Frozen Foods

©Oumph!

Oumph! To Phase out Plastic Packaging and Introduce Cardboard Alternative for Frozen

February 25, 2022January 20, 2022

Oumph! – the rapidly-growing Swedish plant-based food producer – has announced plans to phase out plastic in its food product packaging. Oumph! will now opt for recyclable cardboard packaging in all of its markets. “Not only is it better for the environment, but we’re also receiving positive feedback from retailers because the packaging is easy to stack, and requires less freezer space” Launching first in the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands, the new packaging is designed to match Oumph!’s brand attitude and has reportedly received good feedback from consumers and retailers alike. With figures suggesting more than half the UK population wants to purchase less unnecessary packaging, award-winning brand Oumph! is looking to lead by example despite the numerous difficulties in adopting sustainable packaging for …

Organisations and brands:

OUMPH!

Sam Dennigan © Strong Roots

Investments & Finance

Strong Roots Announces a $55M Investment From McCain to Expand Globally

December 8, 2021

Strong Roots announces a $55 million investment from McCain Foods in what is reportedly one of the largest deals in plant-based from a European competitor. The Dublin based company has a strong presence in mainstream US retail, is the fastest-growing food brand in the UK, and one of the few food brands to have received a B Corp certification. Young entrepreneur Samuel Dennigan launched Strong Roots in 2015 on a mission to “redefine frozen” and just three years later secured $18.3 million in a Series A funding. This year saw a widespread rollout into US retail including Kroger stores as well as Walmart and Wholefoods. Speaking to vegconomist in 2020, Dennigan said that the products’ simplicity is the secret to the brand’s success: “You break …

Organisations and brands:

McCain Foods

©Tattooed Chef

Tattooed Chef to Expand Into 1,800 Kroger Stores Across the US This Summer

July 13, 2021

Tattooed Chef, Inc. a producer of vegan frozen foods such as ready-to-cook bowls, zucchini spirals, riced cauliflower, acai and smoothie bowls, and cauliflower pizza crusts which became publicly listed last year, today announced it expects to launch its branded products across multiple categories in approximately 1,800 Kroger stores nationwide later this summer. “We are thrilled to announce our expansion into Kroger which demonstrates our ability to expand Tattooed Chef’s distribution into conventional grocery,” said Sam Galletti, President and CEO of Tattooed Chef. “Kroger is one of the largest food retailers in the United States and we are excited to offer consumers more access to our innovative portfolio of plant-based products.” By September, consumers will be able to purchase a total of 12 SKU’s nationally across …

Organisations and brands:

Kroger

Tattooed Chef

©Strong Roots

Strong Roots Expands its Plant-Based Frozen Products into Kroger Stores US-Wide

July 13, 2021July 12, 2021

Strong Roots, a plant-based frozen food brand based in Dublin and reportedly the fastest-growing F&B brand in the UK, is accelerating its expansion in US retail with the launch of its plant-based range in more than 1,000 Kroger shops nationwide, following its launch into more than 2,000 Walmart stores across the USA last September. 34-year-old Samuel Dennigan founded Strong Roots in Ireland in 2015, on a mission to “redefine frozen”. In an interview with vegconomist last year, Dennigan stated that what sets the brand apart is its honesty and transparency: “Simplicity is at the core of our success. You break open our burgers, you see vegetables. When consumers look at the back of our packs, they understand the ingredients and what goes into their food.“ …

Organisations and brands:

Kroger

©Komo Plant Based Foods

Canada’s Komo Foods Launches Taco Filling as Plant-Based Frozen and Ready Meal Categories Soar

June 23, 2021

Vancouver producer Komo Plant-Based Foods Inc. has announced the launch of its BBQ Mushroom Lentil Taco Filling. The emerging plant-based food company develops and manufactures a variety of plant-based frozen and ready meals, with the latest launch part of its Meal Helpers line expansion. “Plant-forward diets are more prevalent than ever before; consumers are cooking at home more often and looking for easier ways to bring dinner to the table” Komo’s new ready-to-serve Taco Filling comes as the brand targets multi-serve plant-based dinners and entrees sub-categories with its flagship Ready-to-Bake Classics and its Plant-Based Meal Helpers lines. Komo’s products are sold DTC through its eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick-and-mortar retailer channels. With plans to launch another 5 new SKUs by …

Organisations and brands:

Komo

Komo Foods

©Mighty Plants

Mighty Plants Launches “UK’s First Frozen Plant-Based Food Supermarket” Backed By Dismatrix

January 15, 2022June 22, 2021

Having recently received funding from Dismatrix Group, the venture capital firm run by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni and Miray Zaki; Mighty Plants, the UK producer of dairy-free avocado ice cream brand Fravocado, launches what it claims to be the UK’s first and only online frozen plant-based food supermarket. “We want to give you food flexibility – frozen food lasts longer and reduces waste – which is great for your wallet and the planet.” Mighty Plants is an online ‘frozen aisle’ where consumers can shop for multiple sustainable frozen products in the comfort of their home and have them delivered to their door. It offers delicious dairy-free ice cream, allergen-free frozen food, vegan ready meals, and plant-based meat alternatives from brands that aim to replace meat in …

Organisations and brands:

Dismatrix group

©Verdino Green Foods

Verdino Green Foods Wants to Conquer European Plant-Based Frozen Pizza Market

May 13, 2021

Verdino Green Foods, a plant-based producer in Romania which offers a variety of pea protein-based products, is launching a new line of plant-based pizzas in seven European countries. The five new plant-based Verdino pizzas will first be available in retail outlets in Romania, Spain, Holland, Germany, the UK, Switzerland and Serbia.

Studies & Numbers

Sustainability Platform abillion Reveals World’s Top 10 Vegan Frozen Meals

May 11, 2021

Digital platform abillion, which promotes plant-based eating and sustainability, has revealed the top frozen vegan meals worldwide based on user-submitted reviews. Number of reviews, scores, and consumer sentiment were used to determine the most popular.

Organisations and brands:

abillion

©Central Foods

Gastronomy & Food Service

UK’s Central Foods Launches New Frozen Vegan Product Range For Food Service

March 18, 2021

Frozen food supplier Central Foods has launched a new range of vegan options for the UK food service sector through its KaterVeg! brand. The launch of the KaterVeg! Vegan Quarterpounder, the KaterVeg! Vegan Meatballs, the KaterVeg! Vegan Sausage and the KaterVeg! Vegan Banger follow the successful launch of KaterVeg! Vegan Mincemeat last year.

Organisations and brands:

Central Foods

©Business Wire

Vestar Takes Majority Stake in Dr. Praeger’s, Installs Ex Pinnacle Foods CEO as Chair

January 21, 2021

Private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners announces today it has made a majority investment into Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods. Vestar advisor Jeffrey Ansell, previously CEO of Pinnacle Foods – a $3 billion corporation whose portfolio includes Birds Eye, Earth Balance, EVOL, and Gardein – will join the Dr. Praeger’s board as Chairman.

Organisations and brands:

Dr. Praeger's

©Alpha Foods

Alpha Foods Launches DTC Platform as Pandemic Continues to Influence Consumers

November 11, 2020November 10, 2020

California’s Alpha Foods announces today it is launching a new direct to consumer platform allowing consumers to purchase plant-based meal bundles and have them delivered to their doorsteps. The new bundles consist of plant-based takes on classic comfort foods and include Alpha Nuggets, All-Day Burritos, Crumbles and more.

Organisations and brands:

Alpha Foods

Interviews

Strong Roots: “We’re Trying to ‘Redefine Frozen’ and Lead with Honesty and Transparency”

September 25, 2020

Strong Roots, the UK’s fastest-growing F&B brand, rapidly became international with expansion into the US, Europe, and Asia, on its mission to fix the freezer aisle. Originating in Ireland, Strong Roots is set to become one of the sector’s most popular brands with a forecast of $100 million in global sales by 2023.

Organisations and brands:

©Strong Roots

Food & Beverage

Strong Roots, The UK’s Fastest Growing Food Brand ‘Cements US Hyper-Growth’ with Expansion into 2,000 Walmart Stores

September 18, 2020September 17, 2020

Strong Roots, a Dublin-based producer of frozen plant products, is on a “mission to fix the freezer”. Already the fastest-growing F&B brand in the UK and stocked in 3,000 US locations, the young company is now accelerating its retail expansion to more than 2,000 Walmart stores across the USA.

Organisations and brands:

Little Roots

Walmart

Planty

UK’s Popular DTC Frozen Vegan Meal Service Planty Secures Seed Investment from Veg Capital

September 7, 2020September 4, 2020

Planty, a hugely popular vegan frozen food innovator from the UK, has closed its seed funding with Matthew Glover’s Veg Capital leading the round with an investment of £150K. Planty’s founders say that the new funds will help to “execute our production roadmap, alongside accelerating the growth of our social and environmental mission.”

Organisations and brands:

Veg Capital