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Happy couple cooking food, open omnivore concept

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Market & Trends

What is the Open Omnivore Opportunity?

Understanding and reaching emerging consumer demographics is vital for staying competitive in the food and beverage landscape. Enter the open omnivore – a newly identified group bridging the gap between omnivores and flexitarians. These consumers, while primarily meat-eaters, are open to trying plant-based alternatives but haven’t yet made the leap. Why does this matter? In the latest New Food Hub article, ProVeg International deep dives into the open omnivore group and reveals how brands can target these consumers. According to the article, open omnivores represent untapped potential in the plant-based sector, offering a fresh growth avenue for businesses looking to expand their reach. Unlike flexitarians, who are already active buyers in the category, open omnivores are at the starting line of their ‘readiness’ journey – …

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EXBERRY colors in bao buns filled with plant-based meat

© EXBERRY by GNT

Ingredients

GNT Launches New Investment Arm to Fast-Track Innovations in Plant-Based Colors

Dutch plant-based ingredients company GNT has officially launched GNT Ventures, an independent investment firm, to promote innovation and sustainability in plant-based colors. GNT Ventures will invest in startups developing new and improved plant-based coloring solutions in four key areas: raw materials and fermentation, processing, food ingredients, and upcycling. The VC aims to partner with startups worldwide by providing financial support as a sole investor or co-lead in pre-seed to series A funding. The maximum investment size will be €1 million. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We’re looking to build mutually beneficial relationships with startups that dare to dream big and have the drive to shape tomorrow’s planet”[/perfectpullquote] The news follows a recent collaboration with Plume Biotechnology, a UK-based startup specializing in fermentation science and bioprocessing …

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Umaro Foods Sway bioplastic

© Umaro Foods

Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Umaro and Sway Receive $1.5M Dept. of Energy Grant to Turn Seaweed Waste into Sustainable Bioplastics

Bay Area companies Umaro Foods and Sway have been awarded a $1.5 million grant by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to advance innovations in seaweed-based materials. The funding, part of the DOE’s Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity (MACRO) program, will support efforts to convert alginate, a byproduct of seaweed protein production, into sustainable bioplastics. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Seaweed has enormous potential to solve two problems at once: the need for sustainable materials and the need for sustainable proteins”[/perfectpullquote] The partnership leverages the strengths of both startups. Umaro specializes in extracting protein from seaweed for use in plant-based foods, such as its red seaweed-derived bacon, for which it raised $3.8M earlier this year. This process produces alginate-rich sidestreams that will be …

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Stanford study compares the mechanical and sensory properties of plant-based and animal meat products.

From left: Skyler St. Pierre, Marc Levenston, Ellen Kuhl, Reese Dunne, Ethan Darwin, Valerie Perez Medina, and Divya Adil pose with the meat and plant-based meat they analyzed © Kurt Hickman

Science

Stanford Engineers Develop 3D Texture Tests to Make Plant-Based Meat with “Precisely Desired” Properties

Stanford University engineers have developed a new AI model for food texture testing to improve the sensory experience of plant-based meat and encourage wider acceptance, especially among meat lovers. The researchers say the method could accelerate the development of appealing vegan alternatives by replacing trial-and-error approaches with a systematic, data-driven strategy that can tailor specific features to match consumer expectations. “Instead of using a trial-and-error approach to improve the texture of plant-based meat, we could envision using generative artificial intelligence to scientifically generate recipes for plant-based meat products with precisely desired properties,” the authors state. Testing the “mechanical signature” In the study published in Science of Food, the researchers show how they used a combination of mechanical testing and machine learning to measure and replicate …

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SHICKEN launches at Albert Heijn

© SHICKEN

Products & Launches

SHICKEN Launches Plant-Based Indian Meals at Leading Dutch Retailer Albert Heijn

SHICKEN, a UK producer of authentic Indian plant-based foods, is launching a range of prepared meals at the Netherlands’ largest grocery retailer, Albert Heijn. Three SHICKEN products — Tikka Masala, Butter Curry, and Korma Curry — will be available in the frozen section at Albert Heijn stores across the country. The meals contain the brand’s new allergen-free plant-based roast chicken pieces, and are prepared by chefs using recipes handed down for three generations. The launch aligns with Albert Heijn’s “Better for Nature & Climate” initiative, which aims to increase the availability of sustainable products to improve the retailer’s carbon footprint. Albert Heijn has reportedly expanded its plant-based range by over 30% in recent years, and claims that a quarter of its customers regularly buy plant-based …

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© Örebro University

Protein

PAN Sweden Works to Accelerate Protein Transition by Studying Health & Sensory Properties of Plant Protein

PAN Sweden Research Centre, an initiative coordinated by Örebro University, is studying the health impacts and sensory properties of plant-based proteins with the aim of aiding the transition to a more sustainable food system. Currently, the centre is investigating the impact of the processing, structure, and digestion of plant proteins and fibre on gut, metabolic, and mental health. It is also working to improve the sensory properties of plant-based products and develop methods of influencing consumer behaviour. This could include policies and regulations to accelerate the protein transition. PAN Sweden hopes to help meet Agenda 2030, an agreement that was adopted by all United Nations members in 2015 and outlines 17 world Sustainable Development Goals. These include improving health, ending hunger, and taking action on …

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Nick Jackowetz, CSO of Hydrosome Labs

Nick Jackowetz © Hydrosome Labs

Fermentation

How Hydrosome Labs is Transforming Fermentation with Ultrafine Bubble Technology

In the world of advanced science and technology, breakthroughs often come from unexpected places. For Hydrosome Labs, the game-changer is ultrafine bubbles—or nanobubbles—an innovation poised to reshape fermentation processes across industries like brewing, biopharma, and precision fermentation. Nick Jackowetz, CSO of Hydrosome Labs, sat down with Alex Crisp for Future of Foods Interviews to discuss how these microscopic marvels could drive efficiency and productivity in fields ranging from cellular agriculture to cosmetics. What are ultrafine bubbles? “Imagine a champagne bubble—about a millimeter in diameter,” Jackowetz began. “Now, inside that single bubble, we could fit about a trillion of our ultrafine bubbles.” These bubbles, roughly 100 nanometers in size (the size of a virus particle), are so tiny that they don’t behave like traditional bubbles. Instead …

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women shopping and looking at receipt

© RViDi Studio - stock.adobe.com

Studies & Numbers

PCRM Study Finds Plant-Based Diet Leads to Savings of $650 Per Year Compared to Standard American Diet

A new study challenges the widespread perception that plant-based diets are costly, finding that a low-fat vegan diet is significantly more affordable than both the standard American diet and the Mediterranean diet. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) reveals that adopting a low-fat vegan diet reduces daily food costs by 19%, or $1.80, compared to a standard diet, which includes meat and dairy. The vegan diet was also 25% cheaper than the Mediterranean diet, saving $2.40 per day.  [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”As the cost of groceries remains stubbornly high, consumers should swap the meat and dairy products for a low-fat vegan diet”[/perfectpullquote] As grocery prices remain a significant concern for consumers, the …

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Dr. Praegers chickenless nuggets

© Dr. Praegers

Society

Chickenless Nuggets Are Unexpected Success in American Schools, Cafeterias Struggle to Keep Up with Soaring Demand

Durham Public Schools (DPS) in North Carolina have observed an unexpected surge in student demand for plant-based chicken nuggets introduced to its lunch program earlier this year. The soy protein-based nuggets, supplied by Dr. Praeger’s, have become a monthly staple, with approximately 1,500 servings—equivalent to 6,000 individual nuggets—distributed across the district. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We never in our wildest dreams could imagine the number of kids that were going to take those vegan nuggets”[/perfectpullquote] The popularity of these vegan nuggets was spotlighted during a recent joint meeting of the Durham County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education, published by 9th Street Journal. James Keaten, DPS’s director of school nutrition, shared that demand has outpaced initial expectations. “We never in …

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© Pureture

Company News

Pureture and Kangwon National University Launch Research Center to Innovate Non-GMO Yeast-Derived Proteins

New York startup Pureture, a developer of animal-free ingredients with a focus on alternative casein proteins and high-functionality yeast strains, has partnered with South Korea’s Kangwon National University to establish the “Alternative Protein Research Center.” The center aims to develop innovative solutions at scale for the global alternative protein market, explains the startup in an announcement this Wednesday. This new joint initiative will leverage the University’s expertise in fermentation science and Pureture’s R&D capabilities to produce highly functional proteins derived from non-GMO yeast. Pureture has already developed a plant-based casein that is said to offer a complete amino acid profile and melting and stretching functionalities of milk caseins. Rudy Yoo, CEO of Pureture, shared, “The development of high-functionality proteins derived from non-GMO yeast is at …

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Jake Berber of Prefer

Investment Climate Podcast

Investments & Finance

Investment Climate Podcast: Jake Berber of Prefer, How to Get Funded in 2024

In this podcast series, Alex Shandrovsky interviews investors about benchmarks for funding alt proteins in 2024 and uncovers the investment playbooks of successful climate tech CEOs and leading VCs. Podcast Host Alex Shandrovksy is a strategic advisor to numerous global food tech accelerators and companies, including alternative proteins and cellular agriculture leaders. His focus is on investor relations and post-raise scale for agrifood tech companies. Series 2, Episode 7: Jake Berber of Prefer In this episode, Alex talked to Jake, co-founder and CEO of Prefer, a Singapore-based producer of more affordable and sustainable food & beverages, starting with coffee. The talk focuses on investment outreach and strategies to attract funding or expand business opportunities. The discussion highlights real-world examples of successful outreach efforts and offers insights …

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Faye MacGregor and Chris Wilkie

(L) Faye MacGregor and Chris Wilkie - Image provided

Beverages

NZ Oat Milk Brands Otis and All Good Merge to “Play Smarter and Harder” Under New Brand Good & Humble

Otis and All Good, pioneering oat milk startups from New Zealand, have merged under a new entity, Good & Humble. The merger aims to build scale, drive innovation, support New Zealand’s oat growers, and expand into global markets, especially Southeast Asia. Good & Humble will combine Otis’s innovation in on-farm provenance (verifying the traceability of the ingredients) and enzyme technology with All Good’s established leadership in export sales and distribution. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We are playing against billion-dollar multinational brands […] Our NPD engine will be market-leading”[/perfectpullquote] Otis co-founder Chris Wilkie shared, “As one entity, our teams will benefit from shared experiences, deepened knowledge, and more diverse skills. We are playing against billion-dollar multinational brands; uniting with All Good means we …

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Business Wire

Clean Skin Club Closes $32M Investment Round Led by Astō Consumer Partners with Co-Investment from Amberstone

New Capital to Fuel Retail Growth and Product Innovation for Category-Defining Skincare Brand AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clean Skin Club, a first-of-its-kind brand at the intersection of skincare and hygiene, announces today the closing of its investment round led by premier investors Astō Consumer Partners and Amberstone. Funds will be allocated toward expansion into brick-and-mortar retail channels, new product development and investment in best-in-class talent. “Clean Skin Club is ushering in a new era of skincare through reimagining the category and delivering straightforward, science-backed solutions that truly work,” said Clayton Christopher, Co-Founder of Astō Consumer Partners. “The disruptive brand has amassed a cult-following, ranking as a best-seller on Amazon and breaking through the large, high growth skincare market. We are inspired by the team’s vision for skincare …

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Ymolution research team

The Ymolution research team, from left to right Anja Wiechert, Alexander Reder, Christian Hentschker, Jan Meiering. © University Medical Greifswald

Science

Researchers Develop Pioneering Method for Production of Antibodies as Revolutionary Alternative to Animal Experiments

A research team from Germany’s University Medical Greifswald Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genome Research has developed a new method for the production of antibodies that completely eliminates the traditional use of animal experiments. The project, named “Ymolution” stands for a revolutionary solution to immunological questions, and was launched earlier in November ahead of a business that will be established over the course of the next few months. Animal usage is ethically problematic & expensive Antibodies play a crucial role in medicine, spanning applications from diagnostics (for example, rapid COVID tests) to the development of drugs. They are pivotal in diverse research areas, including cancer research, and have a direct impact on patient care, contributing to advancements in medicines, combating viral infections, and treating …

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Renegade Foods Hungarian salami

© Renegade Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Renegade Foods Adds French-Hungarian Flavors to Gourmet Vegan Salami Line

Renegade Foods, a Bay Area company specializing in plant-based meats, has announced the addition of three new products to its European-style vegan salami range. Pulling inspiration from French and Hungarian culinary traditions, the new offerings are designed to offer more diverse options for different taste palates, expanding the company’s appeal to both home cooks and professional chefs. Iona Campbell, CEO and co-founder of Renegade Foods states, “For more than four years, we have been sharing our love of southern European culinary traditions. Our traditionally fermented and smoked Italian and Spanish-style plant-based salamis have been included on the menus of celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs as well as in the homes of tens of thousands.”  She added, “Recently, Renegade’s culinary explorations have taken us across western and …

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Cultivated leather tissues under the microscope.

© Faircraft

Investments & Finance

French Cultivated Leather Startup Faircraft Secures €15M to Meet Demand for Ethical Materials

France’s Faircraft, a cultivated leather startup based in Paris, announces it has raised €15 million to expand its team and scale up operations to meet the increasing demand for sustainable materials. Faircraft was founded in 2021 by CEO Haïkel Balti, an engineer in materials science, and biochemist César Valencia Gallardo. Leveraging cell biology and unique tissue engineering techniques, they aim to offer a new class of materials with a lower environmental impact, starting with “real leather without the animal.” [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Lab-grown leather represents a major evolution that goes far beyond the fashion industry and uses cutting-edge technologies to honor ethical considerations”[/perfectpullquote] Kindred Ventures (USA), Cap Horn (France), BPI France, Blue Wire Capital (UK), Sake Bosch (Netherlands), Entrepreneur First (UK), …

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Karin Ridgers receives Best Vegan PR Company award

Karin Ridgers receives the Best Vegan PR Company award from actor and friend Peter Egan. Image supplied.

Fairs & Events

MAD Promotions Founder Karin Ridgers Receives Viva! Best Vegan PR Business Award

Karin Ridgers, the founder of MAD Promotions, has received the Best Vegan PR Business Award at vegan charity Viva!’s 30th anniversary celebration. Karin is a longtime Viva! member who has dedicated her career to helping ethical businesses gain visibility through PR and media relations. She supported Veganuary’s initial campaign and has worked with numerous vegan SMEs and charities. Additionally, she presents and promotes VegfestUK, the UK’s longest-running vegan festival. “It is always about my clients – however, this is about me and our work at MAD Promotions and I am rather chuffed to bits, especially to win an award from an organisation like Viva! that has inspired me for 30 years,” said Ridgers. “It’s been an incredible journey helping to champion vegan businesses over the …

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The Laughing Cow garlic & herb

© Bel Group USA

Cheese Alternatives

Bel Group Announces Three-Year Collaborative Project to Develop Fermented Cheese Alternatives

Bel Group has partnered with agro-industrial group Avril, probiotic manufacturer Lallemand, and agri-food service provider Protial for a three-year project that aims to drive forward the development of fermented and aged plant-based cheese alternatives. The €9 million Cocagne Project will focus on developing minimally processed, nutritious, and environmentally friendly plant-based products that deliver on taste. Through the use of advanced fermentation and aging processes, Bel hopes to significantly improve on the taste and texture of existing plant-based cheeses, meeting consumer demand for healthier and tastier products. The initiative has received support from Bpifrance under the France 2030 program. The Cocagne Project will take place at Bel’s global RID center in Vendôme, France, which the company has announced will be expanded with the help of a …

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Beyond Meat and Wendy’s Georgia announce the launch of a new plant-based meat burger, the Wendy’s Plant Burger in all 19 Wendy’s locations across Georgia.
Food Service

Beyond Meat Continues to Expand in Europe with Launch of Wendy’s Plant Burger in Georgia

Beyond Meat and Wendy’s Georgia announce the launch of a new plant-based meat burger — the Wendy’s Plant Burger — in all 19 Wendy’s locations across Georgia. The collaboration targets the growing demand for meat-free options in the country and marks a further step in the company’s expansion across Europe, where plant-based food sales have been rising, signaling an interest in sustainable alternatives to animal products. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The Wendy’s Plant Burger offers the same great taste and texture customers have come to expect, with no sacrifice required”[/perfectpullquote] The company’s presence on the continent remains strong, with new products launching through retail and food service in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Austria, the Baltics, …

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Market & Trends

How Gen Alpha’s $12 Trillion Spending Power Could Reshape Cultivated and Plant-Based Food Markets

Generation Alpha, those born between 2010 and 2025, are on track to redefine consumer spending trends over the next decade. By 2030, as the oldest members of this generation transition into adulthood and enter the workforce, their collective spending power is projected to reach $12 trillion, according to Nielsen. This shift will give them considerable influence over product offerings from manufacturers and retailers alike. Choices driven by ethics & sustainability Studies indicate that Generation Alpha is deeply motivated by a sense of purpose, surpassing Generation Z in its prioritization of sustainability and ethical considerations. According to research from Razorfish, nearly one-third of Gen Alpha respondents expressed a desire to “make a difference, help others, or help the planet” when asked about their future aspirations. Growing …

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