THIS Isn't Pork sausages launch in IKEA restaurants across the UK

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Food Service

THIS™ Isn’t Pork Sausages Launch at IKEA Restaurants UK-Wide

Plant-based meat brand THIS™ has announced that its award-winning THIS Isn’t Pork Sausages are launching at 19 IKEA restaurants across the UK. The sausages will be served as part of IKEA’s new Veggie Sausage & Mash meal, which features three sausages with mashed potatoes, gravy, and a leek and cabbage mix. Costing just £4.95, the meal provides a sustainable option for IKEA customers to enjoy while they shop. IKEA announced in 2020 that 50% of the main meals offered in its restaurants and 80% of its packaged food would be plant-based by 2025. The retail giant has also been taking other measures to make plant-based food more accessible and affordable, including making some popular plant-based dishes cheaper than comparable meat-based products. “Two purpose-driven brands working …

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Germany's The Raging Pig Co, a startup reinventing pork products with plants, has completed its seed financing round for an undisclosed amount.

© The Raging Pig Co

Investments & Finance

The Raging Pig Co Secures Funds to Expand the “Best Plant-Based Pork Imaginable” to More Locations

Germany’s the Raging Pig Co, a startup reinventing pork products with plants, has completed its seed financing round for an undisclosed amount. Sprout & About Ventures and Solvable Syndicate, both family offices focusing on food tech, the VC Livian, and various business angels participated. The funds will be used for product development and to accelerate the company’s market presence to become a leading provider of plant-based sausages in Germany. The company also announces that it will be food partner at this year’s Bits & Pretzels conference, serving Raging Sausage treats. “With fresh funds, Raging Pig is more than ready to do their wurst in providing even more customers with the best plant-based pork imaginable!” the startup shared on social media. Pork-reinvented The Raging Pig Co is a food …

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Cosun Beet

© Cosun Beet Company

Ingredients

Cosun Beet Company’s Ambition Leads to Unique Plant-Based Innovation

Cosun Beet Company has developed a novel ingredient specifically designed for plant-based and hybrid products. This ingredient is the result of Cosun Beet Company’s ambition to valorize the full potential of its sugar beets. The name of this ingredient is Fidesse®, a name that is rapidly gaining recognition. Cosun Beet Company’s ambition stems from its vision: ‘The Plant Positive Way’. This vision is based on circularity and maximizing the potential of the crop, in this case, the sugar beet. With smart, sustainable solutions, Cosun Beet Company aims to extract everything possible from the sugar beet in the most sustainable way. The company has been doing this for years but continues to seek even more valuable applications. Climbing the ladder The Research, Development & Innovation department …

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Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten, Image courtesy of ME-AT

Products & Launches

ME-AT “Reinvents” Meat Classics Like Meatloaf, Specifically for the German Palate

The Netherlands’ ME-AT, the vegan brand of the Vion Food Group, which manufactures plant-based meat for private labels, has introduced three NPDs that are said to match the appeal and taste of three popular German meat products: smoky vegan sausages, Leberkäse (a type of meatloaf) and Sauerbraten (a mixed meat roast). ME-AT’s new plant-based meat offerings are ready and available for wholesalers, retailers, and discount stores in Germany and Europe. They can also be produced explicitly for promotional campaigns, while the recipes can be customized to meet specific customer needs and preferences, tailoring the products to different market demands. “Our food designers have now ‘reinvented’ three true classics specifically for the German palate. The focus was not only on achieving the closest possible match with the …

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Berger-Schinken, a German firm with over 130 years of history in ham and sausage processing, and the Austrian upcycling and food tech company Kern Tech have partnered to launch a 100% cheese plant-based sausages.

© Kern Tec

Products & Launches

Ham Producer Berger-Schinken & Upcycled Fruit Pit Startup Kern Tec Unveil Plant-Based Cheese Sausages

Berger-Schinken, a German firm with over 130 years of history in ham and sausage processing, and Austrian upcycling and food tech company Kern Tec, have launched a co-branded product: plant-based cheese sausages. The new vegan sausages are crafted from pea protein and feature Kern Tec’s most recent development — Berg-Gaudi — a plant-based cheese made from upcycled fruit pits.  This first-of-its-kind cheese launched in various flavors last year under Kern Tec’s brand Wunderkern, joining a range of no-milk drinks made with apricot kernels that became the most-sold product at vegan superstore BILLA Pflanzilla a few months later. Wunderkern also offers oils and chocolate spreads from waste seeds from the juice and jam industries.  The plant-based cheese sausages are gluten-free, lactose-free, certified vegan, and are available just in time for …

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No Frickin Chicken's new location.

© No Frickin Chicken

Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

5 Small Vegan Businesses You May Not Know That Deserve to Be on Your Radar

This week we will introduce ten small vegan businesses you may have never heard of; below are five interesting small businesses from around the world, and stay tuned on Friday for another five that deserve to be on your watch list. From Chacino in Spain, offering vegan-friendly cured sausages, to No Frickin Chicken in the UK, serving cruelty-free chicken, these businesses are catering to the growing demand for sustainable and animal-free options. 1. Chacino – Ávila, Spain Born from a partnership between Jamones y Embutidos Pinantes and a team of chefs and scientists, Chacino offers unique plant-based cured sausages, combining the art of traditional curing with modern food innovation.  With a focus on honoring the heritage of past generations and expertise while looking toward the future, Chacino …

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Planteneers fried sausage on fork

© Planteneers

Market & Trends

Plant-Based Sausage Market to Record Huge 26.5% CAGR as Products Become “Indistinguishable” From Meat

According to a report by Future Market Insights, the plant-based sausage market is set to increase in value from $1,228.1 million in 2023 to $12,936.9 million by 2033. This represents a huge CAGR of 26.5%. A key driver will be the improved taste and texture of plant-based sausages, which the report says makes them increasingly indistinguishable from meat. Furthermore, many consumers view meat-free sausages as a healthier option, as they are cholesterol-free and typically lower in saturated fat than conventional sausages. Increased concern about animal welfare and the environment is another market driver. Finally, plant-based sausages are seen as a convenient option, as they can be cooked quickly and easily. All these drivers are expected to continue over the forecast period. Restraining factors However, several …

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VFC fakeaway ready meals

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Meat- and Fish Alternatives

VFC Launches Fakeaway Ready Meals and “Market First” Chick*n Sausages

Vegan food activist leader VFC is celebrating Veganuary with the launch of several new products in the UK, including a range of fakeaway ready meals, plant-based chicken sausages that are claimed to be a market first, and a chilled version of the brand’s chicken-style mince. The frozen ready meals debut with two products — Chick*n Fried Rice and Chick*n Curry. The single-serving bags can be pan-fried in eight minutes, and aim to offer a healthier, meat-free version of takeaway favourites. They are gluten-free, high in protein, and provide one of the five recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables. The chick*n sausages and mince are sold chilled, and are described as “flavour-packed”. Both are high-protein, gluten-free, and low in salt and saturated fat. The sausages …

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The Raging Pig Company has launched the Raging Weißwurst, a plant-based Bavarian white sausage alternative.

Image courtesy of The Raging Pig Company

Products & Launches

The Raging Pig Company Launches Vegan Bavarian White Sausage for Oktoberfest

Food tech startup The Raging Pig Company has launched the Raging Weißwurst, a plant-based Bavarian white sausage, in partnership with SIGGIS, a restaurant chain based in Munich, to coincide with the 188th edition of Oktoberfest. The innovative product, made with high-quality plant-based ingredients such as peas and mushrooms, will be available as a traditional breakfast served with sweet mustard, pretzels, and white beer.  “Our Raging Weisswurst is the result of intensive research & development and passion for plant-based products. We are convinced that this innovation will not only appeal to convinced vegans, but will also encourage meat lovers to try plant-based alternatives,” says Dr. Arne Ewerbeck, co-founder of The Raging Pig Company. Oktoberfest is taking place in Munich until the 3rd of October, offering many plant-based dishes, including Planteneers’ Bavarian veal …

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Beyond Sausage lifestyle

©Beyond Meat

Products & Launches

Beyond Meat’s Latest Iteration of Beyond Sausage Has “Meatier, Juicier” Taste

Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) announces it is launching a new iteration of its popular Beyond Sausage, featuring a meatier, “juicier” taste and texture. The latest version is rolling out to more than 15,000 US retail stores in time for the July 4th holiday.  According to Beyond Meat, Beyond Sausage ranks as the top-selling plant-based dinner sausage, and the innovation offers an enhanced flavor profile with new spices to fully recreate the taste of traditional pork sausage. In consumer testing, the brand reports consumers showed a strong preference for the newest Beyond Sausage and praised its overall flavor and texture.  Available in Brat Original, Hot Italian and Sweet Italian, the sausage is made with ingredients like peas and brown rice while offering 16 grams of protein …

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Meatable reveals process to make cultivated pork in just eight days

Image courtesy of Meatable

Cultivated Meat

Meatable Reveals “World-First” Breakthrough: High-Quality Cultivated Pork in Just 8 Days

Dutch cultivated meat company Meatable has achieved a world-first breakthrough in its mission to produce cultivated meat at scale.   After working for over a year to improve the efficiency of its superior differentiation process and the quality of its fat and muscle tissue, the company claims it can cultivate high-quality pork meat in just eight days, whereas the process previously took three weeks.   As a result, Meatable can create cultivated pork with the familiar bite, texture, and taste of traditional meat efficiently and at lower costs (rearing a pig for pork takes around eight months).  Harm-free meat Krijn de Nood, co-founder and CEO of Meatable, said: “This marks a very important milestone for Meatable. We’ve now demonstrated that we have the world’s most efficient process, …

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Meatable hosts tasting for cultivated meat in Singapore

© Meatable

Cultivated Meat

Meatable Hosts First Tasting of Its Cultivated Meat in Singapore, Aims for 2024 Launch

Meatable has held a tasting for its cultivated meat in Singapore, inviting a select group of retail partners and the Singaporean Economic Development Board to sample cultivated pork sausages. The event was the Dutch company’s first ever tasting, and took place following approval from the Singapore Food Agency to ensure safety standards were met. For Meatable, this is an important step towards receiving regulatory approval to sell its products commercially. Feedback was very positive, with guests commenting that “the taste and texture were great” and “cultivated meat is probably the future of meat”. “The Meatable sausage I tasted today was very delicious. I wouldn’t have known if you didn’t tell me it was cultivated meat,” said Karen Tay, managing director at the distributor Classic Fine …

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Richmond meat-free minis

© Richmond

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Sausage Giant Richmond Enters Plant-Based Snacking Category With Meat-Free Minis

Richmond, a UK producer of both conventional sausages and meat alternatives, launches NPD Meat-Free Minis. The launch features Richmond’s popular plant-based sausages in a new mini format, marking the first time the brand has entered the meat-free snacking category. The Minis are described as a healthier alternative to salty snacks and confectionery, as they are low in fat, salt, and sugar and have a high protein content. According to Richmond, the market for meat-free, high-protein snacks has grown by 20% in the past two years to reach a value of £37.1m (L52w to 22/01/23), with demand still rising. 61% of this growth is driven by brands that offer both meat and plant-based options, suggesting that these companies are able to more effectively appeal to flexitarians. …

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Vegan currywurst

© Deutsche Bahn

Tourism & Travel

Deutsche Bahn Launches Vegan Currywurst as Part of Increasingly Plant-Forward Approach

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national train line, has introduced a new plant-based option — vegan currywurst. Currywurst is a popular German fast food dish consisting of steamed, fried sausage that is sliced and served with curried tomato sauce. The new option is available on most Deutsche Bahn trains, and has been introduced in response to growing consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable options. It will be available on a permanent basis. Plant-forward options Deutsche Bahn has become increasingly plant-forward in recent years, launching Oatly as its first ever plant-based milk option at the beginning of 2022. This year, the rail operator celebrated Veganuary by offering vegan versions of classic meals in collaboration with alt meat brand LikeMeat. One of the dishes was chilli sin carne, …

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Wheaty's vegan meat b

© Wheaty

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Wheaty “Redefines the Vegan Sausage” in Celebration of 30th Anniversary

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the pioneering vegan meat brand Wheaty has announced new NPDs — two bratwurst-style sausages — that will be unveiled at BIOFACH 2023 this February in Nuremberg, Germany. “Two upcoming Wheaty products redefine the vegan sausage – again,” declares the German brand. “These two products set themselves apart from legacy vegan sausages through an incredible taste, unmatched juiciness, and an edible vegan peel that can be fried in the pan along with the sausage,” says Wheaty. Europe’s alt meat pioneer The Wheaty brand was developed by TOPAS, a European pioneer in the alt meat space, offering meat and sausages made with organic wheat protein, founded by Klaus Gaiser way back in 1993. According to Wheaty, the brand’s commitment to following EU …

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Squeaky-Bean-Cooking-Chorizo-Style-Sausage

© Squeaky Bean

Products & Launches

Squeaky Bean Launches Chorizo-Style Sausage Made From Fava Beans

British brand Squeaky Bean, best known for its plant-based deli meat slices, has launched a new chorizo-style sausage. Made from fava bean and pea protein, the sausage is cured in the same way as conventional Spanish chorizo for an authentic flavour and texture. Seasoned with chilli, smoked paprika, and garlic, it can be eaten hot or cold and takes just three minutes to cook. Global vegan chorizo launches Worldwide, various other companies have launched alternatives to chorizo. In March, US brand RollinGreens debuted shelf-stable vegan chorizo, and Spain’s Heura launched the world’s first plant-based chorizo burger. Two months earlier, Texas-based burrito chain Freebirds began offering vegan chorizo made by Abbott’s Butcher, while Upton’s Naturals launched its chorizo alternative in South Africa. Chipotle also now offers …

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v2food plant-based meat range in a photo for its launch in coles across australia

© v2Food

Products & Launches

v2food Launches New Plant-Based Meat Range in Coles Stores Across Australia

A few months after launching a vegan ready meal line for the convenience food category, Australian alt meat leader v2food has announced a new range of plant-based meats rolling out at Coles stores across the country. The range includes two new chicken alternatives, a Thai burger, and an ‘improved’ sausage range that comes in various flavours, including the Aussie favourite Garlic & Herb.  “We’re extremely excited to offer Coles shoppers a fresh selection of sustainable plant-based protein options that look, cook, and taste like their traditional counterparts. In Australia, a growing number of shoppers will happily choose plant-based sausages for their weekend BBQ or opt for plant-based mince in their spaghetti bolognese,” said v2food’s General Manager ANZ, Nathaniel Tupou. Plant-based meats for flexitarians V2food says …

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Vegan Chorizo Breakfast

© MingsBings

Products & Launches

MingsBings and JUST Egg Debut New Breakfast Pockets with Plant-Based Eggs and Cheese

In celebration of World Egg Day, Asian street food brand MingBings and JUST Egg are launching four new breakfast pockets featuring plant-based eggs and cheese. Developed by Iron Chef Ming Tsai, the breakfast bings – “bings” refer to a type of savory Chinese flatbread – represent the brand’s first entry in the breakfast category,  The new items are launching Friday, Oct. 14th on MingsBings.com and are available in four flavors:  Plant-Based Egg & Cheese: A  combination of JUST Egg, dairy-free cheddar and potato  Plant-Based Sausage, Egg & Cheese: A twist on an all-American breakfast, w/ sausage, JUST Egg, dairy-free cheddar and potato Plant-Based Chorizo, Egg & Cheese: A Southwestern breakfast w/ chorizo, JUST Egg, dairy-free cheddar, peppers, onions, black beans, corn and potato Plant-Based Veggie, …

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Vegan bacon breakfast sandwich

Vegan Bacon Sandwich ©Gregory's Coffee

Gastronomy & Food Service

5 US Coffee Chains Embracing 100% Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwiches

While coffee giants like Dunkin’, Starbucks and Tim Hortons have gradually adopted more vegan-friendly options in recent years, such items have largely been limited to dairy-free milks and the occasional plant-based sausage. Now, a growing number of smaller US chains are taking the initiative to offer consumers fully vegan versions of breakfast favorites, including bacon, sausage, eggs and cheese. Here we present some of the most notable names leading this trend: 1. Peet’s Coffee  Peet’s, which operates over 200 locations in 11 states, first introduced the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich as a limited-time offering in early 2021. But the item, which features a Beyond Sausage with folded JUST Egg and melted vegan cheddar, was so phenomenally successful the chain added it back permanently one year later. …

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Plant-based meats

© Herblabism

Company News

Herblabism Becomes Member of Plant-Based Food Alliance UK

British alt meat startup Herblabism announces it is joining the Plant-based Food Alliance UK (PFA UK) as a full member.  Herblabism is a B2B meat-free company that supplies its products to major sporting, entertainment, and conference venues. As reported by vegconomist, the startup recently signed a deal with Levy UK+I, a caterer for sports stadiums such as Wembley, Aston Villa, and Chelsea F.C., as well as entertainment venues including the O2 Arena. At the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Levy UK+I served Herblabism’s mushroom burgers and plant-based sausages. The startup says it plans to launch its products on its website for consumers to buy DTC. Marisa Heath, CEO of Plant-based Food Alliance UK, commented on the announcement: “The Alliance is so delighted to welcome Herblabism as …

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