Proteins

Holy Cow’s beef rinds upcycle cattle hides for a nutrient-dense, sustainable & economically stimulating snack

30-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

When the founders of startup Holy Cow discovered thousands of cow hides are thrown away daily due to rising demand for beef during the pandemic and a simultaneous sharp decline in leather production, they saw an opportunity to create a new revenue source...

Smallfood gears up for commercial production of novel highly soluble complete protein source

29-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Yet another new player has emerged in the burgeoning alternative protein space, this time touting a novel Non GMO complete protein sourced from a single-celled marine microorganism, which it claims can give animal and plant proteins a run for their money.

KRAVE founder talks bold brand refresh and winning back shelf space: 'We have fought for the last 11 months to stabilize our business'

26-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Approaching one year since buying KRAVE back from Hershey, founder of Sonoma Brands Jon Sebastiani says he and his team have been hard at work to re-establish the brand back to its dominant premium positioning within the meat snacks category while regaining...

Quantum Energy Squares raises $2.5m funding to become leader in energy bar category

25-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based energy bar brand Quantum Energy Squares has closed $2.5m in funding to ramp up brand awareness, and has brought on Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star, US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, and MLS Cup MVP, Jozy Altidore as an investor.

New astaxanthin player debuts armed with ‘dark fermentation’ patent

25-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new player is on the verge of entering the astaxanthin and other markets with the granting of a patent on a ‘dark fermentation’ process for cultivating Haematococcus pluvialis and other algae species.

‘Amicable resolution’ may be near for contested withdrawal of organic animal welfare final rule under Trump administration

25-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Organic Trade Association is optimistic it could reach a “potential amicable resolution” in its ongoing lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture for the withdrawal of the widely popular Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule during...

Eat Just Inc. closes $200m funding round: 'You can eat an animal without slaughter. I want to build a brand around that.'

24-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Marking its largest single fundraise to date, Eat Just Inc. has closed $200m in new funding led by a group of global investors to drive growth and capacity of JUST Egg and GOOD Meat Cultured Chicken.

Soylent launches in Walgreens, debuts new format

24-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nutritional beverages and snack maker Soylent has expanded its retail footprint with a nationwide launch into Walgreens stores.

PepsiCo relaunches EVOLVE plant-based protein brand with new formulations, packaging

24-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Two years after acquiring it as part of its $465m deal to buy CytoSport, PepsiCo has embarked on a refresh of plant-based protein brand EVOLVE with new packaging and formulations to help it stand out in a category “experiencing broader acceptance.”

‘Alternative’ proteins could account for 11% of global protein market by 2035, predicts report

24-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

“By 2035, every tenth portion of meat, eggs, and dairy eaten around the globe is very likely to be alternative,” says a new report from Boston Consulting Group and Blue Horizon Corporation predicting alternative proteins could account for 11% ($290bn)...

News in brief

Cell-cultured meat startup Meatable raises $47m to fund small-scale production

23-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Dutch cell-cultured meat startup Meatable - which is working with porcine and bovine induced pluripotent stem cells [iPSCs] – has closed a $47m Series A round (bringing its total funding to $60m) to advance small-scale production at the Biotech Campus...

Algae… the next big thing in plant-based seafood? Triton Algae Innovations gears up for commercial launch

22-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based tuna featuring protein-packed red algae from Triton Algae Innovations could hit the market by the end of the year, says the San Diego-based firm, which says the ingredient could add an exciting new dimension to the small – but fast-growing...

Functional Beverages Webinar Available On Demand Now

Rising demand for functional benefits will help beverage segment hit hard by pandemic to recover

19-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Shifting shopping habits and channel preferences due to the pandemic hit the non-alcoholic beverage industry hard last year, leading to an overall decline in volume and value, but rising consumer interest in functional options could be a key driver in...

Barvecue seizes ‘tremendous opportunities’ in plant-based barbeque, ramps up production at new smokehouse

18-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

North Carolina-based Barvecue is significantly scaling up production of its plant-based pulled pork line, tapping into an underserved opportunity in the plant-based meat alternative space, says brand founder and CEO Lee Cooper.

KeHE’s ‘Crazy Good’ campaign underscores its digital-forward innovation, operational support to help retailers, brands grow

18-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Well-known for its service and compassion, KeHE’s new “Crazy Good” campaign that launched this month seeks to highlight how the food distributor’s other two pillars of “innovation and operational excellence” also can drive growth for its retail partners...

KeHE: ‘Treasure hunting’ may look different post-COVID, but consumers still seek innovation

18-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Innovation still drives the food landscape even though “treasure hunting” may look different now than before the pandemic sidelined casual in-store consumer browsing and retailers and brands rationalized SKUs to focus on best-sellers to alleviate supply...

Dairy-free cheeses featuring novel fermented microbial protein to launch by year end, says Superbrewed Food

17-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Dairy-free cheeses featuring a novel bacterial protein could hit the market by the end of the year, adding an intriguing new dimension to the burgeoning dairy-alternative space, says microbial fermentation specialist Superbrewed Food (formerly known as...

Ardent Mills answers call for keto flour that doesn’t compromise flavor, function or complicate production

16-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

A new line of grain-based flour blends launching today from Ardent Mills promises to deliver the low-carb health benefits consumers want without compromising taste or texture or requiring manufacturers to install new equipment.

Register now: Free webinar Wednesday explores the future of the functional beverage market

15-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of functional beverages are rebounding and have a bright future despite the pandemic shutting down for most of 2020 in-person impulse purchases and food service sales which previously drove the category’s fast growth, according to market research...

When will cell-cultured meat reach price parity with conventional meat?

15-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

[UPDATE NOV 22, 2021: The authors of this report have just issued a corrigendum*] Cell-cultured meat could be cost competitive with some forms of conventional meat within a decade, according to two new studies from Dutch consultancy CE Delft using data...

‘World’s first’ plant-based steak marbled with sunflower oil: ‘It’s not just for aesthetics. It behaves as marbling does in animal meat’

15-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

Slovenian start-up Juicy Marbles claims its plant-based filet mignon marbled with sunflower oil is an industry first.

Nabati Foods raises $7.7m, plans for IPO: 'The company received thousands of inquiries from interested parties looking to invest'

15-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based foods manufacturer Nabati Foods (part of the Eat Beyond Holdings portfolio) has closed over $7.7m in an oversubscribed funding round with plans to pursue a public listing on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE).

CellRx on a mission to slash cost of growth factors used in cell-cultured meat production

15-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

For cell-cultured meat to be commercially viable, we’ll need to see significant movement in the price and availability of growth factors (signaling proteins that stimulate cell growth and differentiation) says UK-based CellRx, which says it can produce...

Cargill shakes up executive leadership team to drive growth

12-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cargill has made new hires to its executive leadership team, effective April 1, to position the company for accelerated growth in sustainable food and agriculture solutions.

‘Extreme-speed’ slaughter lines targeted in proposed legislation as safety risk during pandemic

12-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Twin bills reintroduced in the House and Senate yesterday would reverse Trump-era waivers allowing higher-speed slaughter lines and prohibit new waivers to increase line speed during the pandemic on the grounds that they hinder social distancing and could...

‘Impact will come with scale…’ Ingredion, PURIS, ramp up plant protein capacity

11-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Market projections for meat and dairy alternatives vary wildly, with Impossible Foods’ CEO predicting animal agriculture could hit a ‘death spiral’ by 2035, while Wells Fargo reckons plant-based meat will account for a rather more modest 4% of the US...

Smoothie Bowls bring ‘optionality’ to KIND’s breakfast line up for ‘flexible workforce of the future’

09-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

With today’s launch of a line of ready-to-eat frozen Smoothie Bowls, KIND Healthy Snacks promises to shake-up the fast-growing $3.7b frozen breakfast category while also diversifying its portfolio beyond the on-the-go bars with which it made its name...

NotCo granted US patent for AI technology, rolls out to new US retailers: ‘The momentum is just unbelievable’

08-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Santiago-based food tech company NotCo has been granted a first-of-its kind US patent for its AI technology, which it claims gives it a clear edge in the race to reverse engineer animal foods and put them back together - molecule by molecule - with plants,...

A dream deferred: Bean sales soar as shoppers seek nutrient-dense, plant-based & diet-friendly foods

05-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Five years after the United Nations celebrated 2016 as the International Year of Pulses to raise awareness of legumes’ nutritional value and sustainability, SPINS data shows sales of dried beans are skyrocketing as consumers look for more nutrient-dense...

Danone North America CEO on plant-based trends, why soymilk is back in growth, and the Follow Your Heart deal

03-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of soymilk - which have declined precipitously over the past decade – have started to grow again, says Danone North America, which is spearheading the turnaround with its Silk brand, the leading player in the soymilk segment.

Follow Your Heart CEO on selling to Danone: ‘For us to maintain a leadership role, we needed to accelerate our growth’

03-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Earth Island (Follow Your Heart) co-founder and CEO Bob Goldberg has always had an independent streak, telling reporters over the years he’s happy dancing to his own tune despite periodic overtures from big CPG suitors. Last month, however, he inked a...

Investing in the Future of Food: Manna Tree investors seek emerging brands focused on human health

03-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the ongoing pandemic accelerates consumer interest in the role of nutrition in wellness and underscores the supply chain’s fragility, the investors at Manna Tree Partners are looking for at least three growth stage companies that are revolutionizing...

Maple Leaf Foods: ‘We unequivocally believe that the investments’ in plant-protein ‘will be rewarded’

02-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Maple Leaf Foods will continue to invest heavily in plant-based protein, including renovating and relaunching two of North America’s “best-known and most-loved” brands Lightlife and Field Roast, although the division fell far short of company targets...

'Customers are seeking more plant-based choices...' Starbucks adds Oatly oatmilk to menus nationwide

01-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Starbucks is adding Oatly oat milk to menus across the US “at a time when customers are seeking more plant-based choices to incorporate into their daily routines."

LIVEKINDLY Collective launches LikeMeat and Fry Family Food Co. at Sprouts

01-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Formed last year, LIVEKINDLY Collective had made its US retail debut at Sprouts Farmers Market locations nationwide where it has launched several products from its plant-based foods portfolio, including Like Chick'n from LikeMeat and The Fry Family...

Dear Alice… We're more than just a Greek yogurt company: Chobani launches new ad campaign

01-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Chobani has launched a new national ad campaign with animated stories highlighting its credentials as a “brand with values that stand for more than the food we make.”

'No longer a niche, experimental, and risky sector': Agrifoodtech pulls in $26.1bn in 2020

26-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

2020 was a breakout year for 'agrifoodtech' companies as the sector attracted over $26.1bn worldwide in investment, a 34.5% increase from 2019, according to global venture capital firm AgFunder's 2021 investment report.

'When these restaurant chains move, the entire food industry takes notice...'

Beyond Meat ties up with McDonald's, Yum! Brands, gears up for launch of '3.0' platform: 'When people grab a plant-based burger, they assume it's going to be healthier'

26-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

In a clear signal that plant-based meat is hitting the mainstream, Beyond Meat has announced global partnerships with two of the biggest players in fast food: McDonald’s, and Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut), a month after striking a deal with...

'We’re only scratching the surface right now...' Talking plant-based seafood with Good Catch, New Wave Foods

25-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

The plant-based seafood market is pretty small fry in dollar terms right now, but is poised to grow significantly in the next couple of years, predict the entrepreneurs behind a new wave of brands seeking to take plant-based tuna, shrimp, crab cakes,...

ChickP ramps up commercialisation of clean label chickpea protein

23-Feb-2021 By Gill Hyslop

Israeli foodtech start-up ChickP Protein has swung into full commercial production of its 90% chickpea isolate.

FARE endeavors to expand access to food allergy care for BIPOC communities: 'We must, and we will, step up our efforts'

22-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Food allergy advocacy group, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), has launched an action plan to broaden treatment, care, and education about food allergies, addressing systemic inequities when it comes to accessing these resources.

Walmart bets big on automation and supply chain capabilities: ‘Our automation plan is now ready to scale’

19-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Walmart generated a record $152.1bn in sales, an increase of $10.4bn or +7.3%, in Q4 (13 weeks ended Jan. 29, 2021). Looking towards FY22, the retailer said it will be investing heavily in its “next generation business model” to fuel further growth.

Chocolate milk brand Slate Milk raises $1.7m, expands distribution to 3,000 stores

18-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

Boston-based startup Slate Milk – which gives adults permission to keep drinking chocolate milk by dialing down the sugar, increasing the protein and packaging it as a functional beverage in shelf-stable cans - has raised $1.7m in a seed round (taking...

Eat Beyond Global Holdings adds Zoglo's to alternative proteins portfolio

17-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Eat Beyond Global Holdings has made an investment in Zoglo's Incredible Food Corp, a kosher, plant-based foods manufacturer based in Canada.

Energy drinks, oatmilk lattes, kombucha: What drives the functional beverage consumer?

16-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The functional beverage consumer and their purchase motivations are just as diverse as the functional beverage category itself, which encompasses everything from sports drinks and energy drinks to ionized/alkaline water and nutrient-infused coffee, says...

Nature’s Fynd unveils first products featuring novel ‘nutritional fungi protein’

15-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

Nature’s Fynd - a Chicago-based startup growing protein from a micro-organism with origins in the geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park – is giving consumers a first taste of the novel ingredient via dairy-free cream cheese and meatless breakfast...

Barleymilk: ‘It’s the first plant-based milk that tastes, nourishes and performs like traditional dairy,’ claims Take Two Foods

15-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based milk is growing at an impressive clip, although not every subsegment is gaining momentum and not every new entrant has struck CPG gold. Barleymilk, however, has the potential to be a major player, and is every bit as exciting as current category...

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