vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the nationwide rollout of the chain’s highly-anticipated Plant-Based Chorizo, available for a limited time.  Made from pea protein, Chipotle peppers, tomato paste, garlic, Spanish smoked paprika, and extra virgin olive oil, Chipotle says the new chorizo offers the “rich flavor” and “slight kick that chorizo fans crave.” The Plant-Based Chorizo will also be featured in Chipotle’s new Lifestyle Bowls, pre-arranged entrees designed to appeal to different dietary preferences and make healthy eating more accessible. The new chorizo-centered bowls include the Whole30Ⓡ Salad Bowl (Supergreens Lettuce Blend, Plant-Based Chorizo, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Fajita Veggies, Guacamole) Vegetarian Bowl, and Vegan Bowl (White Rice, Black Beans, Plant-Based Chorizo, Corn Salsa, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Shredded Romaine Lettuce.) The company says the Plant-Based Chorizo is certified vegan, and completely free from artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, gluten, or soy. “Creating a delicious plant-based protein that sizzles on the grill with the robust flavor and texture profile chorizo-lovers expect was a real challenge,” said Nevielle Panthaky, Vice President of Culinary, Chipotle. “Our culinary team has worked relentlessly for years to develop this breakthrough Plant-Based Chorizo recipe that is uniquely Chipotle and aligns with the brand’s industry-leading Food with Integrity standards.” First Plant-Based Launch in Eight Years Initially trialled in August, the much-awaited chorizo marks Chipotle’s first alt-protein offering since 2014, when the chain debuted tofu-based sofritas. The company says the latest release follows high “customer engagement” and “fan excitement” for the chorizo product after tests in Denver and Indianapolis. As part of the ...

Alt-seafood company Jinka recently revealed what may be the first pre-cooked plant-based calamari on the retail market.  Jinka quietly previewed the novel appetizer at a recent trade show, which appears to be sold as a perishable frozen product. According to the packaging, Jinka’s tempura-battered rings offer the same taste and texture as squid calamari, along with protein and omega-3 fatty acids.  The product can be eaten in snack or appetizer form, or as the centerpiece of a meal. While labeled Non-GMO, the ingredients have not yet been specified. Pending an official launch date, Jinka’s calamari would join the brand’s current line of plant-based tuna spreads and crab cakes.  The quest for calamari Though plant-based alternatives to fish and crabs are accelerating, specialized seafood delicacies like squid and lobster remain a largely untapped market segment. In October, Chicago-based startup Aqua Culture received record-setting funding to create fungi-based versions of an array of premium seafood products, including shrimp, scallops and calamari.  On the retail front, Lily’s Vegan Pantry sells a frozen “Imitation Squid” online, while Nature’s Charm recently introduced canned “calamari” – marined king oyster mushroom rings that can be battered and fried. Beyond these products, there appear to be no other ready-to-prepare commercial squid alternatives.  An ocean of opportunity The alternative seafood market grew by 23% in 2020 and is expected to soar to $1.3 billion in the next decade. While that figure represents a fraction of the $160 billion conventional seafood market, it also reveals animal-free seafood as a wide-open space ...

UK high street coffee chain Costa has added some impressive menu items including Vegan Macaroni Cheeze and Vegan BBQ Chick’n Panini, as well as various sweet treats. Meanwhile, Caffè Nero, the Italian style coffee house chain HQ’d in London and with locations in 11 countries, has collaborated with THIS to launch its Veganuary menu across all UK outlets. Veganuary at Costa The fastest-growing coffee shop chain in the UK, and a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, Costa has been adding vegan options gradually over recent years, but the new additions represent a significant increase and investment. In 2021, the brand added the Vegan Bac’n Breakfast Bap nationwide with Irish brand Finnebrogue’s Naked Bacon Without The Oink!, a product which consistently sold out around the country. The new mac and cheese offering features vegan cheese sauce, fresh spinach, and a parsley crumb topping. The Vegan BBQ Chick’n Panini features vegan chicken, BBQ sauce, vegan cheese, roasted peppers, and fresh spinach in a sourdough panini.  Joining the sweet offerings is the new Chocolate & Pecan Slice made in partnership with popular vegan recipe channel BOSH! marking the second time Costa has partnered with BOSH!, following the addition of its Ultimate Chocolate Slice last year. The vegan Apple Crumble Flapjack and a vegan dark chocolate protein bar are also now part of the range.  Veganuary at Caffe Nero Caffe Nero’s newest partnership with plant meat star THIS follows their Vegan Festive Feast Panini launched last November across 700 UK locations. The new offerings ...

Dutch vegan food-tech company Mr. & Mrs. Watson has raised €700,000 in its seed funding round. The company is known for its selection of vegan cheeses, as well as its Amsterdam-based restaurant. Mr. & Mrs. Watson says it will use the funding to scale up its cheese facility, develop new products to be sold internationally, and further expand the brand. The company is currently developing a melting cheese to be launched in the first half of this year. The brand’s vegan cheese selection currently includes aged camembert, pepperjack, parmesan, goat’s cheese, and more. At the restaurant, customers can choose from dishes such as quiche, toasted sandwiches, soup, and tiramisu. Mr. & Mrs. Watson was founded in 2017 by best friends Aleid Koopal and Kirsi Rautiainen, following a successful crowdfunding campaign. They named the company and restaurant after Donald Watson, founder of the UK’s Vegan Society, and his wife Dorothy. The couple were the first to coin the word “vegan” in 1944. Plant-based in the Netherlands The Netherlands has been described as a hotspot for plant-based research and innovation, and is attracting a considerable amount of plant-based industry. The country’s largest supermarket chain Albert Heijn announced a major expansion of its vegan cheese selection last year, and has been continually adding new plant-based products to keep up with demand. The capital, Amsterdam, is one of the world’s most vegan-friendly cities, and last year the city council laid out plans to encourage residents to be 50% plant-based by 2030. “The Netherlands is ...

Online vegan marketplace Vejii has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire leading business-to-business wholesale platform VEDGEco. VEDGEco is one of the first online wholesale platforms dedicated to plant-based products, enabling smaller businesses to access high-quality products without the large minimum order sizes required by many distributors. Vejii will acquire 100% of the company’s shares for a total price of $6,250,000. VEDGEco’s team is expected to remain the same following the completion of the transaction. The acquisition will allow Vejii to expand its distribution network to include VEDGEco’s existing facilities in Hawaii, Northern California, and Georgia, while also granting VEDGEco access to Vejii’s distribution centres. Launch to IPO A little over a year after Vejii officially launched in the US, it has already expanded to Canada and gone public on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The company has also signed an agreement with the US’s largest publicly traded grocery distributor, as well as launching Vejii Express to guarantee shipping in 48 hours. “We heard consistently from the brands that we serve that they were seeking to make the leap from e-commerce, to grocery and foodservice distribution. This could mean shipping samples, managing broker relationships, or gaining access to those restaurants and grocers not served by the larger wholesalers,” said Kory Zelickson, CEO of Vejii. “We already work with our brand partners on a business-to-consumer strategy through our marketplace, but now we can also help our brand partners get access to distribution in local restaurants and grocers, expanding Vejii’s capabilities from ...

German plant-based meat producer LikeMeat has created another commercial in cooperation with Till Lindemann from the band Rammstein, with which the company wants to support Veganuary. As with Veganuary 2021, which also featured Lindemann in an innovative food performance film for LikeMeat, the company wants to inspire all consumers to eat a plant-based diet in the first month of the New Year. With a very special art movie starring Till Lindemann, plant-based meat producer LikeMeat is now once again supporting Veganuary 2022 and wants to inspire people to try an all-plant-based diet in the month of January. In the art film, Till Lindemann can be seen eating a plant-based burger from LikeMeat. ...

Erpingham House popup location to open at Cloud Twelve Wellness Club as consumers are encouraged to try a vegan diet this month. The UK’s largest vegan restaurant, Erpingham House, is to open a popup location in London on January 11. The restaurant will take over the brasserie at Cloud Twelve, a wellness and lifestyle club in Notting Hill. This popup will be Erpingham House’s first London location, adding to its existing restaurants in Norwich, Brighton, and Edinburgh. The menu will feature dishes such as Whipped Tofu Parfait, Seitan Filet Mignon, and Forest Mushroom Duxelles, with an emphasis on locally-sourced, sustainable produce. Erpingham House will also create some vegan children’s meals to be served at the Cloud Twelve Kids Club, extending the existing healthy menu. The expansion of Erpingham House Erpingham House opened its first location in Norwich in 2018. Just 18 months later, the chain successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign for a second restaurant in Brighton, which opened in March of 2020. The Edinburgh location followed in June last year. The restaurant chain was founded by Loui Blake, an entrepreneur who also founded pizza and doughnut chain Vegan Dough Co. and London vegan restaurant Kalifornia Kitchen. “We are very excited about our first popup in London and our partnership with Cloud Twelve,” said Blake. “The space is beautiful and the location is incredible, we have a lot of shared values, interest & passion for quality. With this pop up we want to build on London’s growing plant-based movement and help ...

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “Global Cultured Meat Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The global cultured meat market is expected to grow from $110.09 million in 2020 to $127.67 million in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16%. The market is expected to reach $275.59 million in 2025 at a CAGR of 21.2%. North America was the largest region in the cultured meat market in 2020. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Meat made from 3D printed cells is gaining popularity among meat production companies to create precise digitally printed structures. 3D printed cultured meat has evolved in recent months to develop 3D printed hybrid cells and plant-based meats. In 2020, MeatTech, an Israel-based farmed meat company, successfully 3D printed a beef fat structure grown with bovine fat cells and edible bio-bonds. 3D printed cultured meat technology offers many benefits to meat consumers that include preserving texture, taste, and nutritional properties of animal meat products by reducing environmental impact. The increasing consumption of meat across the globe is contributing to the growth of the cultured meat market. Cultured meat is consumed as a healthy alternative to animal meat as it is less contaminated than animal meat. Around the world, people are eating more meat than before due to the increasing need for protein consumption and an increase in disposable income. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation ...

Several large British companies have joined the Veganuary Workplace Challenge 2022, encouraging their entire teams to eat a vegan diet for the month of January. Among the companies that have signed up is Harrods, the world’s leading luxury department store, along with Sky, Superdrug, Papa John’s, Volkswagen Group UK, NHS Supply Chain, and Adept Carehomes. Most of the companies cited sustainability as their primary motive for taking part, with many hoping it will cut their carbon footprint. Health and beauty retailer Superdrug said it was participating as part of its cruelty-free philosophy. “As a business, we care deeply about our continued commitment to initiatives such as Veganuary, our vegan and cruelty-free offering, CSR strategy and being the go-to place on the high street for vegan products,” said Jo Mackie, Customer and People Director at Superdrug. “We are pleased that our customers can confidently shop with us for products that are not only high quality but align with their ethics and purchasing priorities.” Veganuary in 2022 The Veganuary campaign is receiving more attention than ever this year, with companies such as Quorn and Ready Burger launching new vegan products in celebration. Other brands are using Veganuary as an opportunity to run their own campaigns — such as Violife, which is encouraging consumers to switch to vegan cheese this month to benefit the planet. Veganuary 2022 also has an impressive lineup of celebrity ambassadors, including Venus Williams, Joanna Lumley, Bryan Adams, Deborah Meaden, and Benjamin Zephaniah. “It’s great to have so many ...

Many examples from the national and international markets show the economic potential of plant-based alternatives. But as a rule, successful products are based on intensive, expensive and time-consuming research and development. With the new PlantbaserTM, Planteneers has created an alternative. Dr. Dorotea Pein, Director Product Management at Planteneers, explains what the tool can do and for whom it is intended. If you want to learn more about the Plantbaser, or experience a product configuration live, don’t miss the “Plantbaser: New product development in 15 minutes” webinar. You launched the PlantbaserTM on the market a little over a month ago. How is it doing? We’re seeing extremely good market acceptance for the configurator. We’ve already had over 2000 visitors to the website. And we’re glad to see that companies are using it to configure their desired products. Where do you go from here? This year we’re going to add further product categories, and will continue with that next year. Our goal is to cover our entire portfolio in the PlantbaserTM in 2022. That will mean that manufacturers in all relevant areas of the food industry can use the instrument to develop plant-based products. Which product groups are already in it, and which will be soon? Currently, customers can use it to create their own plant-based alternatives to cheese and yogurt, burger patties, cold cuts and mayonnaise. This year we’re going to add sausages to the meat alternative line-up. In dairy, we’ll be adding various cheese alternatives, like feta for example. We’ll ...