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Ingredion Releases Significant Consumer Insights: Clean-Label is King, 73% of EU Consumers Seek Natural Ingredients

November 20, 2024

Presently, at Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) 2024, taking place now in Frankfurt, Germany, Ingredion is showcasing its new, significant consumer insights alongside its plant-based food and beverage concepts. In line with Ingredion’s decade-long research into the trend towards clean labels, as published this April, which stated that such products are projected to constitute more than 70% of portfolios within the next two years as part of a significant shift within the European food industry, the company’s latest ATLAS research reveals that clean label claims are now the top factor driving consumer willingness to pay premium prices. The latest findings show that 73% of European consumers are actively seeking products made with recognisable ingredients; health-conscious consumers are increasingly focused on nutritional benefits, with 85% expressing acceptance …

Organisations and brands:

Ingredion

Maria Angelica Mashali © Alianza Team

Interviews

Alianza Team: “We Believe Mirror Tissue Has the Potential to Revolutionize the Plant-Based Meat Market”

September 16, 2024

Alianza Team specializes in developing and producing innovative lipid solutions for the food, beverage, cosmetics, and nutraceutical industries. They’re dedicated to crafting tailored fats and oils that enhance product quality, functionality, and sustainability. With a team of over 2.000 employees globally, the headquarters are located in Bogotá, Colombia, where Alianza Team runs multiple production facilities and a global presence with operations in Mexico and Chile, reaching the Latin American market, the USA, and a growing presence in Europe. In addition to Colombia, Alianza Team has operations in Chile (two plants) and Mexico, and a growing presence in Europe. We spoke with Maria Angelica Mashali, Chief Growth Officer at Alianza Team, to learn about their latest innovation and business objectives. Could you introduce your newest advancement, …

Organisations and brands:

Alianza Team

Alianza Team Europe

Egg Alternatives

Egg’n’Up: Laying Golden Egg Replacements for the Food Industry

August 14, 2024

The Israeli startup Egg’n’Up, a subsidiary of SavorEat, the company behind the 3D printing robot chef, describes itself as the hen that lays golden egg replacements. The food industry relies heavily on eggs due to their versatility and multiple functionalities despite current price volatility, food safety issues, egg allergies, high environmental footprint, and the growing trend to eliminate animal proteins from everyday products. According to Egg’n’Up, the reason behind the continued use of eggs in food processing is that available egg substitutes do not entirely satisfy the food industry’s requirements for functionality and taste. 1:1 egg replacement Founded in 2021 by Racheli Vizman, Oded Shoseyov, and Ido Braslavsky, according to PitchBook, and supported by a team of managers with a track record in the food …

Organisations and brands:

Egg'n'Up

Products & Launches

Elmhurst 1925 Launches One-Ingredient Plant-Based Chicken Sold in Powder Form

July 26, 2024

Elmhurst 1925, the former dairy producer turned plant-based milk brand, has expanded into meat alternatives with the launch of a new plant-based chicken product. Uniquely, the meat alternative is sold as a dry powder and can be rehydrated using water and oil. A spice blend is added for flavor, and the mixture can then be microwaved to form a plant-based cutlet. The clean-label powder contains just one ingredient, hemp protein, and provides 26g of protein per serving. The product is sold under the brand name TerraMeat, and is available as a starter kit from the Elmhurst 1925 website. “It is amazing to work with, it is delicious — one clean ingredient, hemp grain protein,” said Chef Camillo Sabella, who has worked with Elmhurst to create …

Organisations and brands:

Elmhurst 1925

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Juicy Marbles Launches Clean-Label Plant-Based Baby Ribs With Bones

July 24, 2024

Plant-based whole-cut pioneer Juicy Marbles has announced it is bringing meat alternatives into a “new, more mature chapter” with the launch of its plant-based Baby Ribs with bones. The product is an improved and retail-ready version of the brand’s Bone-In Ribs, which have previously been sold in limited batches online. In response to customer feedback, the ribs are made using a new recipe platform called Marble 3.0, which promises “one of the cleanest labels in the plant-based space”. This includes a complete amino acid profile with 32g of protein per serving, no thickeners or binders such as methylcellulose, a Nutriscore of A, and no GMO ingredients. The recipe also contains essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12, and is free of additives …

Organisations and brands:

Juicy Marbles

Products & Launches

Beyond Meat Unveils ‘Beyond Sun Sausage’ in Bold Move Toward Clean-Label Innovation

July 23, 2024

Beyond Meat has launched its newest product, Beyond Sun Sausage™, marking a significant shift from its current meat replacements. This new product, available exclusively at Sprouts Farmers Markets, focuses on wholesome fruits, vegetables, and legumes, reflecting the company’s response to growing consumer demand for clean-label ingredients. Unlike Beyond Meat’s previous products designed to mimic beef, pork, or chicken, Beyond Sun Sausage showcases ingredients such as yellow pea, brown rice, faba bean, red lentils, spinach, and bell peppers. “We’re thrilled to introduce a completely new innovation to the plant-based category with the addition of our wholesome, flavor-forward Beyond Sun Sausage. “Filled with clean, plant proteins, this launch further exemplifies our industry-leading commitment to raising the nutrition bar for plant-based meats and creating delicious, healthy products,” stated …

Organisations and brands:

Beyond Meat

Sprouts Farmers Market

Tate & Lyle has acquired CP Kelco, a nature-based ingredients company, for $1.8 billion.

Investments & Acquisitions

Tate & Lyle Acquires CP Kelco for $1.8 Billion in Strategic Expansion for Sugar Reduction Ingredients and Stabilisers

July 22, 2024July 18, 2024

Global food and beverage solutions company Tate & Lyle has acquired CP Kelco, a nature-based ingredients company, for $1.8 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. In the announcement, Tate & Lyle stated that this acquisition “expands our offering in the large (US$19 billion) and fast-growing (6% CAGR) specialty food and beverage ingredients addressable market, and unlocks further growth opportunities in core and adjacent markets.” Tate & Lyle, originating in Britain in 1859 as the sugar refinery Henry Tate & Sons and headquartered in London, was acquired by American Sugar Refining, Inc. in 2010, ending its long association with refined sugar production. Since then, the company has aligned with consumer trends for healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products by offering sugar-reduction solutions for products such as gummies, …

Organisations and brands:

CP Kelco

Tate & Lyle

Products & Launches

Kallø Enters New Category With Organic & Clean-Label Veggie Dips

July 5, 2024

UK-based healthy snack brand Kallø has entered the dips category for the first time with a new range of plant-based Veggie Dips. The clean-label dips consist of a tomato base combined with organic vegetables and pulses. Three varieties are available — Chutney Tomato & Lentil, Tomato & Olives, and Spicy Tomato. Unlike many dips, the products are sold in an ambient format and packaged in a fully recyclable glass jar with an aluminium lid. The resealable format means they can be easily transported and helps to reduce food waste. The dips are said to be an ideal pairing for snacks such as Kallø’s Veggie Thins, a range of chickpea-based flatbreads that launched last November. They can also be used as a cooking ingredient. “Plants can …

Organisations and brands:

Kallø

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

MALK Organics, the “Fastest-Growing” Plant Milk Brand, Launches ‘Cleaner Creamers’ on Back of Recent Funding Round

May 23, 2024May 23, 2024

Austin, Texas-based MALK Organics, founded in 2015, has expanded its product portfolio with three plant-based creamers — Vanilla Almond, Caramel Almond, and Lightly Sweetened Oat — following its latest funding round completed this March. According to a press release, MALK has “remained the #1 fastest-growing plant-based milk across all markets and has more than doubled its distribution” in the past year. This claim is seemingly supported by various publications and market intelligence reports stating the company has “grown faster than the industry average”, a market report listing the brand as a leading player in the market, and a Forbes piece describing its revenue growth last year. We have reached out to MALK to discuss further. The interest in MALK’s products, certified organic and containing 3-5 …

Organisations and brands:

Malk Organics

Ingredients

An Imminent Clean Food Revolution? Decade-Long Study Finds Clean-Label Products Set to Dominate in Next 2 Years

April 4, 2024

Research carried out by Ingredion, spanning over a decade, heralds a significant shift within the European food industry, with clean-label products poised to revolutionise company portfolios in the imminent future. Dubbed ATLAS, the comprehensive study was orchestrated in collaboration with Clear Seas Research, shedding light on an overwhelming consensus among European manufacturers: a staggering 99% perceive clean-label products not merely as an advantage but as a cornerstone of their business strategy. Although there is no formal definition, the term ‘clean-label’ generally refers to short lists of recognisable, natural ingredients. According to the study, clean-label products are projected to constitute more than 70% of portfolios within the next two years—a substantial leap from 52% in 2021— underscoring a pivotal movement towards transparency and ingredient simplicity. The …

Pictured is Aisling Cullen, Founder, Thanks Plants. Picture by Shane O'Neill, Coalesce.

Interviews

Thanks Plants: “We Want to Be Known Europe-Wide for Great Ingredients and Clean-Label Products”

November 9, 2023

Ireland-based Thanks Plants was founded in 2020, with the aim of offering clean-label meat alternatives made from recognisable whole food ingredients. The concept proved hugely popular with Irish consumers, and Thanks Plants’ products — made predominantly from seitan, legumes, and vegetables — are now available at SuperValu and Fresh stores in Dublin, along with some independent retailers. Aldi Ireland also stocked a selection of the meat alternatives for six months this year, and Thanks Plants’ Festive Roast was available at Planet Organic stores in London last Christmas. The brand is now on a mission to expand beyond Ireland, entering countries with a high demand for healthy plant-based options. We spoke to founder Aisling Cullen to find out more about Thanks Plants and future plans for …

Organisations and brands:

Thanks Plants

Two Spanish scientists have developed a clean label meat alternative using the Mediterranean legume carob and HPP tech.

Manufacturing & Technology

Meet Leggie: Spain’s Clean Label Plant-Based Meat Crafted with Carob and HHP Tech

October 5, 2023

Leveraging the high-pressure processing (HPP) tech developed by the Spanish industrial equipment company Hiperbaric, Marta Miguel and Marta Garcés, two Spanish scientists from CSID and the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) have developed a clean-label meat alternative using the Mediterranean legume carob. Launched under the Leggie brand through iLike Food Innovation, the new plant-based meat is made with only six ingredients: rice flour (to texturize the matrix), carob, extra virgin olive oil, vegetable fiber, water, and salt. According to Miguel, Leggie’s plant-based meat is a healthier (promoting good digestion) and more balanced alternative than the similar options available in the market. Carob is richer in fiber than other legumes and contains a natural red color. Regarding sustainability, carob trees grow in arid climates and dry soils …

Organisations and brands:

Hiperbaric

iLike Food Innovation

Leggie

Products & Launches

PerfectSeason Launches Award-Winning Clean-Label Alt Meats at Whole Foods UK

October 5, 2023

Danish company PerfectSeason has secured listings for what it claims are some of the world’s cleanest-label meat alternatives at Whole Foods Market in London. Three varieties will be available — beetroot patties, mushroom patties, and dill cakes. Rather than replicating the taste and texture of meat, the organic products are said to taste of unprocessed vegetables and spices. The aim is to help consumers make vegetables and pulses the main element of their meals, rather than relegating them to a side dish. Two of the products are award-winning, having been named Best Plant-Based Product of the Year by the Danish Vegetarian Association in 2021 and 2022 respectively. “Transparency is not good enough” PerfectSeason was founded in 2018 in Copenhagen, in response to the lack of …

Organisations and brands:

PerfectSeason

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Novozymes Launches New Clean-Label Biosolution for “Perfect Textures” in Plant-Based Meat

September 28, 2023

Novozymes (NASDAQ OMX: NZYM-B), one of the world’s largest providers of microbial technologies and enzymes, has launched Vertera®ProBite, a new clean-label product that the company claims delivers “perfect textures” in plant-based meat. The Danish company says that its new biosolution addresses consumers’ concerns about the texture and long ingredient lists of alt meat, ultimately encouraging more people to choose sustainable food options. A study conducted by the company shows that 95% of consumers think plant-based meat should improve. According to the 2023 Unmet Needs Discovery Survey by the Plant-Based Food Association, texture is the number one factor dissuading consumers from adopting plant-based alternatives. “Now’s the time to raise the (burger) bar and find perfect textures that consumers will love inside plants,” states Novozymes. Unlocking the potential …

Organisations and brands:

novozymes

Queen Margaret University develops alternative to palm oil

Ingredients

Scottish University Develops Sustainable & Clean Label Alternative to Palm Oil

September 25, 2023

Scientists at Scotland’s Queen Margaret University have developed a healthier and more sustainable alternative to palm oil. Called PALM-ALT, the ingredient is fully plant-based, made from a byproduct of the linseed industry along with fibre and rapeseed oil. Palm oil is considered problematic due to its environmental impact, with palm plantations a key driver of deforestation and habitat destruction in Malaysia and Indonesia. Despite this, the ingredient is still widely used in the food industry and elsewhere, as a replacement with the same properties is currently not available at a competitive cost. The development of a more sustainable alternative has the potential to reduce transport emissions as well as deforestation; PALM-ALT can be made exclusively with ingredients sourced from within the UK and the EU, …

Organisations and brands:

Queen Margaret University

Image courtesy of Kerry

Company News

Kerry Launches Science Research Hub to Find Sustainable Solutions to Food Waste

May 22, 2023

Leading taste and nutrition solutions company Kerry recently opened an innovation hub for food protection and preservation in Wageningen University’s Food Valley — home to cutting-edge food science research — in the Netherlands. At the innovation center, Kerry aims to unite academia and industry to find sustainable solutions to food waste by researching the microbiological aspects of food loss, waste prevention, and food protection. The new lab and offices will provide faster innovation and validation studies to customers in the region while operating in parallel with other preservation facilities worldwide. Food waste Food production and waste contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s findings, an estimated one-third of food created for human consumption is lost or discarded, equaling a whopping …

Organisations and brands:

Kerry

Chewy chocolatey Dirtbag Bar offers consumers a clean-label snack

Sweets & Snacks

Dirtbag Bar: A Chewy Wholefood Chocolate Bar With a Mission for Mental Health

April 28, 2023April 27, 2023

Dirtbag Bar is a vegan chocolate bar created by Mark Andrew Gravel for consumers looking for healthier snacks for humans and the planet. The bar is organic, vegan, and free of GMOs and gluten. Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Dirtbag is a purpose-driven company that raises money for mental and environmental health initiatives. A portion of its sales go to 1% for Mental Health — a social impact project broadening access to mental health care — along with 1% for the Planet, a philanthropic organization working to drive positive change. Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month, Dirtbag has announced that its website will be live in mid-May, with plans to ship its product nationwide across the US. Clean ingredients Described as “clean and light”, Dirtbag Bar contains …

Organisations and brands:

Dirtbag Bar

Interviews

The ISH Company: “More Than 25 Products in the Works That Have the Same Taste & Texture of Animal Products”

April 13, 2023

The ISH Company is a US startup taking a unique approach to producing “deliciously disruptive” plant-based seafood. ISH stands for Innovative, Healthy and Sustainable, and the company says it is devoted to creating superior seafood alternatives that don’t compromise on taste or ingredients. Founded by sustainability veteran Bernard David, ISH’s portfolio includes an extensive range of future offerings, from plant-based cod and salmon to lobster and crab. The startup’s flagship product, the ultra realistic Shrimpish, is now available at select US food service locations. We spoke with ISH President and COO Christie Fleming about this impressive startup and its ambitious goals to transform the alt-seafood category. Please tell our readers more about The ISH Company – how did it begin and what kind of products …

Organisations and brands:

The ISH Company

Abbot's Butcher plant-based Ground "Beef" and Chopped Chick'n available at Sprouts Farmers Market.

Retail & E-Commerce

Abbot’s Butcher Launches Clean-Label Chorizo and Chopped Chick’n at US Sprouts Markets

April 10, 2023April 7, 2023

Abbot’s Butcher, maker of clean-label plant-based proteins, announces the debut of its “Chorizo” and Chopped Chick’n in all 370 Sprouts Farmers Markets across the US. The natural retailer will carry the products in its refrigerated case. Made with 100% whole food ingredients, Abbot’s Butcher’s proteins are free from soy, gluten, preservatives, natural and artificial flavors, canola oil, and the top nine allergens. The products are also Non-GMO Project Verified and the first plant-based meat line to receive Whole30 approval. “Launching with Sprouts is an incredibly exciting step for us,” said Founder & CEO Kerry Song. “There is an undeniable shift taking place in how consumers are thinking about their food, and they are actively seeking out food made with ingredients that truly nourish their bodies. …

Organisations and brands:

Abbot's Butcher

Sprouts Farmers Market

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers