Business-centric multimedia company, FoodBev Media, has announced the official launch of a website dedicated to the plant-based food and beverage industry. With plant-based diets becoming increasingly mainstream in societies across the world, the new platform will help industry professionals to keep pace with developments in this fast-moving sector. The launch of theplantbasemag.com comes as analysts project that the global plant-based food market could surpass a value of $100 billion within the next decade. The website will feature news and analysis on topics including manufacturing, ingredients, packaging and labelling, and complement FoodBev Media’s dedicated industry title, The Plant Base. Commenting on the company’s latest venture, FoodBev Media chairman, Richard Hall, said: “Plant-based may well prove to be the biggest global dietary change of this decade. It is also constantly evolving in taste, nutrition, science, cost and sustainability. Theplantbasemag.com will be the simplest link to keep up with all the latest international innovations and developments.” FoodBev Media also operates several social channels focused on news and views from the plant-based sector. For the latest industry updates or to get involved in the conversation, visit: #FoodBevMedia #plantbased #theplantbasemagcom

Swiss meat alternatives maker Planted has closed a Series B financing round of CHF 70 million ($71.5 million approx). Founded in 2019, Planted is a spin-off from ETH Zurich. The food tech start-up produces meat alternatives from plant proteins, such as pea, oat and sunflower, through its novel biostructuring approach, which combines protein structuring and fermentation. Led by private equity firm L Catterton, the round also received participation from existing backers, including Vorwerk Ventures, Gullspång Re:food and ETH Zürich Foundation, as well as new investor Tengelmann Ventures. “Not only are…[Planted’s] products inspired by nature, but they are also free of unnatural ingredients, scalable, and able to be easily incorporated into consumers’ daily lives as well as traditional meat supply chains,” said Liz Gordon of L Catterton. “With food as a strong lever to promote human health and environmental stability, Planted directly contributes to creating a healthier and more sustainable food system. We have strong conviction in the company’s continued growth, as more people across the globe continue to adopt alternative proteins into their lives.” Planted will use the funds to launch its new whole-cut product line, accelerate its international expansion and build an additional production site. The company’s proprietary technology allows it to design and structure larger pieces of plant-based meat with “complex structure, texture, juiciness and tenderness”. #meatalternatives #Planted #Switzerland

Hippeas has partnered with plant-based meat brand This to launch its limited edition This Isn’t Smoky Bacon flavour of its chickpea puff snacks. The smoky bacon flavour replicates the meatiness of This’s best-selling plant-based bacon products, which have won Great Taste awards. “Everyone loves bacon, snacks and being healthy. The assignment was simple to comprehend but hard to execute. These puffs are 10/10”, said Andy Shovel, co-founder of This. Each 22g pack contains 1.3g fibre, 3.7g of plant-based protein and only 87 kcals. They are vegan friendly whilst also being gluten, palm oil and MSG free, and are non-HFSS compliant. Paul Nardone, Hippeas CEO added: “As two of the UK’s leading plant-based food brands it made perfect sense for us to collaborate. The product delivers against what we know consumers are looking for: maximised flavour and texture, alongside revolutionised nutrition to deliver better-for-you snacks.” The smoky chickpea puffs are available from Waitrose stores (22g single packs, RRP £1) nationwide or direct to consumers on the Hippeas website. #This #Hippeas #UK #plantbasedsnacks #plantbased #plantbasedbacon

Mindful Chef has partnered with Deliciously Ella to introduce four plant-based recipes that will be available for two weeks this September. Filled with plant-based proteins and fresh, seasonal vegetables, the meal options include: chermoula aubergine with lentils and broccoli; miso mushroom rice with tofu and broccoli; dahl with roasted squash and green beans; and ‘golden’ bean stew with celeriac fries. The new offerings are gluten-, dairy- and refined carb-free, and are inspired by the “most-loved” recipes on the Deliciously Ella app, Feel Better. Giles Humphries, Mindful Chef founder and CMO, said: “We’ve always admired Ella’s approach to food so we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with someone who’s as passionate about plant-based food and sustainable eating as we are. These exclusive recipes are bursting with flavour, and colourful seasonal produce using the same high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients you’ll find in all Mindful Chef meals.” On the menu for two weeks only, starting 11 September, the recipes will be available across the one-person, two-person and family options. #DeliciouslyElla #MindfulChef #UK

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has carried out the first large study to compare levels of four key micronutrients – phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and selenium – in eight different plant-based milk substitutes, as well as cow’s milk. The FDA analysed levels of the four minerals in 85 samples of plant milks, made from almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, oat, pea, rice and soya. The study found that almost all plant-based milks have lower amounts of the four micronutrients, with the exception of milk substitutes made from pea protein, which contain similar levels to cow’s milk. Phosphorus promotes growth and tissue repair, while selenium is needed for a healthy immune system. “Those who consume plant-based milk alternatives lower in these target minerals should seek to obtain these nutrients through other foods or beverages,” said Benjamin Redan of the FDA. Clare Thornton-Wood, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, added: “All of these nutrients can be obtained from other sources, such as nuts, seeds and lentils”. Alternative milks have been growing in popularity in recent years, and while health is a significant driver in the adoption of plant-based foods, other factors such as sustainability and animal welfare are also key motivators. #cowsmilk #FDA #plantbasedmilk #sustainability

From 1 September, Asda will remove the ‘best before’ dates from almost 250 of its fresh fruit and vegetable products to help customers reduce food waste and save money. The rollout will be across all of Asda’s UK stores and the dates will be replaced with a code to be used by store employees to ensure quality and freshness are maintained. The supermarket is also providing additional guidance online and on packaging to help customers to understand how to best store and prepare fresh food, as well as tips on how to reduce food waste. The change is just one way Asda is targeting a 20% reduction in waste by 2025 and comes as research from climate action group Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reveals that the average family throws away £60 worth of food and drink each month. Catherine David, director of collaboration and change at WRAP, said: “Our research has shown that date labels on fruit and veg are unnecessary – getting rid of them can prevent the equivalent of 7 million shopping baskets’ worth from our household bins. Storing most fruit and veg products in the fridge, below 5 degrees, will keep them fresher longer.” #Asda #foodwaste #sustainability #UK

UK-based ice cream brand, Hackney Gelato, has announced the launch of a new plant-based sorbetto featuring roasted pecans. The new Roasted Pecan & Caramel variant is rippled with homemade salted caramel sauce and lightly roasted pecans. According to Hackney Gelato, its latest product is “sweet, savoury, soft and crunchy all at the same time”. “We gather inspiration from ingredients across the globe. In America, the autumn pecan harvest marks the coming of the holiday season and autumn is all about the pecan,” said Enrico Pavoncelli, Hackney Gelato co-founder and master gelatiere. “We love their beautiful, contoured structure, crunchy texture and buttery flavour; it pairs perfectly with our home-made salted caramel sauce. Our East London plant-based speciale Roasted Pecan & Caramel Sorbetto celebrates the end of summer and the start of a new season.” From September, Roasted Pecan & Caramel will be available from Ocado as well as through independent retailers. The new offering has an RRP of £5.49 for a 460ml tub. #HackneyGelato #UK

Mary’s Gone Crackers has expanded its product line-up with a plant-based take on cheese crackers. Mary’s Gone Cheezee Plant-Based Crackers are said to deliver a creamy, mild taste of cheddar cheese that is vegan, organic, non-GMO and gluten-free. They are avaialble in two plant-based flavours: Cheddar and Cheese & Herb, the latter featuring hints of rosemary, thyme and oregano. Mary’s Gone Crackers VP of Sales, Jason Galante, said: “Our newest offering is a delightful testament to the future of vegan and gluten-free alternatives. The crackers taste of tangy cheddarosity that you would never be able to tell is 100% vegan.” The crackers are now available in Spouts stores, with full distribution expected by September 2022. #crackers #MarysGoneCrackers #plantbasedcheese

Creatd Ventures has acquired a 100% stake in Brave, a plant-based food company specialising in convenient and healthy breakfast products. The acquisition marks the fourth majority ownership purchase for Creatd Ventures, the arm of Creatd Inc that is focused on scaling creator-led brands. CEO of Creatd Ventures Thomas Punch said: “This acquisition marks another exciting step towards the expansion of Creatd Ventures: Brave’s health-oriented superfood breakfast mixes are a natural fit within our portfolio as a wellness-rooted brand with multiple opportunities to develop new and innovative SKUs and expand our product offerings for new and existing subscribers”. He continued: “Creatd Ventures has fully consolidated its supply chain and continues to expand both its online and brick-and-mortar distribution channels for all of its recurring-revenue-based brands”. Creatd announced its intent to acquire Brave in July this year. #Brave #breakfast #conveniencefood #CreatdVentures

GoodMills Innovation has launched Vitatex Vegan-Snack-Mix, a premix for plant-based burgers and meatballs, as well as savoury bakery and snack fillings. The premix is based on wheat proteins and is characterised by “a juicy bite and authentic meat flavour”. It can be combined with water and oil, and then shaped for easy use. It is freezer-stable in both raw and baked formats, and is best prepared in the pan or deep fryer, oven-baked or grilled. GoodMills says that, as consumers demand more plant-based, vegan and vegetarian products, the premix enables bakers and butchers with snack counters, bistros, canteens and other food service providers to adapt their offerings. #GoodmillsInnovation #snacks #wheattexturates

SNDL, a private sector liquor and cannabis retailer, has entered into an agreement to acquire The Valens Company – a manufacturer of cannabis products – for a total consideration of CAD 138 million. Through the acquisition, SNDl and Valens will combine business to form a vertically integrated cannabis platform. A company statement said: “With 555,500 square feet of cultivation and manufacturing space and 185 cannabis stores under the Spiritleaf and Value Buds banners, the combined company will offer a complete portfolio of branded products to consumers in Canada through its own supply and distribution channels.” The combined company will operate as SNDL. Both companies hope to create a diverse portfolio of brands through the combination (including edibles and drinkables), enhance branded product offering with low-cost in-house manufacturing capabilities and create synergies through cost rationalisation and operational efficiencies. Zach George, CEO of SNDL, said: “This powerful combination will result in the creation of a dominant vertically integrated company, exceptionally well-suited to weather the current cannabis environment and become a leader in the Canadian regulated products sector.” He added: “SNDL’s existing consumer packaged cannabis business will be transformed by Valens’ high-quality extraction, processing, and manufacturing capabilities and aligns well with our strategic vision to delight consumers with a full range of quality cannabis products and experiences. Our companies have been commercial partners since Canadian legalisation. I am excited by the strong cultural fit between our teams and humbled by the opportunity to work with Valens’ passionate and innovative leadership.” Tyler Robson, CEO of Valens, commented: “We are thrilled to bring together two best-in-class cannabis companies that have extremely complementary assets to create a true market leader. Valens is one of the fastest growing branded cannabis companies in Canada with a focus on innovation and investing in low-cost automated manufacturing assets.” He continued: “With SNDL’s exceptional balance sheet and largest cannabis retail network in Canada we look forward to taking Valens’ brands to new heights and unlocking 2.0 products for the SNDL platform. We believe the pro forma company provides investors with attractive exposure not only to the highest revenue generating cannabis company in Canada trading well under its tangible book value but also a dominant platform that can become a global leader in cannabis.”

Condiment producer Primal Kitchen has announced the launch of two new plant-based products. The brand’s No Dairy Cheddar Cheez-Style Sauce is free from gluten and soy. The vegan cheese sauce features “high-quality” ingredients, including avocado oil, and is keto and paleo. The new offering is available via the company’s website and is also rolling out in Harris Teeter. Primal Kitchen Plant-Based Caesar Dressing is also made with avocado oil, and provides a vegan alternative to the classic condiment, that can be used for drizzling over salads, tossing roasted vegetables and dipping crudité. The “creamy, zesty” offering also features organic apple cider vinegar, organic coconut aminos, and organic herbs and spices. The dressing launches this week and is available to purchase through the brand’s website. #PrimalKitchen #US