The Kraft Heinz Not Company KD mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Products & Launches

Daiya and The Kraft Heinz NotCompany Both Launch Vegan Mac & Cheese in Canada

Two major, noteworthy brands in the alternative foods space have launched vegan mac & cheese products this week in Canada, a country known for its love of the traditionally dairy-heavy dish. The Kraft Heinz Not Company, a joint venture between Kraft Heinz — the name most closely associated with packet mac and cheese — and Chile’s NotCo, has today debuted KD NotMacandCheese in Canada, marking the first plant-based addition to its Canadian product line. Concurrently, Daiya, known for its dairy-free cheese alternatives, announced the introduction of a new line of Dry Powdered Mac & Cheese. Canada as biggest market for mac & cheese In November of last year, The Kraft Heinz Not Company debuted the plant-based Mac & Cheese in the United States. However, the …

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The Kraft Heinz Not Company Mac & cheese

© The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Products & Launches

The Kraft Heinz Not Company Unveils First Ever Plant-Based KRAFT Mac & Cheese with NotCheese

This morning, The Kraft Heinz Not Company LLC, a joint venture between NotCo and Kraft Heinz, announces the first-ever plant-based version of the iconic KRAFT Mac & Cheese in the United States. The KRAFT Mac & Cheese line, already a convenience food mainstay in North America, was extended with a vegan iteration back in 2021, which appears to have been limited to the Australian market. KRAFT also owns the Philadelphia brand which debuted a vegan cream cheese in 2022 and rolled out nationally across the US this year after the success of its trial. This new launch marks the first KRAFT Mac & Cheese produced with NotCo and featuring the company’s NotCheese. The company cites that the growth of health-conscious mac & cheese alternatives has …

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Gluten-Free Vegan Mac and Cheese

©Eat Howl Inc.

Investments & Acquisitions

Penguin Natural Foods Acquires Howl, Will Launch New Lineup of Plant-Based Mac and Cheeses

US plant-based foods company Eat Howl Inc. announces it is selling the Howl brand to Penguin Natural Foods, a leading manufacturer of innovative packaged foods. Eat Howl founders Chef Craig Thornton and Fred Michaels will stay on as advisors. Penguin also plans to release a new and improved lineup of Howl’s plant-based mac and cheese beginning in Summer 2023.  Through the acquisition, Penguin – which already manages most of Howl’s manufacturing – will take over the entire production process, including the production of the latter’s cashew sauce. According to Howl, this will improve the brand’s consistency and quality while accelerating innovation, and allow Penguin to sell private-label versions of Howl.  “We are excited to grow Howl into the premier plant-based brand that we know it …

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NY chickpea specialist Banza launches Vegan Deluxe Mac & Cheese into Whole Foods nationwide

© Image courtesy of Banza

Retail & E-Commerce

Banza Launches Vegan Mac & Cheese Made With Chickpea Pasta at Whole Foods US-Wide

Banza, a New York brand manufacturing chickpea-based foods, has launched a new product — Plant-Based Deluxe Mac — at Whole Foods stores US-wide. This vegan version of a classic favorite is the latest addition to Banza’s plant-based portfolio, which consists of three mac & cheese products, two pizzas, and a rice and chickpea pasta range. The new product is made with plant-based cheddar and chickpea pasta, providing three times more protein and fiber than the leading vegan mac & cheese product and 30% fewer net carbs. Every serving contains 9g of protein and 5g of fiber. Chickpea-based comfort foods Banza, founded in 2014, is the first commercial producer of chickpea-based comfort foods in the US. The company claims to offer the country’s best-selling gluten-free pizza …

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GrownAs* Foods-Kid-Approved, Adult-Adored Mac and Cheese!

© GrownAs* Foods

Retail & E-Commerce

GrownAs* Foods Rolls Out Gourmet Vegan Mac & Cheese Into 380 Sprouts Stores

Boulder Colorado-based GrownAs* Foods today announces a new listing for its Classic and Truffle-flavored mac & cheese at Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the USA. The product contains 25 grams of plant-based protein per serving, according to the brand, and is free from soy, cholesterol, dairy, sugar, GMOs, as well as plastic. The simple ingredient list includes nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, potato and coconut flour. As we reported last December, GrownAs*, a subsidiary of Seed Ranch Flavor Co, aims to revolutionize the mac and cheese category by producing clean ingredient, gourmet mac and cheese products for the modern market. “We are thrilled to join forces with Sprouts and bring our delicious, plant-based mac & cheese to families across the nation within the chain’s new Innovation …

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Wicked Ice Cream, Stew and Mac & Cheeze

©Wicked Kitchen

Products & Launches

Wicked Kitchen Expands Grocery Line with Birthday Cake Ice Cream, Heat-and-Eat Stews and Mac & Cheeze

Global plant-based brand Wicked Kitchen announces it is expanding its US grocery range with several varieties of heat-and-eat stews, mac ‘n cheeze and an all-new Birthday Cake ice cream pint. The company will be sampling its latest offerings at the upcoming Expo West in Anaheim, CA. According to Wicked, it is expanding its lineup during a time of “high growth” for the brand, as it continues to rapidly increase nationwide retail distribution points.  The new ice cream, stews and mac & cheezes add to the 50+ products Wicked already sells in the frozen and grocery categories. The latest offerings include: Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sweet “ice dream” with vegan cake pieces and rainbow sprinkles.  Heat & Serve Stews      Tuscan Style White Bean Stew …

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Grownas_Mac-lifestyle

© GrownAs* Foods

Products & Launches

GrownAs* Foods to “Revolutionize” Vegan Mac and Cheese With These Gourmet Flavors

GrownAs* Foods says it has reimagined vegan mac and cheese with these new Classic and Truffle varieties that apparently “cut the crap” found in conventional counterparts. A subsidiary of Colorado’s Seed Ranch Flavor Co; GrownAs* Foods states its intention to revolutionize the mac and cheese category by manufacturing clean ingredient, gourmet mac and cheese products for the modern market. The company also sells its vegan cheese to food service providers. Vegan mac and cheese is a relatively unsaturated market; at time of publication, the brands offering boxed vegan varieties in the US include Daiya, Banza, Annie’s, Chickapea, Trader Joe’s, and Goodles. According to the Boulder-based sauce specialist, what makes the GrownAs* products unique is their “stellar nutrition profile”, including simple ingredients like nutritional yeast, smoked …

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GOODLES Vegan Mac and Cheese Bowl

©GOODLES

Products & Launches

Gal Gadot’s GOODLES Launches Its First Vegan Mac ‘n Cheese at Whole Foods Market

GOODLES, the mac and cheese brand backed by actress Gal Gadot, announced it has launched into US Whole Foods stores nationwide. Known for its nutritious remake of classic cheesy noodles, GOODLES’ says its first dairy-free flavor, Vegan is Believin’, will also launch at the retailer by the end of August.  Whole Foods in fact will be the first market to feature Vegan is Believin’, a plant-based version of white cheddar mac. Made with wheat flour and chickpea protein, the spiral pasta also contains nutrients extracted from 21 plant ingredients such as broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, cranberry, and mushrooms.  The dairy-free cheese sauce is made from cashew nut milk, and each serving offers 12 g of protein and 7 grams of fiber, while being …

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GOODLES Pasta

©GOODLES

Food & Beverage

Gal Gadot’s GOODLES Mac and Cheese Launches First Dairy-Free Flavor

GOODLES, a healthier mac and cheese brand co-created by Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot, is releasing its first plant-based flavor, Vegan is Believin’. Available online starting June 28, the new product features a lineup of 21 plant-based nutrients extracted from ingredients like chickpeas, mushrooms and kale, reports VegNews.  Flavor and nutrition Gadot co-launched GOODLES in 2021 to innovate conventional mac and cheese products with healthier ingredients. The upcoming Vegan is Believin’ flavor, which features spiral noodles in a white cheddar sauce, will incorporate GOODLES’ proprietary pasta formula. According to the brand, the new offering provides plenty of protein.  “Vegan Is Believin’ Mac and Cheese has the same 21 micronutrients as GOODLES dairy-based flavors, and it still packs a punch of protein, with 13 grams …

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Kraft Mac & Cheese

©Kraft

Products & Launches

Kraft Launches Vegan Mac and Cheese in Australia

After researching plant-based alternatives for its Philadelphia cream cheese, international food conglomerate Kraft has released a vegan version of its classic Mac & Cheese box. Gluten-free and vegan-certified, the new product is available via Woolworths supermarket in Australia – though it is currently sold out. Excitement grew on social media as it flooded with images and posts about a vegan version of Kraft’s iconic Mac & Cheese boxes, but little information has been forthcoming regarding the launch. Now known as Kraft Heinz, the multinational has been slow to move in the plant-based market, but did launch vegan mayo and salad dressing options last year. The new Mac & Cheese Vegan is perfect for quick dinners and is free from artificial colours and flavours. Made with …

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Modern Table

©Modern Table

Products & Launches

Modern Table® Debuts Vegan Mac Line

Modern Table®, maker of delicious, complete protein pastas and Mac & Cheese, unveils its first-of-a-kind complete protein Vegan Mac line in three new flavours – Southwest, Classic Cheddar Style and White Cheddar Style. Modern Table pastas are made with lentils, rice and peas, containing all nine of the essential amino acids, are GMO-free, gluten-free and soy-free with no artificial preservatives or colors.

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