Veronica Fil headshot

Veronica Fil, image supplied

Opinion

Op Ed: Veronica Fil, Founder of Grounded Foods Co., On Convenience as Imperative

Veronica Fil is a former behavioural economist, who now specialises in marketing for the alternative protein industry. She is the co-founder of Grounded Foods Co. and author of Plant Based USA: a Guide to Eating Animal-Free in America. Convenience as the forgotten factor in plant-based adoption By Veronica Fil Given the monumental hype around plant-based proteins over the past few years, you might be wondering why demand for these products hasn’t yet reached the fever pitch we were all hoping for.  What’s the hold-up? Why aren’t we achieving more widespread consumer adoption of plant-based products? As more people begin to understand and accept the health, environmental, and/or ethical need for this shift in global eating habits, the market for alternative proteins is still relatively small. …

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Daring Plant Chicken

©Daring

Products & Launches

Daring Debuts First Line of Frozen Plant-Based Chicken Entrees

Plant-based chicken brand Daring announces it will release its first-ever convenience line of frozen entrees. Available in several varieties, Daring Plant Chicken Entrees are debuting at this week’s Expo West in Anaheim, California, along with two additional product innovations: Daring Teriyaki Pieces and Buffalo Wings.  Easy and versatile Described as premium and clean-label convenience foods, the new Plant Chicken Entrees are said to be gluten-free bowls packed with protein. Speaking on social media, Daring said its customers are seeking easy and versatile meals that don’t sacrifice taste or quality. The frozen bowls are offered in several varieties, including Spicy Fajita, Teriyaki and Penne Primavera.  Also at Expo West, Daring is showcasing its two latest Plant Chicken flavors: Teriyaki and Buffalo Wings.  The Teriyaki Pieces, which …

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immi Vegan Ramen Broth

©immi

Investments & Finance

Healthy Ramen Brand immi Closes $10M Series A to Scale Up Plant-Based Instant Ramen

Plant-based instant ramen brand immi announces it has closed $10M in Series A funding to help brings its healthy, low-carb and high-protein ramen to mainstream markets. The round was backed by a powerful group of celebrities, including Naomi Osaka, Usher and Apollo Ohno. Founded by Kevin Lee and Kevin Chanthasiriphan, immi sells a range of better-for-you instant vegan ramens in three flavors – Black Garlic “Chicken”, Spicy “Beef”, and Tom Yum “Shrimp”. Since launching in 2021, the brand reports “tremendous” growth in demand across its website, Amazon, and other online wholesale channels. Last year, the company began retail expansion at companies like Whole Foods, where it reports seeing strong, sustained retail velocities. The new financing will enable immi to continue scaling by hiring for key …

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© Herbimore

Food Service

UK Brand Herbimore to Launch at 40% of University Sector & Hundreds More Locations

Herbimore is a UK convenience food producer set to launch in June of this year. The plant-based brand will make its debut at hundreds of food service locations, including coffee lounges, schools, colleges, and 40% of the university sector. Herbimore’s range will include ready-made sandwiches, wraps, and salads, and will be brought to market by the UK’s leading independent sandwich company, Tiffin Sandwiches. Tiffin says it is responding to increased demand for vegan grab-and-go options. Said to be high in fibre and protein, the wraps and sandwiches will contain a variety of fillings, including meat alternatives made by Squeaky Bean and VBites. They will also feature house-made sauces and marinades. The convenience foods will be available nationwide, via a large distribution network serviced by a …

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BOL Foods

© BOL Foods

Facts & Figures

BOL Foods Reports Record Sales as it Launches at Almost 2000 Co-op Stores

Speaking to The Express, British plant-based ready meal brand BOL Foods has said that it is expecting its largest ever turnover of £24 million in 2023. BOL claims it was the UK’s fastest-growing meat-free brand last year, spurred on by successful new product launches and two awards — a Grocer Gold and a Great Taste Award. The company is now working to increase the size of its team to 50. A further sales boost is likely after a selection of BOL’s One Pot Meals and Power Soups launched at almost 2000 Co-op stores this January. These include Coconut Lentil Turmeric Daal, Spanish Butter Bean Stew, and Immune Boosting Butternut Squash & Chilli Soup. The brand also has listings at Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, and …

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7-Eleven Waygu Steak Wrap

Southwestern Plant-Based Steak Wrap ©7-Eleven Canada

Products & Launches

Wamame’s ‘Waygu’ Beef Launches in 7-Eleven Canada Plant-Based Steak Wraps

Canada’s Wamame Foods announces it is launching its ultra-premium Waygu™ plant-based meat strips in 7-Eleven Canada locations nationwide. Now available for a limited time, Waygu is featured in several items on the chain’s “ready-to-serve” menu, including the Southwestern Plant-Based Steak Wrap and Mexican Plant-Based Steak Wrap. According to Wamame, its products were chosen as 7-Eleven Canada’s top choice to help drive the chain’s mandate to offer more “ready-to-serve” vegan and sustainable options. Wamame states it worked directly with 7-Eleven Canada for six months to develop the new offerings.  Every 7-Eleven across Canada “We are excited that Wamame products are now available in every 7-Eleven location across Canada,” says Mr. Jarrett Malnarich, CEO of Wamame Foods Inc. “Being able to develop, launch and support 7-Eleven Canada’s …

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7-Eleven Impossible Breakfast Sandwich

©7-Eleven Canada

Products & Launches

7-Eleven Canada Debuts Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich with Impossible Sausage and JUST Egg

JUST Egg announces 7-Eleven Canada is launching a new, 100% plant-based breakfast sandwich across its stores. The Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich with Impossible Sausage is now available 24/7 at participating 7-Eleven locations nationwide. Made with Impossible Sausage, JUST Egg, and melted Violife Cheddar inside a toasted English muffin, the sandwich is described as an option for both “vegan lovers and flexitarians” that offers 18 grams of plant-based protein. It also offers a good source of iron and calcium, with zero cholesterol.  More healthy options The sandwich is 7-Eleven Canada’s latest plant protein offering – in 2022, the convenience chain partnered with Lightlife Foods to debut plant-based chicken tenders in more than 600 of its stores.  According to 7-Eleven, the oven-baked tenders were part of a commitment …

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Vegan Lasagna

©Sunday Supper

Food & Beverage

Sunday Supper: On a Mission to Redefine Frozen Food with Premium Plant-Based Lasagna

While plant-based frozen foods continue to expand in number and diversity, few have entered the segment of premium, family-size entrees, and even fewer offer plant-based versions of popular Italian favorites, like lasagna.  Now, food startup Sunday Supper is working to change that by launching a gourmet line of authentic, ready-to-eat vegan Italian entrees, starting with its flagship frozen lasagnas.  Co-founded in 2021 by Richard Klein and Maleeda Wagner, Sunday Supper states it is on a mission to redefine the $38B frozen food category by providing healthy plant-based options that don’t compromise on taste or quality.  Chef made To create its first products, Three Cheese and Italian Sausage Lasagna, the company worked with award-winning Italian chef Celestino Drago, who added his culinary skill and family traditions …

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Strong Roots Entrees

© Strong Roots

Products & Launches

Strong Roots Debuts ‘Good Made Easy’ Frozen Line with 14 Plant-Based Entrees

Plant-based frozen foods brand Strong Roots announces it is launching ‘Good Made Easy’ – its first line of single serve frozen entrees. Coming to US Whole Foods in 2023, the new range boasts 14 innovative meal options.  According to Strong Roots, the ‘Good Made Easy’ range is only made from whole plant, clean label ingredients. Each meal is portioned for individual eating and the entrées can be conveniently prepared in under 5 minutes. Nutritionally, the meals, which contain less than 450 calories each, are low in saturated fat, sugar and sodium and provide up to 24 grams of protein. Most also provide a good source of fiber. The flavors include: Thai Green Veg Curry Greek Orzo Pasta Bake Veggie Masala Chickpea And Red Lentil Saag  …

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ProVeg NHF

© ProVeg International

Delivery Services

How Meal Kit Companies Target Flexitarians to Promote Plant-Based & Drive Profits

Consumers are increasingly turning towards convenience, as lives get busier and working hours lengthen. This behaviour change is important for customer-focused food companies to consider, as it will affect how consumers approach mealtimes and thus, what they buy and eat. At the same time, the plant-based sector is seeing no sign of slowing down, with 40% of consumers now buying plant-based foods.  To appeal to as many consumers as possible, many meal kit brands have turned to the plant-based market, combining convenience with new ranges of plant-based recipe boxes. The past few years have also seen a huge increase in smaller recipe kit and meal box brands dedicated entirely to plant-based or vegetarian ingredients. Although these levels of growth have proved to be unsustainable, the …

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Meatless Maverick Chick'un Sandwich

© Rustlers

Products & Launches

Rustlers Introduces Meatless Maverick Chick’un Fillet

British chilled convenience food brand Rustlers has launched its first fully plant-based product — the Meatless Maverick Chick’un Fillet. The ready meal consists of a pea and wheat protein fillet on a sesame seed bun. It is topped with vegan mayo and salad leaves. Rustlers — which is owned by meat producer Kepak — launched its first vegetarian option, the Meatless Maverick Classic Burger, about a year ago. But while labelled as plant-based, the burger contains a slice of dairy cheese, making it unsuitable for vegans. The new Chick’un Fillet, on the other hand, has been certified by the Vegan Society. Vegan sandwiches A report published in June found that many UK retailers have reduced the number of vegan sandwiches they offer, though the use …

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Impossible Tasty Chili Mac

©Impossible Foods

Products & Launches

Impossible Foods Launches New Impossible Bowls Featuring Plant-Based Chicken, Pork and Beef

Impossible Foods announces it is launching Impossible Bowls, a new line of frozen convenience meals featuring the brand’s beef, chicken and pork made from plants. Beginning this month, Impossible Bowls will be available in approximately 4,000 Walmart stores across the US. Eight varieties Created to offer consumers a new way of enjoying fast and easy plant-based meals, Impossible Bowls are ready to eat in 5 minutes or less. The single-serve entrees will be available in eight flavors, starting with Asian and American cuisines: Sweet & Sour Impossible Pork  Teriyaki Impossible Chicken  Chili Mac with Impossible Pork  Barbeque Impossible Pork  Followed by Italian and Latin-inspired flavors:  Spaghetti & Impossible Meatballs Pasta Bolognese with Impossible Beef & Pork Burrito Bowl with Impossible Beef Spicy Enchilada Bowl with …

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Heyday Canning Co Line

© Heyday Canning Co

Food & Beverage

Heyday Canning Co is Bringing Premium Beans to Sprouts to Disrupt the Canned Foods Category

The canned foods aisle offers undeniable consumer value as a source of simple, affordable and shelf-stable food items. But while known for its accessibility, the category has also largely lacked creativity and innovation. Heyday Canning Co, a startup founded by Jamie Tulley and former Clif Bar and Sweet Earth exec Kat Kavner, hopes to change that by introducing a new line of high-flavor canned foods aimed at modernizing the age-old category, reports Food Navigator-USA.  Debuting at Sprouts Farmers Markets in November, Heyday’s first line features classic bean staples such as chickpeas, navy, cannellini and black beans cooked in a variety of globally-inspired sauces. Prepared this way, the beans can be eaten alone or easily added to rice, pasta, tacos and more, says Kavner. To create their …

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convenience webinar ProVeg

Image courtesy ProVeg International

Fairs & Events

Convenience by Design Webinar Featuring Industry Experts

This article is part of the Vegconomist X ProVeg International New Food Hub article series, which aims to make actionable insights into the plant-based space more readily accessible. ProVeg International recently hosted a webinar on plant-based convenience foods, featuring a panel of industry experts, including Miguel Serrano, CEO of Vidyalto; Pascal Bieri, Co-Founder of Planted; and Nora Henning, Test and Lean Innovation Leader and Lean Startup Coach at Nestlé. This webinar aims to give businesses a comprehensive understanding of how to integrate convenience into their product lines and marketing messaging to influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. It covers the meaning of convenience, how to communicate convenience to the consumer, how best to utilise market research to develop your convenience product, and the socio-cultural context of convenience.  …

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Hangry Planet

©Hangry Planet

Society

Hangry Planet Opens North America’s First 100% Plant-Based Convenience Store

Hangry Planet has opened what it says is the first 24/7 plant-based convenience mart in North America. Located in a Shell gas station in San Bruno, CA,  Hangry Planet offers a huge selection of curated vegan snacks, meals and sweets served alongside vibrant music, art and a virtual reality car wash.  Created by actor and entrepreneur Bobak Bakhtiari, Hangry Planet states every store product is vetted to ensure it is sustainable and cruelty-free.  Among the store’s vast offerings, customers can enjoy vegan hot cocoa and golden milk from a Laird’s Superfoods machine, Oatly soft serve ice cream, organic vegan pastries and donuts, and a wide range of candy bars, sodas and potato chips. On the savory side, Hangry Planet serves grab-and-go meals like the Hangry …

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v2Foods ready meal range

© v2Foods

Products & Launches

v2Foods Launches Vegan Ready Meals Range in Woolworths Across Australia

v2food this week announced the launch of a range of ready meals in Woolworths stores throughout Australia, marking its newest product development following v2mince®, v2burger®, v2sausage®, v2 pork mince in Asia, and the line of crumbed-chicken products launched this  March.  The new range, available in Spaghetti Bolognese, Lasagne, Penne Bake and Chilli Con Carne, has been launched to cater for the demand for convenience meals in Australia, which has increased since the beginning of the pandemic, with the products evidently aimed squarely at flexitarians who continue to drive the market. Founder and CEO Nick Hazell explains : “v2food is committed to making it easier for everyone to eat sustainably more often. We are not asking every Aussie to become vegan, instead, we’re encouraging them to …

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The Goods Mart Founder

Image courtesy of Rachel Krupa

Food & Beverage

Meet The Goods Mart: A Socially Conscious Vegan-Friendly Convenience Store

Convenience stores are notorious for selling quick and delicious but downright unhealthy (and mostly non-vegan) foods. The Goods Mart has set out to transform the gas station mini-mart model by vending a plethora of healthier, socially responsible and eco-friendly snacks. Founded by PR consultant Rachel Krupa in 2018, The Goods Mart sells products through both brick-and-mortar stores and shipped curated boxes, with a vast inventory that is approximately 80% plant-based.  Healthy and affordable What truly makes The Goods Mart exceptional is curation – Krupa individually selects non-GMO and clean-label brands based on several considerations, including taste, brand story and packaging. To make healthier snacking more accessible, Goods Mart also prioritizes affordability across its offerings, with prices starting at $0.49 and ranging up to no more …

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Anders Christensen, TastefulFoods

Anders Christensen, Tasteful Foods

Company News

Denmark’s GRÖNT Enters Germany After Conquering Nordics

Despite having been founded just less than a year ago, Danish brand GRÖNT has launched throughout all of the Nordic countries and now announces its expansion into Germany, the biggest plant-based market in Europe. Anders P. Christensen, founder and CEO of Tasteful Foods, the company behind GRÖNT, says that as of this month the brand’s plant-based portfolio is available in both Sweden and Finland, and can be found in all Nordic countries across more than 3,000 grocery stores, making it the fastest-growing plant-based brand in the Nordics. GRÖNT is known for its selection of popular dishes such as lasagna, chili non-carne, butter chicken, and green curry, which were developed in collaboration with a team of gourmet chefs. The dishes have retail availability in COOP in …

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Planteneers Plant-based lasagne

©Planteneers

Food & Beverage

Planteneers Says That “New Work” is Driving Demand for Plant-Based Convenience Foods

In recent months takeout and delivery models have experienced a tremendous boom. The operative term is “new work,” and home office and mobile working call for need-oriented solutions, and as we recently reported, vegan convenience food is a category currently trending and seeing high investor interest since the pandemic. Vegan alternatives to pepperoni or tuna Planteneers GmbH, headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, develops and produces custom system solutions for plant-based alternatives to meat, sausage and fish products, as well as cheese, dairy products and deli foods. With the company’s compounds, manufacturers can offer an entire range of pizzas with purely plant-based ingredients, and so address the rising demand for plant-based convenience foods. The functional systems in the fiildMeat S range, for example, are ideal for making …

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Alpha Foods

© Alpha Foods

Marketing & Media

Alpha Foods Wants You to “Grow Your Own Meat” in Unique Campaign

Californian plant-based meat company Alpha Foods has launched an unusual marketing campaign in collaboration with advertising agency Mischief. As part of the campaign the seed kits allow customers to grow the ingredients used in Alpha’s meat alternatives, including its chik’n nuggets, burritos, and pot pies, all of which can be grown and harvested at home.

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