Pamela Anderson joins vegan skincare brand Sonsie Skin

© Sonsie Skin

Cosmetics & Bodycare

Pamela Anderson Joins Vegan Skincare Brand Sonsie Skin as Owner & Co-Founder

Actress Pamela Anderson has acquired vegan skincare brand Sonsie Skin, and will now join the company as co-founder. Anderson is a longtime vegan, known for her animal rights activism and partnerships with vegan brands. Last year, she attracted attention by attending a fashion show without makeup, and has continued to make appearances barefaced ever since. She is now taking a new approach to beauty, focusing on skin health and self-acceptance rather than perfection. The aim is to inspire consumers who feel pressured by social norms to “embrace their most vulnerable self”. “To me, true beauty is about celebrating authenticity. I want to look like myself, feel like myself, and that means taking care of myself — inside and out,” said Anderson. Minimalist skincare Sonsie Skin …

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Mallows Beauty

© Mallows Beauty

Cosmetics & Bodycare

Welsh Brand Mallows Beauty Expands to US With Urban Outfitters Launch

Mallows Beauty, a vegan beauty brand based in the Welsh city of Cardiff, has announced it will be launching at 177 Urban Outfitters stores in the US. The collaboration comes after Mallows’ brightly coloured products attracted significant interest on TikTok, with consumers worldwide asking where they could buy them. The brand is now in the process of partnering with a US-wide distributor. Exports already make up about a third of Mallows’ sales, after it previously expanded to Ireland, mainland Europe, and Australia. The brand has seen a 30% increase in turnover since exports began in late 2021. Support from the Welsh government — in the form of market research, advice on regulations, and setting up meetings with potential partners — has helped to boost Mallows’ …

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white chlorella ingredient solution

© Aliga Microalgae

Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Almost a Quarter of US Skincare Launches Now Feature Microalgae

Data from Mintel‘s Global New Product Database has revealed that 22.2% of skincare launches in the US last year contained either chlorella or spirulina — up from 13.2% in 2018. The microalgae ingredients are increasingly popular with consumers due to their perceived naturalness, sustainability, and health benefits. They are also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. One of the trending products described by Mintel is Sensityl™, a microalgae-based cosmetics ingredient developed by Givaudan. After a month of use, Sensityl is claimed to not just benefit skin but also improve mood. According to Mintel, this is in line with the growing trend towards more holistic beauty, providing emotional well-being along with functionality. Research regarding the health benefits of microalgae is still limited, but studies have indicated that the ingredients …

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© DOG by Dr Lisa

Products & Launches

Luxury Skincare For the Discerning Doggo: Vegan Brand DOG by Dr Lisa Arrives in USA

Australian luxury pet skincare brand DOG by Dr Lisa today makes its entrance into the US with a range of natural products to help with a variety of pet skincare needs. Founded in 2020, the brand’s entry into the US this week comes after a year of “momentous” growth for the startup which states it has raised $AUD3.25M to date with an increase of 124% in annual sales. DOG by Dr Lisa, the rate of success in its home country signalled that international expansion was a natural next step. The products were created by Dr. Lisa Chimes, a veterinarian who works in the emergency and critical care department at a Small Animal Specialist Hospital. Dr Lisa has starred in popular TV shows Bondi Vet and …

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Skinny Butcher Chick'n Patty

©Skinny Butcher

Products & Launches

Skinny Butcher Debuts Crazy Crispy Chick’n Line at H-E-B Stores Throughout Texas

Plant-based poultry brand Skinny Butcher announces it best-selling chicken alternatives are now available at H-E-B supermarkets across Texas. The latest rollout continues strong retail growth for the brand, which launched in US Walmart stores nationwide last May.  H-E-B shoppers can now find Skinny Butcher tenders, nuggets and breasts in their local stores’ frozen aisle. The grocer is also offering $1 off Skinny Butcher items from Nov. 12-16 and then again from Jan. 4-17. Made from pea protein, vegetable fibers, and a proprietary spice blend, Skinny Butcher’s plant-based chicken features extra-crispy double breading and a tender inside. Its soy- and palm oil-free product line includes Crazy Crispy Chick’n Breasts, Tenders, Nuggets and Patties. Popular nuggets Last spring, Skinny Butcher partnered with Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things” …

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Skinny Butcher Stranger Things Nuggets

©Skinny Butcher

Retail & E-Commerce

Skinny Butcher Reports “Stranger Things” Nuggets are Walmart’s #1 Selling Plant-Based Item

Plant-based poultry brand Skinny Butcher is reporting record retail sales following its initial debut in US Walmart stores in May. According to the company, its signature Crazy Crispy Chick’n Nuggets have become the top-selling plant-based item across all US Walmart stores, and is the third most popular frozen poultry substitute in the country, based on sales data provided by IRI.  Co-branded with Netflix’s immensely popular Stranger Things series, the Skinny Butcher nuggets quickly went viral on social media after launching this spring. In addition to Walmart, the product entered thousands of Safeway and regional Costco locations. At Walmart, IRI data from the most recent four-week period shows the nuggets had 3 times the velocity and made 2.3 times more in dollar sales than the second-best …

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Leukeather

© Leukeather

Leather Alternatives

Leukeather: Animal-Free Exotic Leather Made From Upcycled River Tamarind Pods

Leukeather is a vegan alternative to exotic leather, developed by UAE-based Egyptian architect Nuhayr Zein. The material is made from the dried pods of Leucaena, also known as river tamarind. Leucaena is a tree native to northern Central America and southern Mexico. It is fast-growing, requires little water, and is already present on many farms. To make the leather, farmers gather dried pods and supply them to Leukeather. The company then uses biotechnology to improve the suppleness and flexibility of the pods, creating a material that is naturally waterproof and plastic-free. Leukeather is said to be the only vegan leather that does not require embossing to obtain a leather-like texture, as the Leucaena pods give it a natural pattern. Exotic vegan leather A huge variety …

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Skinny Butcher Chick'n Patty

©Skinny Butcher

Food & Beverage

Skinny Butcher Accelerates US Retail Growth to Costco and Safeway Stores

Plant-based poultry brand Skinny Butcher announces its line of Crazy Crispy Chick’n products are now available in hundreds of US Costco and Safeway locations, in addition to Walmart locations nationwide.  Shoppers can now find Skinny Butcher’s Chick’n in the following stores: Costco – Northern California, Midwestern United States and select Utah locations Walmart – all US locations Safeway – Mid-Atlantic, Seattle and Intermountain Love at first bite According to Skinny Butchers, its breaded chicken products are consistently wowing key decision-makers at major retailers, who are excited to learn about and sample the brand’s proprietary recipes. “Major chains were eager to learn about our proprietary formula of plant-based products that are virtually indistinguishable from their animal-based comparables,” explains Dave Zilko, CEO of Skinny Butcher. “Once they …

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Fenty_Rihanna_Africa

© Fenty

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Rihanna Announces Launch of Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin Across Africa

Fenty Beauty, the vegan cosmetics brand launched by music star Robyn Rihanna Fenty, debuted in 2017 across 17 countries to help “everyone feel beautiful and recognized, no matter their race, ethnicity, culture or personal style,” offers a wide range of products for all skin tones and skin types. In 2020, Rihanna launched Fenty Skin, another 100% vegan and cruelty-free line, bringing in a reported $100 million in sales in its first few weeks, as well as her first vegan leather fashion range called the ‘faux leather capsule’. Today the icon announces her plans to expand the Fenty brands into the African continent. Rihanna comments: “Every launch is exciting— we’re all about being reachable to everyone, everywhere. But launching across Africa in eight countries not only …

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Skinny Butcher Stranger Things Nuggets

©Skinny Butcher

Food & Beverage

Skinny Butcher Launching “Stranger Things” Vegan Nuggets at US Walmart Stores Nationwide

Skinny Butcher, which produces plant-based chicken alternatives, is launching Stranger Things-themed Crazy Crispy Chick’n Nuggets at US Walmart stores in May. Created in anticipation of the hit sci-fi drama’s fourth season on Netflix, the new product will be available in Walmart’s frozen aisle at a retail price of $7.99.  Made from pea protein, Skinny Butcher says its breakthrough poultry alternatives offer an unparalleled chicken taste without the use of any soy or palm oil.  Skinny Butcher was first created as a partnership between former Garden Fresh Gourmet Vice Chairman Dave Zilko and LA-based Golden West Food Group. For its Crispy Chick’n product range, the company says it blends pea protein with imported soy-free vegetable fiber and unique spices. In March 2022, Skinny Butcher raised $10M …

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Beauty brand Plum raises funding

© Plum

Investments & Acquisitions

Indian Vegan Beauty Brand Plum Raises $35M in Series C Round

India-based beauty brand Plum has secured $35 million in funding. The round was led by A91 Partners, with participation from others including Unilever Ventures and Faering Capital. This latest round brings the total amount raised by Plum to over $50 million, following a $14.9 million Series B round in late 2020 and a Series A round from Unilever Ventures in 2018. Plum says it will use the new funding to expand across more categories and channels, as well as to launch in new markets. As part of the transaction, Abhay Pandey of A91 Partners will join Plum’s board. Increased sales Plum produces makeup, skincare, and haircare products which are all vegan and toxin-free. The brand saw a dramatic increase in sales during the pandemic, as …

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© Faith in Nature

Company News

Natural Beauty Brand Faith in Nature Secures £2.5M for New Production Facility

UK-based beauty brand Faith in Nature has received a £2.5 million loan from Cynergy Bank to build a larger production facility. The company applied for the loan after outgrowing its existing site due to an increase in demand. The new site will be built near Faith in Nature’s existing facility in Radcliffe, Manchester, allowing the company to keep its existing workers while taking on new staff and increasing sales. Expansion Faith in Nature produces vegan soaps, haircare, and skincare products made with natural and organic ingredients. The brand, which started out in a cottage kitchen in 1974, expects a turnover of £20 million by the end of the next financial year. Faith in Nature products are available at major UK chains Boots and Holland & …

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Skinny Butcher vegan chicken

©Skinny Butcher

Investments & Acquisitions

Coalition of US Food Industry Players Forms “Skinny Butcher” Launching With $10M For Alt Poultry

Skinny Butcher, a new plant-based poultry startup, has raised over $10 million for a market launch, formed by a coalition of US food industry players in what the company claims is a first; launching simultaneously into both retail and in virtual restaurants. Skinny Butcher, Wow Bao, Golden West Food Group, and Valor Siren Ventures have teamed up to launch the alt poultry brand whose line of plant-based chicken and turkey items will hit shelves nationwide as well as via a virtual kitchen program. Wow Bao is a Chicago-based fast-casual Asian concept with over 650 restaurants and virtual locations across the US and is onboarding Skinny Butcher onto its existing platform.  LA-based Golden West Food Group is exclusively manufacturing the line as equity stakeholders, ensuring speed …

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Geltor PrimaColl Collagen/ Biodesign

©Geltor

Food & Beverage

Geltor Completes First Large Production Run of PrimaColl Animal-Free Collagen

Biodesign company Geltor announces the successful completion of the company’s first major commercial run for PrimaColl, a groundbreaking vegan collagen. In partnership with Arxada, Geltor says the 5-month operation concluded in Fall 2021, demonstrating the company’s ability to scale biodesigned proteins with exceptional speed and precision. PrimaColl offers a high-protein bioactive collagen that matches animal collagen in amino acid composition, functionality and performance, the company says. Made by fermenting microbes using plant-based inputs, the product is reportedly the first true vegan collagen created for food and beverage. Currently, virtually all collagen products are derived from animals, while plant-based “collagen builders” don’t actually contain the structural protein. PrimaColl is a high-purity product that makes collagen accessible to consumers who avoid animal-based supplements for various reasons, Geltor says.  …

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blackstone invests in suncare brand supergoop

© Supergoop

Investments & Finance

Blackstone Acquires Majority Stake in Prestige Suncare Brand Supergoop

Investment firm Blackstone has revealed it is to acquire a majority stake in Texan suncare brand Supergoop. It is believed that Blackstone will value the company at between $600 and $700 million. The investment will allow Supergoop to expand further, launching new product lines aimed at children and athletes while also breaking into new markets. Supergoop describes itself as “the only prestige skincare brand 100% dedicated to suncare”. The company’s skincare and cosmetic products, which include moisturiser, body butter, and eyeshadow, all offer UV protection. None of Supergoop’s products are tested on animals, and the vast majority are vegan-friendly — with the sole exception of the brand’s lip balm, which contains beeswax. Green investments by Blackstone Last year, Blackstone sparked controversy when it invested in …

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© Youth to the People

Fashion, Design & Beauty

L’Oréal Targets Vegan Market as It Acquires Californian Skincare Brand Youth to the People

Cosmetics giant L’Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire Californian skincare brand Youth to the People. The brand is known for producing high-performance vegan products containing superfood extracts. Youth to the People is currently available in the US, Canada, Australia, and some European countries. The company is expected to record over $50 million in sales in 2021 and has received support from investors Sandbridge Capital, Strand Equity, and Carisa Janes. Cousins Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloyes founded Youth to the People in 2015, inspired by their grandmother who created a similar skincare line 40 years ago. The brand is marketed through a mix of D2C e-commerce and selective distribution. L’Oréal targets the vegan market Many vegans choose to boycott L’Oréal, as the company still tests …

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vegan skincare brand Facetheory

© Facetheory

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Vegan Skincare Brand Facetheory Raises £10M as Revenue Grows by £13M in Three Years

British skincare brand Facetheory has raised £10 million in a Series A funding round led by investment firm Active Partners. The brand will use the funding for R&D, market growth, and expanding its team. In just three years, Facetheory’s revenue has skyrocketed from £2 million to £15 million. The company now has over 350,000 customers and employs 60 staff members. Facetheory offers a wide range of vegan and cruelty-free products with natural ingredients. These include serums, sun cream, moisturisers, toners, and makeup. The vegan skincare market The market for plant-based skincare products is rising fast, projected to surpass a valuation of $683 million by the end of the year. Demand is being fuelled by rising economies such as China, India, and Brazil, as well as …

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Body Shop

©TheBodyShop

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Plant-based Skincare Products Market to Surpass $683M in 2021

According to a new report, the plant-based skincare products market is projected to surpass a valuation of $683 million in 2021, with the European market projected to reach $339 and the North American market estimated at $319.2 million. China is stated as a rising player in the category. Rising economies such as India, China, Russia, and Brazil are expected to drive demand for plant-based skincare products over the coming years, as well as a rise in the number of working women globally. Some of the leading companies offering plant-based skincare products include Mama Earth, Estee Lauder, Unilever, Clorox Co., Honest Co., The Body Shop, and Procter and Gamble Co. Key moves in plant-based beauty Burt Bees, an eco-friendly and natural personal care brand of Clorox …

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Dr Tusk

©Dr Tusk

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Shower, Shampoo, and Save the World’s Elephants

Mission-driven company Dr.Tusk, creators of a new plant-based line of hemp, caffeine and aloe-based body care products, is making it easier for consumers to create a direct impact on causes they care about through their purchasing choices. For the team behind Dr.Tusk, a brand created during the pandemic, it’s always been about the elephants. The New York based company aims to bring attention to various campaigns to help our elephants, highlighting that 1.5 million people have signed an online petition to release Happy, the indescribably unhappy elephant, currently confined in the Bronx Zoo. For every single product purchased, Dr.Tusk donates 5% to non-profit and organizations and elephant rehabilitation centers. These include Wildlife SOS, a rehabilitation center in India for abused and exploited captive elephants, and …

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Jo-Anne Chidley of Beauty Kitchen

Founder Jo-Anne Chidley © Beauty Kitchen

Fashion, Design & Beauty

Scotland’s Beauty Kitchen Receives Highest B Corp Rating in UK Beauty Industry

Sustainable cosmetics brand Beauty Kitchen, the first UK high street beauty brand to certify as a B Corp, now announces it has become the highest-rated B Corp in the UK’s beauty industry and the fifth-highest scoring B Corp overall in the UK, according to new rankings. “Purpose, positive impact and sustainability leadership will always be our top focus. We are honoured to receive this recognition from B Corp.” The company works to solve the sustainability issues inherent to the use of cosmetics; in the UK over 95% of beauty packaging is thrown away after just one use. Following the recent results, Beauty Kitchen’s founder Jo Chidley is calling on more Scottish businesses to certify and join B Corp, commenting yesterday; “We also want to use …

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