May Highlights from the plant-based and cultured-food sector: plant-based innovations showcased at the world’s leading trade fair

It really is an amazing time to be part of the plant-based industry, with plant-based innovations being showcased at IFFA and a German meat producer reporting that sales of its plant-based meat products surpassed its animal-meat sales. Read on to find out about the latest developments in the sector. 

TRENDS & PROJECTIONS

• According to a survey by ProVeg International, European plant-based food companies are collaborating to overcome the challenges raised by the war in Ukraine. 
• Research by Kerry has found that flexitarians are more critical of plant-based food than those that follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.
• A new report commissioned by No Meat May predicts that half of the UK population will stop consuming animal-based meat by 2040.
• According to a global report on Research and Markets, the oat milk market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 14.2% from 2020 to 2028.

RETAIL FOODS

• UK retailer Asda has launched a new plant-based BBQ range under its private label. 
• A case study by ProVeg International has highlighted how Lidl Germany expanded its plant-based range to meet the demand of the growing market. 
• Haofood is partnering with Chinese convenience store Lawson to distribute their plant-based products in 2,300 stores across the country. 
• In Australia, v2Foods has launched a range of plant-based ready meals in Woolworths stores across the country in response to rising demand for convenience meals. 

FOODSERVICE CHAINS/CATERERS

• Colorado company Nepra Foods’ hemp-based meat products are now available for restaurant chains, institutions, and private retailers to purchase. 
• Foodtech startup NotCo has partnered with fast-food chain Shake Shack to test plant-based milkshakes across 10 New York and South Florida locations.  
• Fast-food giant KFC is expanding its plant-based range in Europe with Quorn 
• Acclaimed chef Marco Pierre White has partnered with Redefine Meat to introduce two new meat-free recipes in selected UK restaurants.
• American pizza chain Papa Murphy’s is now offering Violife plant-based cheese on all its pizzas.

FOOD MANUFACTURERS

• German food producer Rügenwalder Mühle reported that its sales of plant-based meat surpassed its animal-based meat products in 2021. 
• Impossible Foods has launched in the UK with its Impossible nuggets and sausage patties.
• Global food giant ADM is partnering with Eat Just to improve the taste and texture of cultured-meat products.
• UK protein brand Misfits has launched a new plant-based cereal. 
• Functional-ingredients manufacturer Beneo has acquired Dutch startup Meatless in order to expand its range of plant-based alternatives. 
• European food company Ecotone has announced a €20M investment in its plant-based beverage production site in Italy.

INGREDIENTS SUPPLIERS/NEW TECHNOLOGIES

• Spanish plant-based-meat brand Heura is piloting a new food-processing technology called Good Rebel Tech in order to produce macro- and micro-nutrient-dense food products. 
• American food manufacturer IFF has launched a flour made from seaweed to stabilise plant-based milks.
• UK brand Symplicity Foods has created clean-label alt-meat products using fermented ingredients. 
• Cargill is planning to build a soya-bean-processing facility in the US in order to expand its capacity as the global demand for oilseeds increases.
• Colorado-based startup Meati has launched its first alternative-protein steak made from mycelium. 
• Food tech company InnovoPro has partnered with plant-based brand Milkadamia to create a dairy-free ice cream using chickpea protein.

ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR

• Biotech firm BSF enterprise has acquired 3D Bio Tissues with plans to produce the UK’s first cultured meat.
• International trade fair IFFA 2022 showcased plant-based protein innovations in Frankfurt Germany.
• Tomorrow Farms has debuted its first product Bored Cow, a flavoured milk that uses Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein.
• Japanese plant-based brand 2foodsreceived the Enterprise Award at the Japanese Vegan Awards 2022 for bringing positive changes to the plant-based food sector.

STARTUP & FINANCIAL

• Incubators across Spain, Germany, and Israel have identified the challenges and whitespaces in food tech.
• ProVeg Incubator alumnus Better Nature has secured £350,000 from Innovate UK to develop a fish alternative from upcycled food products. 
• Bosque Foods (also an Incubator alumnus) has raised $3 million in a seed funding round to continue developing its mycelium-based whole-cut meats. 
• Swedish precision-fermentation company Melt&Marble has unveiled a plant-based fat that has similar properties to beef fat.
• Remilk has announced its plans to build its own precision-fermentation facility in Denmark. 
• Israeli food tech company Imagindairy has received an additional $15m in funding to advance its R&D efforts.   
• Crowdfunding platform Vegan Business has helped three plant-based Brazilian companies to raise over $300,000.

STAKEHOLDER INTERVENTIONS

• UK Research and Innovation has funded a new cultured-meat study to examine whether cultured meat is a threat or an opportunity for UK farmers. 
• Non-profit organisation Cellular Agriculture in Australia has developed an interactive tool to encourage more talent to move into cellular-agriculture research. 
• American food giant Mars Inc has partnered with AI firm PIPA to speed up the development process of new plant-based ingredients. 
• Robert Downey Jr’s investment group FootPrint Coalition has invested in American food-processing company Motif Foodworks in order to create the next generation of plant-based foods. 
• Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio has invested in plant-based seafood company Mind Blown Seafood.

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