Tag: plant-based

Swedish food startup Veg of Lund unveils world’s first potato-based dairy alternative

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SWEDEN – Swedish-based food start-up Veg of Lund has unveiled a new dairy alternative made from the humble potato in an effort to minimize the climate impact of the dairy products.   In developing the new alternative touted as the world’s first potato-based dairy alternative, Veg of Lund teamed up with Professor Eva Tornberg of Lund University.  The partners claim the creation, called DUG, tastes delicious, goes perfectly with hot drinks, and is kind to the environment.   Veg of Lund said innovation with the potato allowed it to fulfil its mission to minimise its climate…

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Danone acquires majority stake in Harmless Harvest to accelerate growth of its plant-based business

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USA – French dairy company Danone has through its venture arm Danone Manifesto Ventures (DMV) purchased a majority stake in Harmless Harvest to accelerate the growth of its plant-based business.   Harmless Harvest offers a range of organic coconut-based products, including coconut water, snack drinks, and yogurt alternatives.  The company is Fair for Life Certified and is said to be committed to sustainable agriculture through its Regenerative Coconuts Agriculture Project.  According to a statement from Danone, its new acquisition expects to generate more than US$100 million in sales in 2021, doubling its revenue from…

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Nestlé launches ‘Harvest Gourmet’ plant-based range for restaurants in South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA – Nestlé Professional, the Nestlé arm committed to foodservice operations has introduced its plant-based range ‘Harvest Gourmet’ for restaurants in South Africa. According to the Swiss food manufacturing giant, the launch is a heed to the call of flexitarians who want to eat less meat but don’t want to feel like they are eating vegetables While South Africans continue to identify themselves largely as a meat loving nation, a significant proportion of people would like to eat less than they currently consume. And, almost half of those who…

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AB InBev invests in animal-free egg protein as Diageo launches Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

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US – AB InBev, through its investment arm ZX Ventures, is venturing into large scale development of sustainable, animal-free egg protein to address global food challenges while its competitor Diageo has added a new coffee-infused product to its Guinness brand. According to a report by FoodBev, ZX Ventures is partnering with Clara Foods in this new initiative that will “focus on unlocking the potential of precision fermentation at a large scale.” Clara Foods specialises in engineering, manufacturing and formulating animal-free proteins using precision fermentation. The R&D partnership will combine AB…

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Cultured meat startup Meatable raises US$47M to fund growth amid rising demand for animal-free products

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NETHERLANDS – Dutch food company, Meatable now has the opportunity to advance small-scale production at the Biotech Campus Delft and to diversify its product portfolio. This is after a successful Series A round that saw the company raise US$47 million from a consortium of life sciences and food investors. The investors included Section 32, , whose founder was the first CEO of Google Ventures, and DSM Venturing, the corporate venture arm of Royal DSM. The round, according to the company, brings the total amount collected so far to US$60 million…

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Kerry’s Richmond brand launches meat-free meatballs in UK as demand for alternative protein soars

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UK – Richmond brand, one of Kerry’s most prominent food brands,  has expanded its Meat-Free range by launching new meat-free meatballs and minces in the UK. The launch comes at a time when there is soaring demand for alternative proteins as consumer tastes and preferences shift away from animal proteins. According to a recently released report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Blue Horizon Corporation (BHC), the alternative protein market including meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood will reach US$290 billion in value by 2035. The study also concluded that alternative…

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Nigeria’s first plant-based foodtech startup VeggieVictory completes pre-seed funding round

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NIGERIA – Nigeria’s first plant-based food tech startup, VeggieVictory, has closed a pre-seed funding round to expand its product portfolio and reach. Its flagship product is a plant-based meat chunks alternative dubbed Vchunks, a protein-rich analogue developed, produced and packaged locally, and is currently sold in over 12 states in the country. According to reports by Green Queen, the company plans to introduce new products such as vegan beef jerky, which includes soy-based hot dogs, tofu scrambles, meatless burger patties and shawarmas, as well as tailored Nigerian cuisine dishes, such…

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Swiss mineral expert Omya launches new ingredients to support development of plant-based foods

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SWITZERLAND – Swiss mineral expert Omya has launched a range of new “natural and Vegan friendly” ingredients to support the development of the emerging plant-based food industry. The new ingredients from the swiss mineral company include; Purple Sweet Potato Concentrate, Safflower Extract, and Yeast Extracts. Omya says that the Covid-19 crisis has made people realise, once again, that the world is a holistic system that has to be treated with care. This realization, according to Omya, made people to be concerned about the impact of their food on the environment…

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Ugandan based food processor Smart Foods develops innovative plant-based yogurt from soy-milk, coconut

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UGANDA – Ugandan dairy and meat alternative development startup, Smart Foods Limited has gotten a Utility Model or 2nd class patent in respect to an invention of a product and process method for yoghurt as result of a unique blending process of soymilk and coconut meat. The intellectual property right aimed to protect the invention was granted to Martin Ssali, Founder and Managing Director of Smart Foods Limited on 22nd December 2020. The innovation by the budding startup came in response to the need to offer alternative milk and meat…

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McDonald’s launches plant-based burger to appeal to health-conscious consumers

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US – McDonalds, one of the largest fast food chain franchise in the world, has joined the plant-based revolution with the launch of McPlant, a new plant-based bugger designed to appeal to health conscious and vegan consumers.   McDonald’s says it will be rolling out a plant-based burger in select markets next year with a possibility of extending its plant-based products line with products such as burgers, chicken-substitutes and breakfast sandwiches. “We expect some markets will test the burger next year, which we believe is a proven, delicious-tasting product. When…

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