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Leading food tech pioneer Eat Just has partnered with Doha Venture Capital (DVC) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) to construct a new cell-cultured meat facility in Qatar. The country has indicated its intention to grant regulatory approval for cell-cultured chicken “very soon”. Qatar now follows Singapore and Israel to bring the first cultured meat to consumers, though at this stage only Singapore has granted full regulatory approval. Also, as we reported this week, UPSIDE Foods agreed a partnership with Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn to serve cell-cultured chicken in her San Francisco restaurant, Atelier Crenn.  First of its kind in Middle East & Northern Africa The new large-scale facility will provide a base for GOOD Meat – Eat Just’s cell-cultured division –  and the company claims it will be the first-ever facility of its kind in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region. There are also plans in place to add a protein processing facility for JUST Egg, Eat Just’s internationally successful plant-based egg brand.  Following a similar commercialization strategy as that which saw Eat Just’s cell-cultured chicken launch firstly in Singapore, the wheels are now in motion for the QFZA and the Ministry of Public Health to grant regulatory approval for GOOD Meat cell-cultured chicken, and an export license has also been formally granted. GOOD Meat is currently looking at restaurants in Qatar to partner with after regulatory processes have been cleared.   Forefront of the revolution Looking to establish itself at the forefront of the coming cell-cultured meat ...

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “Immunity Boosting Foods: Gut Health & General Immunity Improvement” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. Immunity Boosting Foods: Gut Health & General Immunity Improvement is the go-to source for a complete understanding of U.S. consumer trends in this functional food market. This report combines the publisher’s extensive monitoring of the food and beverage market with proprietary surveys, and evaluates current trends and future directions for marketing and retailing, along with consumer patterns during the pandemic and across the broader food and beverage market. Historical and forecast data are available for retail sales of packaged foods and beverages marketed with various claims for gut health or immunity improvement (including claims such as “high in antioxidants,” “high fiber,” and “contains prebiotics/probiotics”). This report also includes figures for fresh produce consumption and production in pound from 2015-2020 and projected for 2025. Historical retail sales of vitamins and foods and beverages that often carry gut health or immunity claims (fruit juice; kefir; sauerkraut; soup, stock, and broth; tea and kombucha; and yogurt and yogurt drinks) are also included. Immunity Boosting Foods: Gut Health & General Immunity Improvement examines product marketing; surveys retail channel trends; and analyzes consumer trends and motivations. This report contains dozens of numerical tables and charts, as well as numerous product photographs. In 2020 and 2021, the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant effect on consumer food purchases and desires for health and wellness. The publisher has found that over 40% of consumers have been buying more food ...

Leipzig-based sustainable food startup the nu company has successfully completed its first financing round following triple-digit sales growth for the fourth consecutive year. Raising over €14 million in series A funding, the challenger brand is looking to seriously disrupt the food industry with its vegan product line. Featuring the vegan and sugar-reduced chocolate bar line nucao, and the organic protein brand numove, the nu company aims to expand its line of all-organic, low ingredient products with less sugar, plastic-free packaging, and a negative CO2 balance.  Having recorded triple-digit sales growth for four consecutive years, and with its products already available in over 10,000 stores, the company was an attractive offer for the Series A investors, which included former F1 world champion and sustainability entrepreneur Nico Rosberg, as well as DX Ventures.  The nu company has also previously launched its raw and organic chocolate bar into the Chinese market rebranded as nuchoc. “We want to turn the food industry on its head – so that the focus is no longer solely on profit, but on the future of our planet and the health of its people. This Series A will help us bring more products to market that can bring about a real and positive change in the food industry. In addition, we want our products to be even easier to access throughout Europe, whether at the local supermarket or with a single click online. This is why we are currently looking to expand our team with the best talents in ...

Activists around the world are today calling on governments to put food systems at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis. The campaign, ‘Plant-Based Treaty,’ will create bottom-up pressure for leaders to negotiate a global agreement to halt the impact of animal agriculture on the planet. International recording artist and vegan activist Moby commented, “As the production of meat and dairy is a leading cause of the climate emergency, it’s clear that we cannot solve the climate crisis without going plant-based. Change is imperative, and I endorse the Plant-Based Treaty, for the animals, the planet and human health.” Modelled on the popular Fossil Fuel Treaty, the Plant-Based Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture and to promote a shift to healthier, sustainable, plant-based diets. “We are urging scientists, individuals, groups, businesses, and cities to endorse this call to action and put pressure on national governments to negotiate an international Plant-Based Treaty,” says the organisation’s press release. Actions are taking place outside nearly 100 town and city halls worldwide including Manchester, Bristol, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Rome, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Toronto, Seoul, Mumbai and Ankara to encourage leaders to sign the Treaty. Leveraging this grassroots support, the campaign will work towards 10 million individuals, 10,000 organisations, 10,000 businesses and 50 cities to endorse the treaty by 2023, ahead of the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST). The Treaty urges leaders to negotiate a global agreement around the following three principles: RELINQUISH – No land ...

Franklin Farms, a division of Keystone Natural Holdings, has introduced a new line of chickpea products to its portfolio of plant-based offerings. The new line of tofu made from chickpeas is low in fat and allergen-free. Franklin Farms began over 20 years ago as a mushroom farm in Franklin, Connecticut, and since then the company has been creating good-for-you meatless meals from field to table. “Our team is excited to introduce Chickpea Tofu to our portfolio of plant-based offerings,” said Kenny Sung, CEO of Keystone Natural Holdings. “With the rising number of consumers looking to increase their plant-based protein intake paired with the on-trend growth of the chickpea, these innovative products align well with market trends. Chickpeas are a nutrition-packed powerhouse and are set to replace cauliflower as the latest food trend in 2021. The versatility of the chickpea combined with its familiar delicious taste and health benefits are all key components driving its popularity.” “These innovative offerings are exciting news for consumers who seek a soy-free diet, as they can now enjoy our Chickpea Tofu,” said Cindy Wong, Vice President of Sales, Franklin Farms. “Now more than ever, consumers are seeking meals that are familiar, yet flavorful, while still providing health and nutritional benefits. A leading powerhouse in plant-based food, chickpeas are a great addition to any diet as they provide consumers a good source of protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, iron, folate, and phosphorus. Chickpeas are also rich in antioxidants and essential vitamins.” Wong added, “Chickpeas have a long ...

In response to popular demand from students, canteen meals in Berlin are becoming even more climate-friendly. According to dpa, a meat-free Monday is planned, as well as a general expansion of the range of vegetarian and vegan dishes from the coming winter semester. “The new nutritional concept was developed in particular because students have repeatedly approached us with the wish to make the food on offer in the dining halls even more climate-friendly,” explains Daniela Kummle from the Studierendenwerk. In the future, vegetarian and vegan options will make up the majority of the menu in Berlin’s canteens, with only about four per cent of the menu consisting of meat or fish. According to Kummle, the city’s refectories have been offering a so-called vegan climate meal every day for years, which is characterised by a particularly low Co2 footprint. In addition to the changes in the menu that have now been announced, many universities in Berlin are also committed to the environment in other areas and have set up comprehensive climate protection concepts. The Technical University (TU) Berlin, for example, has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045. Among other things, buildings are to be renovated for energy efficiency. Hundreds of employees also want to avoid short-haul flights for business trips and have signed a voluntary commitment to this end.  ...

Following a year of growth and expansion, wood-smoked, plant-based barbecue specialist Barvecue is now launching across the US in 360 Sprouts locations. The move follows an expansion of its distribution channels through national wholesale food distributor KeHE. “2021 has been a strong year for Barvecue […] a year of incredible growth and expansion” After opening the world’s largest plant-based smokehouse, as well as putting its products on the menus of college campus diners, mission-driven company Barvecue has hit another milestone with the nationwide rollout. Seeking to create the leading plant-based barbecue on the market, the company is backed by Stray Dog Capital. In a previous interview with vegconomist, Founder and CEO Lee Cooper stated: “We are continually increasing availability with regards to both retail outlets and foodservice. And we do intend to expand internationally in the future.” Based in Cornelius, NC, and established in 2017, Barvecue also recently announced it is launching at all ten Central Market locations in Texas. Pulled BVQ and Naked BVQ products are now available in the frozen section at all participating Sprouts locations.  “2021 has been a strong year for Barvecue. In a year of incredible growth and expansion, distribution across the United States with our delicious, plant-based, wood-smoked Barvecue in 360 Sprouts Farmers Markets is one of this year’s most important milestones,” noted Founder and CEO, Lee Cooper.  “We are seeing Barvecue appeal to meat-eaters, vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians…People with all types of diets. Barvecue delivers great taste to barbecue lovers who are looking for ...

CULT FOOD SCIENCE CORP, a Canadian-based investment platform focused exclusively on investments in cultured, lab-grown meat and dairy products, has completed the closing of a strategic investment in Biftek Inc. The news follows its very recent investment into Novel Farms, producer of whole cuts of gourmet cell-cultured meat such as Iberian pork and dry-cured Iberian ham. CULT Food Science states it “is an investment company focused on supporting and advancing the technology behind the future of food. We identify and make equity investments in global cultivated meat and dairy companies that are developing and commercializing innovative food technologies that enable a kinder, more secure, and more sustainable food supply chain.” Biftek plans to use CULT’s growth capital infusion to produce and distribute recipe samples to global cultured meat manufacturers, file additional patents and expand its intellectual property portfolio. Biftek was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Ankara, Turkey. The company produces an animal-free, non-GMO, natural growth medium that makes cultured meat more affordable. Biftek is a business-to-business company that uses a novel culture medium supplement formula to grow muscle stem cells. Currently, growing stem cells requires fetal bovine serum (“FBS”), which accounts for 80-90% of production costs. Biftek’s formulation is expected to dramatically reduce the cost of producing cellular agricultural products, enabling food technology companies to reduce production costs, achieve economies of scale and offer cultured meat to the general population. The strategic investment in Biftek supports CULT’s goal of building a focused portfolio of the most innovative cultured ...

Chicago Vegan Foods, producer of Dandies – the first internationally available vegan and gelatin-free marshmallow – has turned 20 years old. The successful vegan producer has experienced 40x growth over the past 10 years and continues to grow with a new line of plant-based products coming soon.  After expanding into a new state-of-the-art facility in 2018 to meet growing demand, Chicago Vegan Foods recently launched its popular animal-free marshmallows in the UK. Family-owned and self-funded, the vegan food company continues to innovate in the plant-based category with its takes on classic comfort foods. The company is currently ramping up for a new line of plant-based product offerings in new categories launching under the Dandies brand for 2022. Coming out of the  ’90s animal rights movement, founders Ryan Howard and Dan Ziegler started Chicago Vegan Foods in 2001 as a channel for their activism by creating alternatives to products that were harmful to animals and the environment. Dandies marshmallows are also allergy-friendly and sold at conventional and natural grocers across the US and Canada. The company’s other brands include Temptation Vegan Frozen Dessert, Temptation Vegan Soft Serve, and Teese Vegan Cheese. Vegan Marshmallow Market Surge Dandies looks to secure its position at the forefront of the animal-free marshmallow segment, as a recent market report predicts the global vegan marshmallows market to show a CAGR of over 8 percent through 2028, with the market expected to surpass $100M. Increasing demand for clean-label certifications, as well as a growing preference for plant-based diets, ...

US chain MOD Pizza is now offering meat-free Italian sausage at all its locations. The new menu option was developed in collaboration with plant-based food and beverage brand Plantly. Made with non-GMO pea protein, the sausage contains 12g of protein per serving and is free of gluten, soy, and artificial ingredients. It can be added as a topping to any pizza or salad on the menu. The chain has also launched a limited-edition pizza topped with the sausage. Called the Willow, it comes in both vegetarian and vegan versions. The vegan Willow features Italian sausage on an extra virgin olive oil base with chopped garlic, dairy-free cheese, roasted red peppers, and sliced mushrooms. It is finished with arugula and Romesco sauce. Rising demand for vegan pizza Demand for vegan pizza has surged in North America since the beginning of the pandemic, and chains are responding by launching new menu options such as plant-based chicken and vegan mozzarella. However, some chains have confused vegans by combining meat alternatives with dairy cheese. Many feel that there still aren’t enough truly plant-based options, so it’s encouraging that MOD Pizza is catering to those who avoid animal products altogether. “We’ve spent the past two years methodically testing plant-based proteins, and simply put, we found Plantly’s Italian plant-based sausage to be completely craveable and far superior in both taste and quality — and were immediately drawn to the real ingredient list,” said Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer at MOD Pizza. “We’re excited to bring our ...