the health of the planet, as environmental stewardship is a core part of Impossible Foods’ company mission. Impossible notes Wild Nuggies will offer the same taste as the original Impossible Nuggets with no cholesterol, 10 grams of protein, and 40% less saturated fat than leading traditional chicken nuggets. From a sustainability perspective, Wild Nuggies use 49% less land, 44% less …

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Vegnables Vegan Lunchables

©Vegnables

Company News

Vegnables Plant-Based Boxes Launching Wefunder Campaign to Re-Invent Lunchables

Snack boxes filled with ready-to-eat foods are a perennial favorite of kids’ school lunches. Now, Vegnables has arrived to offer a new option for tasty, allergy-friendly, plant-based lunch box meals. The company is preparing to launch on Wefunder on January 24th.  Filling a snack box void  According to Vegnables (pronounced VEE-gan-a-buls), 50 million parents buy Lunchables every year, but such products are typically filled with artificial additives, allergens and unhealthy levels of sodium. Vegnables was created to a convenient, affordable and familiar snack box made with healthier plant-based ingredients.  Vegnables’ products, inspired by Lunchables, are available online and in select retailers. They are currently available in three varieties: Nacho Box – Nachos, cheese and salsa Pizza Box – Pizza crust, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese …

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Quorn dinosaur

© Quorn / PinPep

Marketing & Media

Quorn Launches Vegan Dinosaur Nuggets, Finds Over Half of UK Families Would Consider Going Meat-Free

UK plant-based meat brand Quorn has unveiled a giant T-Rex dinosaur at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush Shopping Centre in London to mark the launch of its new plant-based Roarsomes Dinosaur Nuggets. The dinosaur ad campaign will remain until Friday 17 September, to advertise the product which comes in three different dinosaur shapes – T-Rex, Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus – made with Quorn’s mycoprotein based chicken. The legacy brand recently announced the opening of a state-of-the-art Culinary Development Center in Dallas, Texas, with the ambition “to become the king of alternative chicken globally”. Quorn study shows British families are open to plant-based meals To coincide with the launch of the children’s nuggets, Quorn also unveiled the results of a new nationwide consumer study. According to the study, more …

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