Real Vegan Mozzarella Cheese

©New Culture

Gastronomy & Food Service

New Culture Partners with Chef Nancy Silverton to Launch “Revolutionary” Animal-Free Mozzarella in 2024

Precision fermentation startup New Culture announces it is partnering with iconic chef and restauranteur Nancy Silverton to launch its first product – animal-free mozzarella – in Silverton’s acclaimed Pizzeria Mozza restaurant in 2024. New Culture says the debut will mark a significant milestone in making its animal-free dairy cheese available to consumers.  As the co-owner of the renowned Mozza Restaurant Group, Silverton is known for her focus on high-quality pizza crust and premium mozzarella cheese.  According to New Culture, its product is the first animal-free cheese to meet Silverton’s high standards and be offered on the meny at any of her restaurants. The launch will feature two new pizzas: A traditional Margherita and a caponata pizza with eggplant, tomato confit, pickled onions and caperberries.  New Culture …

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Plant-Based Mozzarella Sticks

©Farm Rich

Products & Launches

Farm Rich Debuts First Plant-Based Mozzarella Style Sticks at Kroger and Walmart

Farm Rich, a leading US brand of frozen cheese sticks, announces it is adding several new snacks to its lineup, including its first-ever Plant-Based Mozzarella Style Sticks. The cheese sticks are now available in the freezer sections at US retailers nationwide, including Walmart and Kroger. Described as an indulgent cheese alternative snack, the new product is made with melty dairy-free cheese in a crispy golden breading and comes with a side of marinara sauce. Each serving includes 4 grams of protein and 5% of daily recommended fiber.  According to Farm Rich, it was the first company to introduce frozen mozzarella sticks into grocery stores in 1982. With the new Plant-Based Mozzarella Style Sticks, the brand says it now offers a snack that even consumers with …

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Finnish dairy company launches vegan mozzarella

© Jokilaakson Juusto/Ilo

Cheese Alternatives

Finnish Dairy Company Expands Vegan Range With Mozzarella Alternative

Jokilaakson Juusto is a Finnish dairy company making cheeses and gourmet spreads. In 2007, the producer launched a plant-based brand, Ilo, which was initially focused on hummus. Jokilaakson then introduced a range of vegan cheeses under the Ilo brand, including artisan cashew-based varieties, pizza cheese, and spreads in flavours such as garlic and sweet jalapeno. The products are made alongside the company’s dairy cheeses in the town of Jämsä, where cheese has been produced since the 1950s. Now, the Ilo range has been expanded with Vegan Mozzis, an alternative to mozzarella slices. When melted, the slices are said to have a stringy consistency and a mild flavour, like conventional mozzarella. One package provides just the right amount of cheese for a margherita pizza. The Mozzis …

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raclettes with bedda cheese

© bedda

Cheese Alternatives

bedda Reveals Several Exciting New Vegan Cheeses Incuding First Fermented Offering

Hanburg’s multi-award winning bedda brand, producer of plant-based cheeses, sauces, desserts, dips and dressings, plans an upcoming launch of several new vegan cheeses including its first fermented offering. The news comes less than two months after the German company’s partnership with Dominos pizza, which now uses its vegan grated melt as a topping for the Oh Jacky jackfruit pizza, launched to coincide with Veganuary. The upcoming new products include: The first fermented product from bedda –“bedda Shepherd” — a new iteration of its shepherd’s cheese alternative. bedda “Come on Bert”, its camembert alternative, has an updated recipe and is extended by the red smear alternative Red Bert and the blue mould alternative Blue Bert. bedda “Mo Zart” is its mozzarella alternative, a soft, mildly acidic …

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© New Culture

Company News

Alt-Dairy Startup New Culture Appoints ‘Hu’ Chocolate CEO Mark Ramadan to Board of Directors

Animal-free cheese startup New Culture announces it is appointing Mark Ramadan, the CEO of leading chocolate brand Hu, to its Board of Directors.  According to New Culture, Ramadan’s appointment marks the company’s next step as it prepares for its first public tastings of animal-free mozzarella, in preparation for a US launch in 2024.  Ramadan is currently the CEO of Hu (pronounced “hue”), which is said to be America’s leading better-for-you chocolate brand. Imploring consumers to “Get Back to Human”,  Hu sells a range of dairy-free chocolate bars made from a strict list of simple ingredients. Many of Hu’s chocolates are vegan as well as paleo and refined sugar-free.  Prior to Hu,  Mark was the co-founder and CEO of Sir Kensington’s, which produces a line of …

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Vegan Rocket Veggie, Domino's France

Vegan Rocket Veggie © Domino's France

Fast Food

Domino’s France Launches the Vegan Rocket Veggie With Vegan Mozzarella

Domino’s France, which has not launched any new vegan pizzas since Veganuary 2021, has just launched a new product: the Vegan Rocket Veggie with tomato sauce, vegan mozzarella, rocket and Kalamata olive oil. Vegan mozzarella is a new feature at Domino’s, which until now has only used vegan grated cheese. Three vegan pizzas are now available in France: The Vegan Rocket Veggie, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, rocket and PDO Kalamata olive oil. Vegan Peppina, with tomato sauce, vegan grated cheese, mushrooms, onions, pepper duo, pitted organic Kalamata olives, fresh tomatoes and oregano. Vegan Margherita, with tomato sauce and vegan grated cheese. Just last week Domino’s introduced a vegan pizza in Germany called the Oh Jacky, stating it to be the first QSR chain in Germany …

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new cultures's mozzarella cheese melting in an oven baked pizza on a plate

© New Culture

Investments & Finance

New Culture Secures Investment for its Animal-Free Mozzarella

New Culture has announced an undisclosed investment from Korean food and biotech giant CJ CheilJedang to advance its animal-free mozzarella at scale.    New Culture — which plans to launch its “melty, stretchy mozzarella” at pizzerias in 2023 — explains that the new investment will go towards product development and scale-up. Founded in New Zealand but now based in San Leandro, California, New Culture creates animal-free mozzarella using microbial caseins produced via precision fermentation. The company claims its cheese alternative, made without cows, tastes and functions exactly like traditional dairy. “Invaluable experience and connections” A leading food and biotechnology company and the world’s leading fermentation-based bio-products supplier, CJ CheilJedang is also a 25% market-share holder in the US frozen pizza market. In 2019, the company …

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Babybel Dairy-Free Canada

©Bel Group Canada

Products & Launches

Bel Canada Launches Babybel Plant-Based in Canada as it Aims for 50% Dairy-Free Portfolio

Bel Canada Group announces it has launched Babybel Plant-Based into Canadian retail stores this week. A dairy-free version of the company’s famous snacking cheese, the debut is part of Bel’s strategy to become a global leader in cheese alternatives and make half its offerings plant-based by 2030. Babybel Plant-Based, which rolled out in the US and UK earlier this year, is made to look and taste like the company’s popular Mini Babybel cheese wheels. Made from coconut oil, the green wax-coated cheeses offer a mozzarella flavor while being fully lactose-free. The company states Babybel Plant-Based joins its other dairy-free products, Nurishh and Boursin, that have already launched in Canadian retail. “We are always attentive to the needs and expectations of consumers,” said Marie–Ève Robert, Vice-President …

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Miyoko's Food Truck Tour

©Miyoko's Creamery

Marketing & Media

Miyoko’s Creamery Launches Multi-State ‘Foodie Truck Tour’ and Debuts New Smoked Gouda Cheese

Dairy-free pioneer Miyoko’s Creamery announces the launch of its Foodie Truck Tour – a new tasting tour bringing Miyoko’s award-winning butter and cheeses to multiple states this fall. Today, the brand is also releasing a new limited-edition Smoked Gouda cheese wheel at Whole Foods Market. Starting off in Northern California’s Sonoma Wine Country, the tour is making scheduled stops in the Bay Area, Southern California, Arizon and Austin, TX, where it will wrap up in November. Along the way, the brand will serve a “one-of-a-kind” tasting experience featuring dishes such as cajun street corn and orzo aglio e burro with Miyoko’s cultured vegan butter, margherita pizza made with its liquid cheese, and caprese salad with fresh plant milk mozzarella. Fans will also be treated to …

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New Culture Fermented Mozzarella Cheese

© New Culture

Company News

ADM and New Culture Announce Strategic Partnership to Scale Animal-Free Mozzarella and Dairy Products

Agribusiness leader ADM and animal-free dairy company New Culture are forming a strategic partnership to accelerate the commercialization of alt-dairy foods. The partnership will include joint product development and scaling of New Culture’s animal-free casein and dairy innovations, which are expected to launch in US food service in 2023.  Founded in New Zealand, New Culture creates animal-free dairy products using precision fermentation techniques that produce casein, one of the primary proteins found in cow’s milk. By making casein without cows, New Culture offers cheese and other foods that are indistinguishable in taste and texture from traditional dairy. The new partnership will utilize ADM’s broad product development resources to accelerate New Culture’s applications. The startup will also have access to ADM’s full pantry of sustainable, plant-based …

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Bandit_FreshMozz_Peaches Bandit

©Bandit

Investments & Finance

Conscious Cultures Raises $1.5M & Rebrands to ‘Bandit’ as it Pushes Boundaries for Vegan Cheese

Plant-based foods company Conscious Cultures announces it has raised $1.5M in seed funding as it officially rebrands to Bandit. The round was led by venture capital firm Prime Movers Lab, and the funds will be used to continue scaling production and expand Bandit’s fan base. Bandit produces artisan dairy-free cheeses made primarily from cashews and coconut, including Fresh Mozz (mozzarella), Philly Spread (cream cheese), and Fruit ‘n Nut (cranberry goat cheese.) It also produces a line of signature varieties such as Maverick (a cave-aged double cream bloomy rind) and Barn Cat (a cave-aged, vegetable ash ripened cheese with an ash inlay.) Best tasting “The Bandit team is pushing the boundaries of cultured, plant-based milks, producing the most compelling vegan cheeses on the market. We have …

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Mooliss "best-melting vegan mozzarella"

© Mooliss

Cheese Alternatives

“Best-Melting Vegan Mozzarella on the Market” by New York’s Mooliss Rolls Out Into 400 Pizzerias

New York-based brand Mooliss is to launch what it claims is the “best-melting vegan mozzarella on the market” into over 400 pizzerias across the US. Made from coconut, the Plant-Based Mozzarella-Style Shreds are currently sold for food service and a retail launch is planned for this June. The company says some pizzerias are already using the “smooth and creamy” cheese with “astounding success”. The product, which was developed by pizza chefs, is now available across the US for online ordering and delivery. Free retail samples are available via the company’s website. The market for vegan mozzarella According to a market report, mozzarella products have the largest revenue share of any segment in the vegan cheese market due to their widespread use in dishes such as …

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Miyoko's Creamery liquid vegan mozzarella

©Miyoko's Creamery

Cheese Alternatives

Miyoko’s Award-Winning Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella in Whole Foods Launch

Miyoko’s Creamery’s award-winning new Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella is launching in Whole Foods Markets in the South and Southern Pacific regions. The liquid cheese innovation offers superior melting qualities when cooked, according to CEO Miyoko Schinner, who told vegconomist the product will “revolutionize vegan pizza cheese”. The unique Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella format differs from the conventional block or shredded cheese approach, which is made from organic cultured cashew milk, which is the brand claims is fermented according to traditional cheesemaking techniques. This format means the product does not have any added flavors or excess ingredients.  After recently winning the Best New Product Supporting a Plant-Based Lifestyle at the Expo West 2022 NEXTY Awards, Miyoko’s Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella will be hitting shelves at Whole Foods …

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Babybel Plant-Based Cheese Snack

©Bel Brands USA

Food & Beverage

Bel Brands USA Announces Babybel Plant-Based Cheese is Now Available Nationwide in US

Bel Brands USA announces its highly anticipated Babybel Plant-Based cheese is now available at US retailers nationwide. The creamy dairy-free snack can be found in Whole Foods, Sam’s Club, and Fresh Thyme locations, as well as select Costco stores in the Southeast US. Availability will continue to expand throughout 2022.  Made to taste like Mozzarella cheese, Babybel Plant-Based is a vegan version of the company’s popular Mini Babybel cheese wheels, and offers a good source of dairy-free calcium and B12.  Bel Brands says it leveraged the company’s 150 years of cheesemaking experience to create the new snack, which comes wrapped in Babybel’s signature wax coating, now colored bright green. The company also notes its packaging is made from 80% paper with inside wrappers that are certified …

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numu vegan mozzarella

© NUMU

Food & Beverage

Whole Foods Switches Cheese on Its Plant-Based Pizzas to NUMU Vegan Mozzarella

Whole Foods US has swapped the Daiya cheese on its plant-based pizzas for NUMU vegan mozzarella. The change has taken place at all locations nationwide. NUMU was founded by New Yorker Gunars Elmuts, who was disappointed with the lack of vegan cheese at pizzerias when he first began eating a plant-based diet in 2011. At the time, many chefs were unimpressed with the functionality of vegan cheeses and were reluctant to use them. Elmuts first developed vegan mozzarella so that he could bring it with him to pizzerias. But chefs soon took notice, and Elmuts set up the company so that they could buy the cheese for wholesale use. NUMU vegan mozzarella is made from a mixture of coconut oil and starch, and is described …

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