vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

The Vurger Co, whose founders were awarded Restaurant Entrepreneurs of the Year at this year’s Food & Drink Heroes Awards, reveals exclusively to vegconomist that it is to open a fourth restaurant, venturing for the first time into the north of England with a new location set to be the biggest to date. As the much-loved vegan QSR chain celebrates five years of exponential success, founders Rachel Hugh and Neil Potts enthuse today: “We are incredibly excited to announce that our next restaurant will be opening in Manchester! Manchester has been a huge goal for us right from the start, and after spending a year sourcing the right site, we couldn’t be more excited to be launching our biggest restaurant site to date later this year. “We’re opening right in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and it will be our most ambitious project to date. We’re putting everything into making this an incredible space and we can’t wait to welcome our amazing customers from Manchester really soon!” Backed by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni and Miray Zaki of Dismatrix Group, The Vurger presently operates two London stores – the first debuting in Shoreditch in March 2018 followed by a Canary Wharf location eight months later – and the most recent Brighton location was born in July of last year which the founders say has seen incredible success despite a lockdown launch. “We received over 30 five star reviews in just the last month alone” “Brighton has been by far the most ...

Almost two years ago, the California Department of Food and Agriculture ordered Miyoko’s Creamery to stop using terms like “butter” and “lactose-free” on its product packaging. But it had targeted the wrong company. Reluctant to change its packaging at great expense, Miyoko’s filed a lawsuit claiming that the restrictions violated its First Amendment rights. Last week, the case was finally resolved, with Judge Richard Seeborg agreeing that Miyoko could continue to use the terms “butter”, “lactose-free”, and “cruelty-free” — though it would no longer be able to label its products as “hormone-free”. Seeborg pointed out that “language evolves”, and modern-day customers may have a different understanding of the word “butter” than the nine-decade-old federal food standards definition. He argued that since Miyoko’s uses the term alongside others like “plant-based” and “vegan”, there is no evidence to support the claim that it is misleading consumers. The verdict is a huge victory for Miyoko’s, but for many, it isn’t just about one company — as founder and CEO Miyoko Schinner says, it could “set a precedent”. This is important because as plant-based products continue to take market share from their animal counterparts, the meat and dairy industries in many countries have reacted by attempting to restrict plant-based product labelling. Perhaps the most notorious was the European dairy lobby’s rejected Amendment 171, which would have created such severe restrictions for plant milks that many labelled it “censorship”. The EU also voted down a ban that would have prevented alt-meat producers from using terms ...

Swedish oat milk giant Oatly is to open its third US production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. At 280,000 square feet, it will be the company’s biggest factory in North America. The new plant is expected to create 100 jobs and produce around 150 million litres of oat milk per year, with space to expand if needed. It will allow Oatly to meet the rapidly growing demand for its products, which is set to outpace supply. Oatly’s existing US facilities are in Millville, New Jersey, and Ogden, Utah. The company says it plans to open several more facilities worldwide by 2023. Recently, Oatly made headlines when it unsuccessfully sued British oat milk brand PureOaty for alleged copyright infringement. Despite this, Oatly continues to thrive — the company now has an enterprise value of almost $13 billion following its highly successful IPO in May. It also has plans to further expand into China, where it is already available at thousands of cafes and stores. “Every time someone decides to take their coffee with oat milk or have an Oatgurt for their afternoon snack, we believe they’re making a choice that’s healthier for them and the planet. And more and more people are making those choices every day,” said Oatly’s North American President Mike Messersmith. “We’re excited to break ground on this factory in Fort Worth, which we believe will allow us to meet the growing demand for Oatly’s products and grow our positive impact on the planet.” ...

A report by Bloomberg Intelligence, titled Plant-Based Foods Poised for Explosive Growth, has predicted that the value of the plant-based market will soar from $29.4 billion in 2020 to $162 billion by 2030. According to the report, plant-based foods could make up 7.7% of the global protein market within a decade. One factor driving the surge is increased competition for resources caused by population growth. This is especially relevant in the Asia Pacific region, which is projected to have a population of 4.6 billion by 2030. The alt-meat market alone could increase in value from $4.2 to $74 or even $118 billion over the next decade. Consumers are increasingly shifting away from conventional meat due to growing concerns about health and sustainability. The report says the growth of plant-based giants such as Beyond Meat and Oatly, along with plant-based launches by conventional companies such as Nestle, is convincing many consumers to try meatless and dairy-free products. The increasing number of plant-based offerings at major chains such as Starbucks and Taco Bell is also a contributor. “Food-related consumer habits often come and go as fads, but plant-based alternatives are here to stay — and grow,” said Jennifer Bartashus, senior consumer staples analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “The expanding set of product options in the plant-based industry is contributing to plant-based alternatives becoming a long-term option for consumers around the world. Meat and dairy alternatives could even obtain 5% and 10% of their respective global market shares in the next decade.” ...

Danish biotech giant Novozymes has entered into a contract with an unnamed key player in the plant-based industry. As part of the contract, it will invest 2 billion Danish kroner into an alt-protein production line in Nebraska. The company says it is increasingly committed to meeting the growing demand for sustainable proteins, after research found that plant-based meat was the fastest-growing retail category in the US in 2020. Alt proteins received $3.1 billion in investments last year, a new record and three times the figure for 2019. However, a report in July found that there are several challenges facing the industry, including scale-up, speed to market, and regulation. Novozymes’ investment will begin later this year and is expected to complete in 2023. Within five years of commencing production, the company expects to have made at least DKK 1 billion in sales in the area of Advanced Protein Solutions. “At a time of accelerating demand across the protein space, Novozymes can unlock significant value by building on decades of experience with fermented catalytic proteins,” said Ester Baiget, CEO of Novozymes. “Being a biotech powerhouse allows us to produce high-quality, novel ingredients for our customers. We look forward to making a meaningful impact towards feeding the world sustainably.“ ...

The International V-Label Awards are officially closed for entries after an overwhelmingly positive response with 577 entries from 36 countries across the globe, from big names like Alpro or Beyond Meat to innovative emerging start-ups like Yo-Egg. “Having a high level of participation like the one we’ve had was crucial. It is very positive for the future finalists and winners, as being awarded among so many participating businesses becomes unique and prestigious,” says Jenifer Linares, Awards program manager at V-Label. The international jury panel consisting of senior leaders from the industry, media and NGOs will evaluate the entries through the month of September. The International V-Label Awards will also include a round of public voting and a special award voted by a panel of 11 trending influencers that have a combined audience of 1 million followers, with popular accounts like Addicted to Humus or Danza de Fogones, the most read vegan recipe blog in Spanish. Winners will be announced during the virtual awards ceremony in November 2021. The award scheme that launched on May 10th, 2021, has 9 award categories, including product categories such as best meat alternative or best dairy alternative, as well as categories that aim to promote responsible business practices, such as sustainability, innovation, and positive impact. V-Label has encouraged participation by making entrance free of charge with the goal to receive the best stories from the industry and inspire more companies to follow along. Finalists and winners of the International V-Label Awards will be able to ...

INSANE MEALS, Singapore’s newest DTC service, offers a large array of dishes with Impossible Foods meat as well as other vegan bands as part of a brand new weekly vegan meal subscription service, targeted at the two in five Singaporeans whose flexitarian diet is mostly plant-based with meats and animal products in moderation. New variations on Impossible Foods meat The Insane Meals’ take on the Impossible Burger – this week voted as the 4th best vegan burger in the world – is served with fresh veggies and plant-based bacon finished with tangy mustard, while the Impossible Great Balls of Flavour is a plant-based take on spaghetti and meatballs. Also on the menu are the Impossible Chili Con Carne, Impossible Lasagne and Asian favourites like  Impossible Thai Basil Noodle. Since it’s made from plants, consumers can enjoy these meals without guilt as Impossible Beef uses 96% less land, 87% less water, and generates 89% less greenhouse gasses compared to beef from cows. This means environmental savings of 7 square meters of land, 3 kg of CO2, and 84 litres of water for every 113g serving consumed. The new service also delivers plant-based local delicacies as well as Western favourites, offering a different menu each week to keep options dynamic and fresh. Local dishes such as Sweet and Sour Plork, Black Pepper Plaw, Cheeky Mala Xiang Guo, and Sayur Lovely Lodeh, a Malay cuisine-inspired vegetable stew, will join the weekly menu. Meal plan options include ‘Everyday’ at 12 meals a week from ...

abillion, the sustainability-focused consumer review platform, has released its awards for the World’s 10 Best Vegan Burgers, 2021. Based on its review data, consumer interest for vegan burger products increased by three times between July 2020 and June 2021, compared to the previous year. The awards were determined by evaluating over 12,000 reviews (based on consumer ratings, the number of reviews, and consumer sentiment scores) of plant-based burger products posted between 1 July 2020 through 30 June 2021 by members from 62 countries. Countries whose members posted the most reviews are Argentina, Canada, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, UK and the USA. The World’s 10 Best Vegan Burgers 2021: Beyond Burger (Beyond Meat, USA) Burger Vegetali Classici (Unconventional, Italy) Beyond Breakfast Sausage Classic Patties (Beyond Meat, United States) Impossible Burger (Impossible Foods, USA) Burger Vegetali Al Pomodoro (Unconventional, Italy) NotBurger (NotCo, Chile) Next Level Burger (Next Level Meat, Germany) Heura Burger (Heura, Spain) Hamburguesas de Soja (Vegetalex, Argentina) Chicken-Style Burgers (Fry’s Family Food Co, UK) While most of the lineup need no introduction, products by Granarolo’s Unconventional Burger have placed 2nd and 5th in this year’s list. Granarolo is one of the biggest food companies in Italy, founded in 1957. The company is traditionally known for meat and dairy though it does have a line in non-dairy drinks and a range of vegan ready meals. In March 2020, during the pandemic, Granarolo debuted the Unconventional Burger, which went on to become one of the five most successful brands ...

Silk, a Danone subsidiary, has stated this week that while Greek offerings dominate the yogurt category, encompassing nearly half of yogurt sales, so far plant-based alternatives have ” struggled to deliver” in terms of the thickness and texture of Greek style yogurt. Until now. The new range consists of Vanilla, Strawberry, Lemon, and Blueberry, produced with a coconut milk base, and the company says that “Silk Greek is seriously thick… in fact, it’s so thick, you can flip over a spoonful and it won’t budge!” Other companies producing a vegan Greek-style product include Kite Hill, Alpro, Oatly, and Meadow Foods in the UK. However, Silk claims that existing efforts in the segment have been unable to produce the signature traits of Greek, without the traditional ingredient of dairy. “70% of plant-based beverage buyers are not yet buying plant-based yogurt alternatives,” said Lia Stierwalt, Senior Director of Marketing, Silk Plant-Based Yogurt Alternatives. “We saw an incredible opportunity to appeal to those who are already familiar with a plant-based lifestyle, as well as those who love Greek style yogurt. Silk is already a plant-based yogurt aisle favorite, and now we are tackling the elusive Greek Style category head-on. As part of our product innovation process, we tested Silk Greek with many consumers. We are confident that we’re delivering a fantastic tasting, high-protein, plant-based yogurt alternative.” ...

Following the recent launch of its vegan chocolate lollipops for children, NOMO – the UK’s number one vegan and free-from chocolate brand – has announced the launch of giant chocolate drop-shaped buttons in its most popular flavours, Creamy Choc and Caramel & Sea Salt. As well as being suitable as treats for plant-based or children with allergies, the drops are also suitable for use in baking, an activity on the continuous rise since the beginning of the global health situation. The new product launch follows a hugely successful year for the brand, with Jacqueline Tyrrell, Brand Manager explaining, “Since launching in 2019, NOMO has become officially the number one vegan and free-from chocolate brand in the UK worth £9m in RSV selling over 6.6 million in unit sales and 351 tonnes of chocolate – equal to almost thirty double-decker buses.” Tyrrell added, “We’re so proud to be expanding our chocolate range as we continue to grow and meet changing consumer needs. As a brand, NOMO ensures that no one misses out, and our new sharing pack brings just that. Our giant chocolate buttons aim to provide a fantastic vegan and free from option that everyone can enjoy on those sharing and baking occasions, without compromising on the taste and texture people love from milk chocolate. We hope this new product will help to open our brand to a new customer base by allowing consumers to open a bag to spread some NOMO joy. “Each of these products is made with rainforest alliance certified cocoa, so you can enjoy your chocolate knowing it’s kind to the environment. These delicious chocolate buttons will initially be available in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose with more retailers to ...