Whole Cuts

Rival Foods

© Rival Foods
Investments & Acquisitions

Rival Foods Raises €10M to Scale Production of Clean-Label Plant-Based Whole Cuts

Dutch food-tech scale-up Rival Foods has raised €10 million in a Series B funding round led by pension investor APG on behalf of ABP. PYMWYMIC and ROM Utrecht Region also participated, while existing shareholder PeakBridge provided follow-on investment. Rival Foods has developed a proprietary platform to produce whole-cut, clean-label plant-based meat alternatives that are free of additives. The company will use the new funding to double production capacity at its facility in Geldrop and further scale its proprietary manufacturing technology. This will enable the optimization of production costs, which could help the products become cost-competitive with animal meat. Rival will also use the capital to grow its team and expand internationally, forming partnerships with major players in foodservice and retail. “This investment marks a major …

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Aleph Farms steak

© Aleph Farms
Investments & Finance

Aleph Farms Accelerates Global Growth with $29M to Expand Production and Improve Efficiency

Israeli cultivated meat producer Aleph Farms has raised $29 million in a funding round to expand production capacity and implement a revised biomanufacturing process. The round includes $22 million through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and an additional $7 million from existing investors. The company expects to raise a further $10–15 million in the coming months as part of the same round. The capital will support the expansion of Aleph’s pilot facility in Rehovot, Israel, and the development of intermediate-scale production sites in Europe and Asia. These new facilities are intended to operate under the company’s updated ‘1.2’ production platform, which combines cell proliferation and differentiation in a single bioreactor. The updated method removes the need for scaffolding and a secondary tissue bioreactor, …

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Juicy Marbles pork

© Juicy Marbles
Products & Launches

Juicy Marbles Expands Meaty Meat Line With Whole Cut Plant-Based Pork

Plant-based food company Juicy Marbles has introduced another product to it’s Meaty Meat line. According to the company, “Pork-ish,” a 6.4-ounce whole cut of plant-based pork, is the first-ever whole cut of pork in the plant-based meat category. The product is priced 26% lower per ounce compared to the brand’s previous offerings, adding another affordable choice to the growing plant-based meat market. The product became available last week on Juicy Marbles’ website. This release follows the successful debut of Meaty Meat’s first flavor, “Lamb-ish,” which sold out within 24 hours in the United States when it was launched last month. The company has built its reputation on creating unique plant-based products, like the “world’s first” marbled plant-based steak, tenderloin, and ribs with bones. “Pork-ish” is …

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Demolish Foods chicken breast

© Demolish Foods
Manufacturing & Technology

Demolish Foods Unveils New Tech for More Realistic, Scalable Plant-Based Whole Cuts

Demolish Foods has launched its Gen4 platform, an updated version of its plant-based meat manufacturing system designed to replicate the structure and texture of conventional whole cuts. The platform builds on the company’s previous Gen3 model and offers improvements in precision, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Whole-cut alternatives remain a challenge in the alternative protein sector, where most plant-based products have focused on ground or shredded formats. The Gen4 platform seeks to address this gap by replicating the hierarchical structure of animal muscle tissue, including variations in texture and juiciness within a single cut. The technology allows for the recreation of complex structures found in conventional meat, such as the combination of major and minor pectoral muscles in a chicken breast. Engineering realistic muscle fibers According to …

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© Juicy Marbles
Products & Launches

Juicy Marbles Launches First Plant-Based Lamb Whole Cut in North America

Slovenian plant-based meat company Juicy Marbles has announced the launch of Meaty Meat, a whole-cut plant-based lamb alternative. The product, which became available in the US and Canada last week, is the company’s first lamb-style alternative and is positioned as a more affordable entry point into its product lineup. Priced at $10 per 6.4-ounce pack, Meaty Meat is 26% less expensive per ounce than Juicy Marbles’ previous lowest-cost whole-cut product. The company states that the price reduction is part of an effort to make plant-based whole cuts more accessible for everyday use, moving beyond special occasions and restaurant-style meals. Meaty Meat is designed to be a flexible protein option, intended for a variety of dishes. The company states that it can be cooked whole or …

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Project Eaden ham

© Project Eaden
Investments & Acquisitions

Project Eaden’s Textile-Inspired Tech Raises €15M to Scale Next-Gen Whole Cuts

Berlin-based climate tech startup Project Eaden has closed a €15 million oversubscribed Series A funding round to accelerate the European retail launch of its plant-based meat alternatives. Using proprietary fiber spinning technology inspired by the textile industry, the company aims to produce ultra-realistic plant-based whole cuts, starting with ham, for mainstream consumers. The Series A round was led by Planet A and REWE Group, with additional support from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Happiness Capital, and AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance. Existing investors FoodLabs and Creandum also participated in the funding round, which brings the company’s total capital raised to €27 million since its founding in 2022. Commenting on the investment, Christoph Gras, general partner at Planet A, stated: “Research suggests that plant-based products could replace 11–22% …

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Plantbased Business Hour

The Demand for Plant-based, Juicy Steak with Amos Golan of Chunk Foods

Founder and CEO of Chunk Foods, Amos Golan, joins the CEO of VegTech Invest and host Elysabeth Alfano on The Plantbased Business Hour to discuss the demand and success of thick, juicy, plant-based steaks and the global outlook for foodservice today. Specifically, they discussed: Chunk Foods seemed to pop on the scene out of nowhere. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you started Chunk in Israel? What has the reception been like in the US? Why initially foodservice only, and how big of a push is clean label? While I am sure IP is proprietary, what can you tell us of your fermentation technique and your production techniques to get whole cuts of meat? We speak endlessly of the US …

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Millennial Flavor Town debuts waygu beef steak in Europe at London Expo.

© Millennial Flavor Town
Products & Launches

Wagyu Beef Steak ‘Masterpiece’ by Korea’s Millennial Flavor Town Premieres at PBWE Europe

Korea’s Millennial Flavor Town, a food startup aiming to redefine barbeque with fermentation and plants, is introducing its wagyu beef line — MM Beef — at the Plant Based World Expo Europe in London. The range includes two products: marbled wagyu beef steak and shredded beef, in soy sauce and truffle flavors, which have been featured in media outlets, including The New York Times. Described as “a masterpiece boasting a rich heritage and a fusion of flavors that redefine the essence of beef,” the products have been crafted by co-founder, food technologist, and chef Bakrin Ahn and her team. Traditional Korean fermentation Millennial Flavor Town uses a patented method based on traditional Korean fermentation and a blend of ingredients: soybeans, hedgehog and button mushrooms, rice koji, …

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Chunk Foods steak retail

© Chunk Foods
Retail & E-Commerce

Chunk Foods Arrives in US Retail for 1st Time, Sets Prices Similar to Animal-Based Counterparts

Chunk Foods, a producer of plant-based whole cuts, has officially announced its entry into retail with four new products, marking its first direct-to-consumer availability. Until now, Chunk Foods products were available only through foodservice partnerships, including venues such as Jajaja Mexicana and Pastrami Queen in New York City, and a recent co-branded partnership with Better Balance in Latin America and Spain. The new retail products will be introduced in independent natural and organic retailers across Los Angeles and New York City in the coming weeks. The company has also hinted at further growth in 2025, with plans to partner with larger retailers to reach a wider US audience. Chunk Foods’ CEO and founder, Amos Golan, stated, “Our retail strategy is focused on a phased approach. …

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Novameat shredded beef

© Novameat
Investments & Finance

Novameat Secures €17.4M in Oversubscribed Round, Launches Improved Shredded Plant-Based Beef

Barcelona’s Novameat, a B2B company specializing in different cuts of plant-based chicken, beef, and turkey, announces it has raised €17.4 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Sofinnova Partners and Forbion via its BioEconomy Fund. Existing investors like Unovis Asset Management, Praesidium, and Rubio Impact Ventures also reinvested, betting on the company’s realistic alternatives to meat. The new capital will allow Novameat to expand its product range, including the launch of a new, improved shredded plant-based beef product — Shredded Nova-b*ef — on September 16th. The funds will also help boost commercial activities in new regions and scale production using its proprietary MicroForce technology. Giuseppe Scionti, CEO and founder of Novameat, commented, “This funding marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we …

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table setting with vegan meat and plates of salads, olives and more

© Veganic
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Veganic to Showcase B2B Plant-Based Product Range at SIAL Paris

Estonia-based Veganic will be showcasing its latest innovations at SIAL Paris 2024. The company, which prides itself on using only natural ingredients without artificial additives, is focused on providing business customers and consumers with delicious, healthy alternatives to traditional meat products. Veganic’s flagship product, “THE SOURCE,” is a whole-cut vegan meat, made from “only 10 pure ingredients”, avoiding extrusion machines and heavy processing. By emphasizing clean plant power, Veganic aims to set itself apart in the plant-based market, catering to health-conscious consumers seeking both flavor and nutrition. At SIAL, Veganic will introduce attendees to a variety of products derived from “THE SOURCE”. These include: Plant-Based Prime Filet: Made from a blend of wheat, lentil, and pea protein, this filet offers 29 grams of protein per serving. …

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Planted steak launches in retail

© Planted Foods AG
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Planted Presents Plant-Based Whole Muscle Steak at SIAL Paris, Announces Listings in French Retail and Food Service

Swiss food tech company Planted has announced that it will be exhibiting at this year’s SIAL Paris. With ‘planted.steak’, Planted has developed a plant-based steak that is already available for consumers in many European restaurants. Following its successful launch in food service, it is now also available in retail outlets in Switzerland at Coop and in Germany at REWE. The steak will be presented to the international trade public at this year’s SIAL Paris in October. Planted’s vegan steak launches in France “We are very proud to showcase our latest innovation the planted.steak at SIAL this year, which has launched across food service as well as retail in Europe such as at Coop, Edeka and REWE. It will also be making its debut in French …

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ProVeg - the role of whole cut plant-based meat products

© ProVeg
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

The Role of Whole-Cut Plant-Based Meat Products

It’s out with the old, and in with the new – the plant-based meat industry is undergoing a new surge in innovation. While the industry has experienced a shake-out and consolidation in brands and products in recent years, it’s also seen food-tech milestones achieved. As a result, tastier, meatier, and more in-demand products are now taking centre stage and attracting new consumers to the category. In its latest New Food Hub interview, ProVeg International sat down with Edwin Bark, Senior Vice-President of Redefine Meat. Following the Flank Steak product launch, Edwin shared thoughts on attracting meat-eaters, industry challenges, and the future of plant-based meat. “As good as the animal version” Consumer research shows that the sensory experience of plant-based meat products is vital to their …

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Pierre Dupuis of Adamo Foods

© Adamo Foods

Interviews

Adamo Foods: “Our NPD Pipeline is Vast and We Plan to Launch a Realistic Alternative to Every Type of Animal Whole Cut”

UK’s Adamo Foods, creator of fungi-based whole cuts, last week announced it had secured $2.5 million in seed funding to help scale production to pilot levels, expand its team with senior food industry experts, and develop new products, including a chicken breast alternative. Adamo’s mycelium steak, touted as the first ultra-realistic beef alternative made from fungi, aims to disrupt the whole-cut meat market by offering a cleaner-label, high-protein product with significantly lower environmental impact. The company is gearing up for a limited UK pilot launch, followed by a broader European rollout. We were excited to finally speak with CEO and founder Pierre Dupuis who tells vegconomist that the team has developed a technology that allows them to effectively mimic animal muscle tissue. “We’re clear and …

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Adamo Foods steak

© Adamo Foods
Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Adamo Foods Secures $2.5M to Scale Clean-Label Mycelium Steak

Adamo Foods, a UK startup making beef steak alternatives from fungi, has raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by UK Innovation Science and Seed Fund (UKI2S) and Joyful Ventures. Adamo will use the funding to increase the production of its clean-label mycelium steak to pilot scale and expand its team by hiring senior food industry experts. The company also plans to develop more products, such as a chicken breast alternative. Milo Runkle, co-founder and General Partner at Joyful Ventures, will join Adamo’s board following the raise. With the mycelium steak, which is claimed to be the first ultra-realistic beef steak alternative made from fungi, Adamo plans to disrupt the whole-cut meat alternatives market. While most conventional meat products consumed worldwide are whole …

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Plant-based brand Plantaway has introduced India’s first plant-based chicken whole cut: the Chick'n Fillet.

© Plantaway
Products & Launches

Plantaway Launches India’s First Plant-Based Chicken Fillet

Plant-based brand Plantaway has launched a new chicken alternative that the company claims will set a new standard in the market: India’s first plant-based chicken fillet. Whether grilled, baked, or sautéed, Plantaways’s whole cut, branded the Chick’n Fillet, is said to replicate the taste and texture of chicken, “satisfying even the most discerning palates.” Crafted from pea protein, it offers 19g of protein per pack (two pieces), dietary fiber, and an option without soy, making it an excellent choice for those looking to boost their protein intake. Moreover, the new fillets are said to have zero trans fats, preservatives, artificial colorings, or flavorings, targeting health-conscious consumers. Chick’n Fillet is available on the company’s website and at Swiggy and Zomato in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad. …

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Prolific Machines' co-founders.

(L) Max Huisman (CTO), Deniz Kent (CEO), and Declan Jones (CDO) - Image courtesy of Prolific Machines
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Prolific Machines Raises $55M to Offer “Never Before Possible Biosolutions” Including Cultivated Meat Whole Cuts

Emeryville-based Prolific Machines, a US company pioneering the use of light as a tool to grow and control cells in biomanufacturing, has announced it has closed a $55 million Series B1 funding round. The new capital will help Prolific Machines scale and commercialize its photo molecular biology platform, which it claims can significantly improve the production and lower the costs of bioproducts, including cultivated meat, nutritional and therapeutic proteins, pharmaceuticals, and more. Ki Tua Fund led the round, bringing the company’s total funding to $86.5 million. Previous investor Breakthrough Energy Ventures and other mission-aligned investors, including Mayfield, SOSV, Shorewind Capital, Darco Capital, Conti Ventures, and In-Q-Tel (IQT), participated. Deniz Kent, Prolific Machines’ co-founder and CEO, shares, “We have proven that we can successfully control several …

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Better Balance launches Better Nera with Chunk Foods

© Sigma
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Better Balance Launches Plant-Based Whole Cut ‘Better-Nera’ in Spain with Chunk Foods

Following the announcement this January that the company was to develop co-branded plant-based whole cuts for the Latin American market in collaboration with Chunk Foods, Better Balance now presents the 100% plant-based “Better-nera” cut for the Spanish market. Also co-developed with vegan steak specialist Chunk Foods, using a patented solid-state fermentation technology, this innovative cut of plant meat is a pioneer in its category in Spain, says Better Balance, a subsidiary of the Sigma group. Better-nera has a high protein content (21%) and is an excellent source of fibre, enriched with iron and vitamin B12. In addition, it is cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat and sodium, and contains no artificial colours or preservatives. The product has been categorised with Nutriscore A and can be prepared …

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Pacifico Biolabs, a Belin-based biotech startup, announced that it raised $3.3 million to make mycelium-based whole-cut alternatives.

© Viktor Strasse
Fermentation

Pacifico Biolabs Secures $3.3M to “Transform Seafood” with Whole Cut Alternatives

Berlin-based biotech startup Pacifico Biolabs emerges from two years in stealth mode with the announcement of a $3.3 million oversubscribed pre-seed round.  With the capital, the startup plans to improve and further scale its “unique” biomass fermentation process to make mycelium-based whole-cut alternatives, starting with seafood. In addition, it will expand its team with key positions, such as a CTO and chief of staff. Simon Capital and FoodLabs led the funding round, joined by Exceptional Ventures and Sprout & About Ventures. Patrick Noller, General Partner at FoodLabs, comments, “We are confident that Pacifico’s technology strongly positions them to transform seafood and beyond, addressing the urgent demands of a changing climate.”  Friedrich Droste, Managing Partner of Simon Capital, shared, “Their innovative technical approach to alternative seafood …

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Juicy Marbles launches at Tesco

© Juicy Marbles
Company News

Juicy Marbles’ Whole Cuts Arrive in Tesco, Retailing at Lower Price Than Animal Steak

Juicy Marbles, creator of luxury plant-based whole cuts including the “world’s first marbled plant-based steak” which caused a stir upon its announcement in 2021, announces the rollout of the famous steak into 350+ Tesco stores. This marks Juicy Marbles’ third major UK supermarket distribution deal following its initial distributor Waitrose and most recent listing at Whole Foods. Juicy Marbles reports that “Tesco has seen a big increase in demand for versatile, high-quality plant-based meat products in recent months, as shoppers look to reduce their meat consumption” and that Tesco’s buyers were “drawn to the versatility and quality” of the product, as well as strong sales to date. Cheaper than the “real” thing The product lands on Tesco shelves at £9 rrp and at a £6.75 …

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