vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Last year excelsior.com reported that 20% of Mexicans are already vegan or vegetarian. Although some dispute this figure, the trend is clear: consumer habits in Mexico are shifting towards animal-free products, for a variety of reasons including health, the environment and animal welfare. This transformation has been more pronounced in Mexico than in many countries in The Americas thanks to the drive for entrepreneurship and innovation. Mexican vegan companies continue to emerge and grow, for example, Delike, which was founded in Mexico City in 2019 and this year launched its first Veggie Bites, continuing its presence on the shelves of supermarkets and restaurants in the country. Mexican plant-based food company Heartbest Foods, which distributes its products around the country, announced this year the launch of its new e-commerce platform, where customers can purchase its vegan milks in one-off purchases through its subscription model. Gerardo Iga, the founder and CEO of Mr. Tofu, a chain of vegan shops in Mexico, told vegconomist en español that “the growth of both Mr. Tofu and veganism in Mexico has been exponential in the 7 years we have been in the market”. But not all vegan entrepreneurship in Mexico comes from the food sector. As we reported last year, LIALT (Laboratorio de Investigación Alternativa), a laboratory that does not test on animals and was on the famous Shark Tank programme where startups present their project to potential investors. On the fashion front, Guadalajara-based brand Desserto continues to impress consumers and entrepreneurs in the textile industry ...

CHKN Not Chicken, a newly launched producer of shredded, plant-based chicken headquartered in Portland, Oregon, announced today the closing of a Series A round led by Stray Dog Capital. The round also saw participation from David Israel, Founder and CEO of vegan cheese brand Good Planet Foods. The company is founded by Brian Pope, formerly Chief Growth Officer at Nuun Hydration, which was recently acquired by Nestle Health Sciences. Pope also served as Chief Marketing Officer of Popchips, Neuro Drinks, and Virgin Galactic. The debut product line, aimed at the food service sector, features three varieties of soy-free, gluten-free shredded CHKN: Naked CHKN, Fiesta CHKN (Mexican spice and citrus), and Zen (Asian spices and ginger). CHKN Not Chicken reports that it took two years of R&D into its proprietary extrusion, flavor-infusion, and enrobing technology allows the product to replicate the juiciness, texture, and flavor of chicken. The company will leverage the financing to launch its product assortment into retailers across the US and expand partnerships with quick serve and casual restaurants to bring customized products into US food service. “We are excited to partner with Stray Dog Capital and share their passion for creating a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future,” said Brian Pope. “By creating delicious food that also happens to be plant-based, we believe we can dramatically increase the number of flexitarians in the world who are becoming more mindful of the foods they eat and are looking for options that allow them to create delicious meat-free versions ...

Founded in 1986, Clive’s Purely Plants is a household name in the UK, known for its range of hugely popular pies which became 100% vegan last year. Last week the Devon brand announced news of its significant investment from Veg Capital, the plant-based investment firm created by Veganuary founder Matthew Glover. Amid the flurry of growth and expansion plans, with a sales target of £10M for the coming years, Esther Pearson, Managing Director of Clive’s, took a moment to talk with vegconomist about her own plant-based business journey, female empowerment, and the exciting times ahead for Clive’s Purely Plants. Can you tell us more about your personal journey to becoming vegan? I haven’t always been vegan. I grew up in South Africa where eating meat is a big part of the culture. I remember asking questions, wanting to understand the difference between the animals I saw in real life, to those that were sat on my plate. But still willingly accepted the explanation that this is the way humans eat, to gain protein, to grow strong and healthy. Fast forward 20 years or so, and my eldest son reached that same questioning age, but he didn’t give up quite as easily as I had! He challenged this age-old narrative and from then, things began to change. What started as a family effort to reduce our meat consumption, quickly turned into a personal challenge of mine to remove animals from my diet completely. “It had finally dawned on me that this ...

As Vogue this week reflects on the rise of the vegan sneaker, Cariuma announces that its hotly anticipated Polka Dot, Leopard, and Zebra prints on ultra sustainable IBI Bamboo Fabrication go live today, 8th September. Even better – Cariuma plants two trees in the Brazilian Rainforest for every pair sold.  The Brazilian brand was founded as a stance against the wasteful practices inherent in fast fashion, working exclusively with ethical factories and utilising only natural and recycled premium materials. This March, Cariuma launched one of the lowest carbon footprint sneakers ever made. Rocketing consumer demand for sustainable footwear The global sustainable footwear market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% to 2026 with consumers becoming increasingly conscious in their consumer choices around the world. Other manufacturers in this category include Tom’s, Veja, and Allbirds – which announced last week its intention to become a publicly listed company. The new Cariuma range is crafted from a one-piece lightweight Bamboo-knit upper and Sugar Cane EVA outsole and has been designed with what the company describes as a “perfectly ergonomic shape to make eco-friendly sneakers that are much comfier than anything you have put on your feet”. The company reports that all of its materials are premium quality and tested for durability, creating sustainability through the longevity of the product life cycle. “For the Cariuma team, this launch is more than just a label on one pair of shoes, but a true statement to the industry at large – that we ...

FTSE 250 listed company Hilton Food Group has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% shareholding of vegan and vegetarian manufacturer Dalco Food. Netherlands-based Dalco will now be fully acquired by Hilton, as the UK meatpacker looks to diversify into the alt protein sector. Having become a 50% shareholder in Dalco in 2019, Hilton is buying the remaining shares subject to clearance from the Dutch competition authority. The move is part of the meatpacking company’s strategy to strengthen its protein offering within the fast-growing vegan and vegetarian market.  Dalco has grown significantly on the back of increased growth in the alt protein sector recently and has performed ahead of Hilton’s expectations prior to the full acquisition. Dalco’s current management team will continue to in their roles as Hilton will look to continue the brand’s growth, with new product ranges and plant-based products in the pipeline.  Big Meat goes plant-based Hilton becomes the latest in the long list of meat industry companies that are increasingly investing in the plant-based sector, with meat giants like Cargill, JBS, and Tyson all putting their money into the growing vegan market.  “Dalco is an outstanding business with a market leading vegan and vegetarian offer. Hilton and Dalco have had great success to date, and as part of this agreement, I look forward to driving forward Dalco’s continued growth,” stated Hilton CEO Philip Heffer. “This is the next natural step in our ambitions to broaden and diversify Hilton’s multi-protein offer. The completion of this transaction ...

Swedish startup Hooked Foods has now launched its plant-based tuna in grocery stores across Sweden. Called Toonish Tomat, the brand claims it is the first 100% plant-based tuna to hit the shelves in Sweden. A graduate of the ProVeg Incubator, Hooked Foods previously launched its plant-based tuna in restaurants in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, with the brand hearing customer reports that its vegan tuna tasted better than conventional tuna. The retail launch follows that success, as well as previously raising SEK 5 million in capital.  Made from sustainable ingredients such as algae, the new product will be sold in the stores in three different flavours: tomato, tomato & chilli and tomato & garlic. It will initially be available in Coops and CityGross stores across much of Sweden, as well as Mathem and in selected Ica and Hemköp stores. Alt Seafood Soaring The Hooked Foods retail launch follows news of a report by sustainability platform abillion which found that demand for vegan seafood alternatives is skyrocketing. The report found that 78% of people would be willing to try alt-seafood products, as awareness grows over the fact that 90% of the fish population is extinct, overfished, or in crisis.  Co-Founder at Hooked Foods Tom Johansson said the launch was a “huge milestone but also just the beginning of our journey to create a more sustainable seafood consumption.” ...

UK plant-based meat brand Quorn has unveiled a giant T-Rex dinosaur at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush Shopping Centre in London to mark the launch of its new plant-based Roarsomes Dinosaur Nuggets. The dinosaur ad campaign will remain until Friday 17 September, to advertise the product which comes in three different dinosaur shapes – T-Rex, Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus – made with Quorn’s mycoprotein based chicken. The legacy brand recently announced the opening of a state-of-the-art Culinary Development Center in Dallas, Texas, with the ambition “to become the king of alternative chicken globally”. Quorn study shows British families are open to plant-based meals To coincide with the launch of the children’s nuggets, Quorn also unveiled the results of a new nationwide consumer study. According to the study, more than half of British parents whose families do not eat a meat-free diet would consider making the switch if they knew it would benefit the environment. The findings mirror another study as we reported this week which found that 51% of UK consumers are willing to swap meat for alternatives and that 64% have purchased vegan products within the past year. The study of 2,000 UK families found that UK families now try to eat at least two vegetarian or vegan meals a week, with more than half (51%) saying they would consider going vegetarian altogether if they knew it would benefit the environment. Other findings of the study: 65% of UK families have tried either vegetarian or vegan meals in the last 12 months ...

An article published Monday in La Vanguaria reported that, according to recent data from the consultancy Nielsen, plant-based companies in Spain had a turnover of 86.5 million euros in 2020, an increase of 31% compared to 2019. Spanish brands are beginning to cause a stir and seriously impact the market, such as Heura, whose founders Bernat Añaños and Marc Coloma do not escape the public eye thanks to their passion for the vegan cause, their controversial advertising, and political campaigning. Hello Burger recently launched onto the Spanish market with the Hello Burger, which the company claims is “the first fully plant-based burger made with the lowest number of ingredients in the world (only ten)”. Pizza Chain Papa John’s launched a vegan pizza line called Papa John’s Green, into more than 70 outlets in Spain. Flax & Kale launched in June what it claims to be the largest range of plant-based meats and cheeses made in Spain with 14 meat and 31 cheese products, with the ambition of leading the plant-based market in Spain in the coming year. National and international supermarkets themselves are also taking advantage of the revolution in consumer habits, not only on the mainland but across the European continent. Germany’s global food giant ALDI continues to expand its range of vegan substitutes, including falafel and vegan meatball assortments under the “My Veggie Day” brand, and last year Lidl was the first retailer to launch its own ‘meat that is not meat’ recipe under its Next Level Meat ...

Pizza Nova announced today the addition of Plant-Based Chicken across all Pizza Nova locations throughout Toronto and Chicago. The chicken product is produced by Field Roast, owned by Greenleaf, the plant-based arm of Maple Leaf. Pizza Nova and Field Roast partnered earlier this year to introduce the ‘Planteroni Pizza’ made with Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni (which can be ordered with vegan cheese), and have come together again after receiving positive feedback from customers, reporting that orders continue to increase for Pizza Nova. “We are proud to expand our plant-based offering and continue to deliver on our Puro Promise of sourcing high-quality products that do not compromise on taste”, says Domenic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova. “Our new mouthwatering PLANTOLLINI will help address the growing demand for plant-based proteins in the QSR space and will deliver a savoury flavour for our flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans alike.”  “People are increasingly interested in eating more plant-based foods, and they don’t want to sacrifice flavor,” said Adam Grogan, Chief Operating Officer of Greenleaf Foods, SPC. “We’re excited to grow our partnership with Pizza Nova and offer more delicious Field Roast products that satisfy consumer’s cravings.” ...

FoodTech and agriTech startup CarobWay, Ltd. is cultivating the ancient superfruit carob, which according to the founder, can grow on land such as deserts where no other crops are able to grow. Not only that, but its sugar is low glycemic index, a perfect natural sweetener, provides energy, and is suitable for diabetes sufferers. CarobWay says it is cultivating locally grown carob trees in sustainable, advanced agriculture, while guaranteeing fair-trade return to the growers, resulting in a resilient food system that is beneficial to all partners in the supply chain. Founder Udi Alroy was seeking a sustainable super-crop that can grow in dry weather with almost no water to address the strained resources of our climate-stressed planet. Together with his partners, he founded CarobWay in 2020 and set up its vertically integrated system dedicated to growing and commercializing carob and carob-centered products. Global warming, environmental stresses, and other limitations demand increased attention to minor or neglected crops, especially a multifunctional crop such as carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Carob is a highly resilient species of tree that flourishes in arid climates, mostly in Africa and Asia. Genotypes of the carob tree demonstrate great tolerance to drought, low soil fertility, brackish water, pollution, and high temperatures (up to 50°C). “The key ingredient in developing a sustainable carob crop is using advanced agriTech knowhow to grow the trees more intensively and efficiently,” explains Udi Alroy, CEO and Co-founder of CarobWay. “Today, most carob trees are grown in forests and require intensive human labor. We ...