Sam – vegconomist – the vegan business magazine

©Northern Bloc

UK: Northern Bloc Secures £1.2M Investment for New Plant-Based Ice Creamery

July 28, 2022

Following its successful entry into the plant-based market, UK ice cream brand Northern Bloc has secured a £1.2m follow-on investment to support its expansion. The funding will enable Northern Bloc to relocate to a new, larger site in Leeds, Yorkshire, as well as expand its team. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”In 2021, Northern Bloc experienced 80 percent growth in turnover”[/perfectpullquote] Northern Bloc has secured the £1.2m follow-on investment from Gresham House Ventures, with the ice cream maker beginning its relocation into the new production site this week. The company plans to convert the existing facilities into a purpose-built ice creamery before fully relocating its expanded production facility and office-based sales and marketing team. The site will also feature a factory shop and …

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©EVS

Fairs & Events

“First of its Kind” European Vegan Summit to Take Place in September

July 28, 2022

The first European Vegan Summit (EVS) will take place this September, featuring activists, politicians, and influential figures from media, business, science, and NGOs. Coming together virtually, the EVS will revolve around activism, economy, politics, and science to connect the European vegan sphere. The EVS will take place over 4 days online (15th-18th of September) and will feature 12 talks, 72 speakers, and 4 exhibitions. Speakers include MEPs Sylwia Spurek and Francisco Guerreiro, vegan investor Sebastiano Castiglioni, activist Genesis Butler, and the founder of Vegan Women Summit Jennifer Stojkovic, among many others. Organized in response to the current crises caused by inefficient and ineffective food policies, the EVS is the brainchild of the Green REV Institute, the first vegan think-tank in Poland. The online event will …

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Image Source: Pearlita Foods

Cultivated Seafood

Pearlita Announces “World’s First” Oyster Alternative to Hit Shelves Soon

July 27, 2022

Pearlita Foods, the US seafood disruptor, has announced the completion of its first prototype alternative oyster. With the claim of being the world’s first alt oyster company, Pearlita has leveraged plant-based and cell-based technologies to produce authentic and identical oysters, with more alt seafood products in development. Based in Raleigh, NC, Pearlita has stated that it will first release its plant-based alternative oyster while scaling up its cell lines. The prototype consists of a proprietary mushroom and seaweed formulated base and the company’s novel flavor cocktail that gives the oyster: “a pure delicate and authentic ocean flavor”. The company is now working on scaling up production to bring its alternative oysters to tastings. With conventional oysters known to cause foodborne illnesses and at risk of …

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©Zero Acre Farms

Fermentation

Zero Acre Farms Says “The Day Has Finally Arrived. Cultured Oil is Here”

July 27, 2022

Zero Acre Farms, the cultured oil innovator backed by Robert Downey Jr., announces the release of its first product. Available now via the company’s website, the cultured oil is high in healthy mono-unsaturated fats and low in unhealthy poly-unsaturated fats, with a fraction of the carbon footprint of conventional cooking oils. All-purpose cooking oil with a purpose Co-founder and CEO Jeff Nobbs stated yesterday: “The day has finally arrived. Cultured Oil is here, and officially for sale at zeroacre.com. It’s time to start saying goodbye to the era of unhealthy, unsustainable, and not-very-tasty vegetable oils. “Cultured Oil is a cooking oil made by fermentation. We call it the all-purpose cooking oil with a purpose. Cultured Oil has even more healthy fats than olive oil and …

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Christian Dammann ©Bluu GmbH

Cultivated Seafood

Bluu Seafood: “By 2025 Cultivated Seafood Can Be Expected to Appear in Supermarkets”

July 26, 2022

Christian Dammann, PhD, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bluu Seafood and VP at Cellular Agriculture Europe, is an internationally renowned expert in cellular agriculture and cultivated fish development as well as a former co-founder of BlueNalu. Bluu Seafood is one of the first cultivated seafood innovators in the European sphere and appointed Christian as its inaugural COO in 2021. Christian focuses on process development, scaling-up, and – most crucially – regulatory affairs at Bluu Seafood so we talked with him about the present and future of both the company and the sector. Plant-based alternatives for meat and some seafood can now be found in many supermarkets around the world. However, only one cultivated product, chicken, is available and only in Singapore. Cultivated seafood is not …

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Christian Dammann ©Bluu GmbH

Cultivated Seafood

Bluu Seafood: “By 2025 Cultivated Seafood Can Be Expected to Appear in Supermarkets”

February 9, 2024July 26, 2022

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

SuperMeat Partners With Migros, Switzerland’s Largest Supermarket and Meat Manufacturer

July 26, 2022

SuperMeat, the Israeli cultivated meat startup, has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Switzerland’s largest retail supermarket chain and leading meat manufacturer, Migros. The MOU will expedite the production and distribution of cultivated meat on a commercial scale. As part of the partnership, Migros has invested in SuperMeat, indicating that the industry sees a strong interest among consumers in alternative proteins. The two companies aim to solidify an infrastructure to distribute and sell cultivated meat on a wide scale to meet the demand of the European consumer looking for more efficient and sustainable alternative products. The move follows a similar deal signed between SuperMeat and PHW Group, one of Europe’s largest poultry producers, as the cultivated meat company moves ever closer to commercialization. Switzerland’s …

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©Wunderkern

Products & Launches

Circular Economy: Wunderkern Develops Ice Cream From Stone Fruit Pits

July 26, 2022

Austrian food tech startup Wunderkern has released a circular economy-driven gourmet line derived from stone fruit pits. Wunderkern’s cold-pressed oils and chocolate spread are made from the long-forgotten natural raw material of stone fruit pits, including apricot, cherry, and plum. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”By relying on apricot kernels we can decrease the driving factors of climate change”[/perfectpullquote] In order to showcase the startup’s vegan and sustainable innovations, Wunderkern has produced three trial ice cream flavors from its fruit pit oils, a more sustainable alternative to the almonds most commonly used in vegan ice creams. The sustainable ice cream alternatives were successfully trialed at this month’s “Everything Apricot” festival in Austria. The company’s approach is to take unsustainable products and create newer …

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©NotCo

Gastronomy & Food Service

Mexican QSR Giant Alsea Signs New Plant-Based Partnership with NotCo

July 25, 2022

Alsea, the Mexican multi-brand restaurant giant, has entered into a new partnership with NotCo to provide plant-based products across its outlets. Including Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Burger King, and TGI Friday’s among its operations across Mexico, Europe, and South America, Alsea becomes the latest partner of leading plant-based food tech NotCo. Alsea has stated that the strategy was carried out with the aim of providing consumers with more dining options, especially given the growing number of people opting for plant-based products. NotBurger, NotChicken, and NotMilk will be the first products to be launched in August, all produced with NotCo’s AI algorithm that replicates animal products using only plants. In a recent interview with vegconomist, NotCo CEO Matías Muchnick revealed the company’s plans to: “Continue expanding and …

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Andreas Herber ©BENEO

Interviews

BENEO: “Our Survey Revealed 1 in 4 Consumers Worldwide Identify as Flexitarian, and Half Are Interested in Plant-Based”

July 21, 2022

Leading functional ingredients producer BENEO has hit the vegconomist headlines recently with its €50 million investment into a new faba bean processing plant in Germany, as well as its acquisition of Meatless BV, a Dutch producer of texturized plant proteins with over 15 years of experience. We interviewed Andreas Herber, Member of the Executive Board at BENEO, to discuss the company’s plant-based future. Who is BENEO and what does the company stand for in the plant-based sector? BENEO has long-standing experience in developing and producing plant-based functional ingredients for food, feed, and pharmaceutical products. Plant-based solutions are thus in our genes. But for us, it is also key that our products provide additional benefits. In line with our company’s philosophy of “Connecting nutrition and health”, our …

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Fashion, Design & Beauty

Vegan Car Interiors of the Future: Ultrafabrics Unveils New Tata Motors Concept

July 21, 2022

Ultrafabrics has unveiled a new partnership with India’s Tata Motors showcasing a futuristic vegan interior concept car. The partnership with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), the electric vehicle subsidiary of global automobile manufacturing company Tata Motors is the latest collection from the animal-free, high-performance fabric specialist. Inspired by the colors and crafts of Tata Motors’ Indian heritage, Ultrafabrics states the end result is a warm and inviting interior for TPEM’s new electric vehicle, the AVINYA Concept. It features Ultrafabrics’ Fusion Shimmer and Volar Bio vegan materials crafted in its Japanese mill using the proprietary production process. Spanning many industries, the brand’s client list includes Jaguar Land Rover, Herman Miller, Winnebago, Fitbit, Virgin Galactic, and Movado. TPEM and Tata Motors are under the Tata Group umbrella, …

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Cultivated Meat

Meatable Reveals “Groundbreaking” Cultivated Pork Sausages to Hit Shelves by 2025

July 20, 2022

Leading cultivated meat company Meatable has revealed its pork sausages product for the first time. The cultivated sausage is the first product to be announced by the Dutch company and marks a major breakthrough for its biotechnology, with Meatable expecting to sell its first products to consumers in 2025 – if not sooner. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We believe that cultivated meat is the future of food”[/perfectpullquote] Developing cultivated pork and beef with “groundbreaking” technology, Meatable is on a mission to create real meat that can serve the planet’s growing appetite without harming the environment or animals in the process. Since launching in 2018, Meatable has been developing and refining its process to grow cultivated meat using opti-ox™ technology, without the need …

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Kerry opened a R&D hub to create solutions to food waste

Image courtesy Kerry Foods

Food & Beverage

Spore-Forming Probiotic BC30 Improves Protein Absorption from Plant Sources

July 20, 2022

With various studies suggesting animal proteins are absorbed by the body better than plant proteins – at about 2% difference – a new clinical study has shown leading spore-forming probiotic BC30 can improve protein absorption from plant sources. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“More and more people are following plant-based diets and looking for sustainable nutrition solutions”[/perfectpullquote] Part of Kerry’s ProActive Health Portfolio, BC30 is a patented spore-forming probiotic which can be used in a range of food and beverage products. The findings are significant for food and beverage manufacturers because they demonstrate the potential to offer an additional benefit in plant-based products containing BC30. Irish food giant Kerry claims there may be opportunities for products targeting seniors – who typically require higher …

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©Shaka Harry

Investments & Finance

Blue Horizon Makes First Move into Indian Plant-Based Market with Shaka Harry Investment

July 19, 2022

Blue Horizon, the next-generation impact investor, has announced a seed investment in Shaka Harry, an Indian plant protein company with an alt meat line. Shaka Harry is one of the fastest growing alt meat brands in the emerging Indian plant-based market and is endorsed by Indian celebrity chef Manu Chandra. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Shaka Harry is one of the first movers in a new sector”[/perfectpullquote] Accelerating the transition to a new sustainable food system, Blue Horizon is one of the leaders of the Shaka Harry seed round, marking the investment group’s first foray into the Indian alt meat market. Shaka Harry offers a range of meal and snacking products that are designed around the Indian cuisine and palate. The range includes …

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©Solari Milano

Shoes

Vegan Italian Dress Shoe Brand Solari Milano Launches

July 19, 2022

Vegan shoe brand Solari Milano was born to produce cruelty-free shoes to keep up with sustainability trends without sacrificing comfort and elegance. The new men’s footwear brand claims to combine being made in Italy with respect for the environment and styles that match the office or an elegant event. Solari Milano shoes are made with a corn fabric, which is breathable, durable, water-resistant, yet soft. Solari shoes are 100% Italian, with the production based in Tuscany. The project started a year and a half ago and the product line currently consists of three models: oxfords, loafers and brogues, all made with cruelty-free products, thus safeguarding the lives of animals while contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and saving water. The brainchild of former …

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Fashion, Design & Beauty

MycoWorks Commercializes “World’s First” Plastic-Free Mycelium Alt Leather with Hatmaker Nick Fouquet

July 19, 2022

Biomaterials innovator MycoWorks has announced the commercial launch of the first fashion items made with its flagship mycelium material, Reishi. The Reishi Collection by luxury hatmaker Nick Fouquet includes the Reishi Boletus, Coprinus, and Morchella hats, now available in limited runs on NickFouquet.com. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”MycoWorks’ Reishi is the only leather alternative we’ve seen that matches the beauty, quality, and functionality of traditional leather” – Nick Fouquet[/perfectpullquote] Claiming to unlock new design possibilities for brands, MycoWorks’ biotechnology engineers mycelium – the infinitely renewable root structure of mushrooms – as it grows to designers’ exact specifications for hand feel, texture, strength, and functionality. The result, Reishi, is a luxury, natural material that the company claims can match the performance of the …

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Fairs & Events

“Organic and Vegan from the Field” – Biocyclic Vegan Agriculture at BIOFACH

July 18, 2022

With biocyclic vegan farming gaining momentum, representatives from the International Biocyclic Vegan Network will be present at this year’s edition of BIOFACH. Taking place between 26-29 July 2022, BIOFACH claims to be the world’s leading trade fair for organic food and is based in Nuremberg, Germany. The International Biocyclic Vegan Network explains that more and more producers are deciding to follow the Biocyclic Vegan Standard and become certified. Biocyclic vegan foods come from farms that do not keep livestock, and only use purely plant-based fertilizers, i.e. without any animal excrements, slaughterhouse waste or other inputs of animal origin. At BIOFACH, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the growing range of certified organic and vegan products. With environmentally and ethically motivated consumers increasingly switching to plant-based …

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Image source: Unsplash/ Alex Haney

Gastronomy & Food Service

Menu Integration Can Nudge Consumers Toward More Sustainable Choices

July 18, 2022

With many food service businesses committing to net-zero targets, it is more important than ever to embrace sustainability on menus, normalizing the consumption of plant-based products. Consumers are habit-driven, meaning that there’s an inherent obstacle to them adopting new eating habits, even if the desire is there in the first place. ProVeg International’s most recent report explores how choice architecture and nudge principles can be used to increase flexitarian purchases of plant-based meals across the Global North so that your business can keep pace with modern consumer demands. One of the simplest ways that companies can nudge consumers towards sustainable options is through menu integration. Segregating plant-based menu items suppresses mainstream sales. One study found that putting vegetarian items in separate areas or boxes on …

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Fairs & Events

Viva! Hosting Pop-up Restaurant to Launch ‘Eating the Earth’ Campaign Against Mass Extinction

July 15, 2022

The UK’s leading vegan charity Viva! is to host an immersive fine-dining experience to celebrate the launch of its new wildlife campaign: Eating the Earth. The exclusive campaign launch will allow the public to experience a meal that; “Doesn’t cost the earth”, raising awareness of the over one million species currently threatened with extinction worldwide. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We are experiencing the sixth mass extinction; our planet’s wildlife is declining at a rapid rate”[/perfectpullquote] Open for three nights only, guests will be immersed in a jungle environment and treated to a three-course plant-based dinner from chef Anton Petrov, featuring local and foraged ingredients. Viva! will also be revealing how eating meat, dairy, fish, and eggs is the number one driver for …

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Charles Brand, Tetra Pak Executive Vice President for Processing Solutions & Equipment, & Dr. Ramkumar Nair, Founder and CEO, Mycorena ©Tetra Pak

Company News

Tetra Pak Collaborates with Mycoprotein Innovator Mycorena on “Ground-Breaking” Alt Protein Plant

June 12, 2023July 15, 2022

Tetra Pak is to collaborate with Mycorena to build a greenfield production facility for fungi fermentation. With the goal of building a more resilient and sustainable global food system, the new facility will utilize Mycorena’s innovative fungi fermentation for alt protein food applications. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Fungi fermentation is the future of the food industry”[/perfectpullquote] The new plant, located in Falkenberg, Sweden, will produce a meat replacement product from fungi. The factory’s first phase will include mince-based products that will serve as ingredients for making alt meat products, with the fast-growing Mycorena also announcing plans to expand its production capacity and extend its geographical reach by opening new factories across Europe and Asia in the near future. Packaging giant Tetra Pak’s …

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