UK brand Native Snacks has announced the launch of its vegan prawn crackers under its range of retail snacks ‘Super Street Snacks’. The new Pr*wn Crackers are available in two flavours – original prawn and sweet chilli – and are crustacean-free, egg-free, milk-free and gluten-free. Charlie and Darcy, founders of Native Snacks, said: “We were shocked to hear that the farming of prawns produces more Co2 than beef per kg. We wanted to create an easy like-for-like swap for such an iconic snack for vegans and non-vegans alike to enjoy. We loved eating prawn crackers as kids and no Friday night takeaway felt right without a bag.” They continued: “We always had some friends who couldn’t eat them due to being veggie or vegan. As well as creating something that tasted delicious, it also had to work from an ethical standpoint too. We knew from looking at the many vegan Instagram accounts that we follow – many who have posted about wanting to find a ‘prawn’ cracker – that the demand was there.” The crackers contain just under 99 calories per serving and will be available in the vegan bay across 222 Asda Stores from 4 October with an RRP of £1.60 for a 60g sharing bag. The range will also be available from Planet Organic and the Native Snacks website. #NativeSnacks #plantbased #snacks #UK

Upfield-owned dairy-free cheese brand, Violife is expanding its portfolio with the launch of a new plant-based light butter alternative: Violife’s Viospread Light & Creamy. The new offering is free from dairy, soya, gluten, lactose, nuts, and preservatives. Violife’s senior marketing manager, Bianca Harris, said: “Not only is it perfect for easy spreading and topping, as with all Violife products, Viospread Light & Creamy is 100% vegan and retains the same great taste and appeal to all audiences, as the rest of our dairy-free products”. She continued: “For those following a vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian lifestyle, our Viospread Light & Creamy is a great option for everyone interested in trying new plant-based alternatives”. With an RSP of £2, Viospread Light & Creamy is available in Asda and Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. Last month, Violife launched a new vegan butter alternative, Vioblock. #Dairyalternatives #UK #Violife #Viospread

McCain Foods has announced the launch of its new plant-based brand which will offer dips, spreads, sauces and cheeses made from root vegetables. The Simple Root range will include cooking sauces – such as bechamel, truffle and cheese – pesto, cream ‘cheeze’ and a variation of dips such as roasted garlic and herb and smoky chipotle. The range will be made with minimal processing, a low carbon footprint and from locally sourced ingredients. The plant-based brand uses innovative technology to transform potatoes and other root vegetables into a creamy taste and texture but without any artificial flavours and allergens such as dairy, nuts, soy and eggs. The technology was developed in collaboration with McCain Foods and Pilot Lite Capital. Lora Spizzirri, global chief technology officer, said: “Our patented technology truly delivers a creamy and smooth ingredient base so we can create dairy and nut-free versions of consumers favourite foods, like cooking sauces, dips and cheese spreads, making it easy for them to easily upgrade their food choices, but with no sacrifice to taste or texture.” The brand will be unveiling its full range of products at the Lunch! trade show taking place at the ExCel London on 23-24 September. A full product launch is expected nationwide across the UK later this year. #McCainFoods #plantbased #TheSimpleRoot #UK

UK pulses and grains brand Merchant Gourmet has announced the launch of its new range of easy vegan jars, named Plant Jars. The ready-to-eat range comes in three variations – Rich Puy Lentil Bolognese with Porcini Mushrooms, Spicy Lentil Chilli with Black Beans & Corn, and Fragrant Lentil Madras Curry with Chickpeas & Squash. Each jar is designed to provide convenient meals without meat that can be added to rice, pasta or eaten on its own. They can either be microwaved or heated up on the hob. Richard Peake, managing director at Merchant Gourmet, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be launching a unique and disruptive plant-based ready-meal concept to market. Plant Jars marks an exciting new chapter for Merchant Gourmet as we expand our plant-based portfolio even further.” “The new range strengthens our position within the plant-based category, showing our commitment to create simple, great-tasting products that continue to excite shoppers. We want to make plant-based food accessible, convenient and simple so that more people are inspired to eat more plants and feel better. Quick, delicious and ready in minutes, our Plant Jars are made using the best quality ingredients that are not only better for our health, but also for the planet.” The glass jars are fully recyclable and reusable with a unique lid commissioned by London-based artist, Rose Electra Harris. The range will be available in Waitrose from 20 September with an RRP of £3.50 per 330g. Further roll-out is expected in Sainsbury’s and Ocado from October. #MerchantGourmet #plantbased #UK

Plant-based seafood producer Sophie’s Kitchen has secured $5.6 million in funding to accelerate its growth and product innovation efforts. The investment was led by Billy Goat Brands, a Canadian publicly listed venture capital firm with a focus on the blue economy. Sophie’s Kitchen will use the funds to support the growth of its brand, as well as product innovation. According to the statement, the capital will also support the company’s “overall mission of making a positive difference globally by changing unsustainable and unethical industries into ones that are”. Founded in 2010, Sophie’s Kitchen creates seafood alternatives. The firm’s current portfolio includes plant-based shrimp, crab cakes, fish fillets, smoked salmon and its tuna range, Toona. The brand is free of preservatives, gluten and soy, and contains non-GMO ingredients. “We at Sophie’s Kitchen believe in the same mission – to save lives and protect the planet, one meal at a time,” said Sophie’s Kitchen CEO, Miles Woodruff. “The best way to achieve this goal is to create plant-based foods craved by vegans and meat-lovers alike while making our products accessible to consumers so they can also join our mission for change.” #Plantbasedseafood #SophiesKitchen

Growthwell Foods, a manufacturer of plant-based alternatives for meat and seafood, has announced it has raised $22 million in a Series A funding round led by Creadev. Located in Singapore, the company aims to expand its business and production development by making sustainable and nutritious plant-based offerings. The funding round also included participation from GGV Capital, Iris Fund (Iris Capital and Hanwha, supported by Penjana Kapital) and existing investors Temasek and DSG Consumer Partners. “We are extremely pleased to have global investors like Creadev and GGV Capital onboard Growthwell as we look to scale up our plant nutrition business beyond Southeast Asia,” said Justin Chou, executive director of Growthwell Foods. He continued: “We are thankful to have the conviction and continual support of existing investors like Temasek and DSG Consumer Partners as Growthwell continues to further strengthen and grow the team beyond the family members. We believe our current series A fundraising round is one of the largest in the Southeast Asia food tech space and we will continue to trailblaze plant nutrition in Asia.” This funding round comes after Growthwell raised $8 million last year to expand its plant protein operation. #GrowthwellFoods #Asia #Singapore #GrowthwellGroup #plantbased

Plant-based snacks company Mark’s Mindful Munchies has added a brand new sweet potato chips range to its roster. The new range, called Pop Bitties Sweet Potato Chips, is available in two flavours: sea salt and cracked black pepper & sea salt. The air-popped chips are non-GMO verified, gluten-free, corn-free, tree nut- and peanut-free. They contain only 110 calories, 3.5g of fat and 2g of protein per serving. Mark Andrus, founder of Mark’s Mindful Munchies, said: “I’m a health nut and enjoy eating healthy complex carbs like sweet potatoes and brown rice, so I loved the idea of creating an air-popped chip with these high-quality ingredients”. He continued: “Snacking should be fun, delicious and mindful, and our Sweet Potato Chips definitely check all the boxes. We are proud to have created a snack that’s good for you without compromising on flavour.” The range is available in 3.5oz bags at an SRP of $3.49 online or in supermarkets across the US. You may also like: Bel UK launches new Boursin hot cheese bites range International Delight and Reese’s unveil new iced coffee RTD Richmond Sausages launches new meal kit #chips #MarksMindfulMunchies #plantbased #US

UK-based Biotiful Dairy has announced the launch of a plant-based oat kefir drink, which it says offers all of the key health benefits of traditional kefir. The new range is available in three flavours – original, mango and strawberry – and contains vegan cultures to support gut health. Natasha Bowes, founder of Biotiful, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing our expertise to the new category of the highest consumer relevance, adding depth to our strategic product portfolio with a dairy-free alternative”. She continued: “Kefir is traditionally a cultured milk drink, but for the first time ever we are offering this authentic product made with a trusted and sustainable oat base. We know that consumers are actively seeking delicious plant-based products and want added benefits, especially gut health and immunity support, and we are best placed to lead the market in this highly relevant space.” Each 250ml bottle contains vitamins B12 and B2 to help support immunity and has no added sugar or any artificial ingredients. The drink is also gluten-free and vegan friendly. The range will be available nationwide with an RRP of £1.85 and is launching in Waitrose on 29 September, followed by Asda in early November. #BiotifulDairy #kefir #plantbased

Warburg Pincus-backed Full Sail IP Partners has acquired the rights to the Odwalla food and beverage brand from The Coca-Cola Company, as it looks to revive the brand after the soft drinks giant discontinued it last year. According to Reuters, Odwalla is the first acquisition Full Sail IP Partners has made since its launch as a joint venture between Warburg Pincus and brand licensing specialists LMCA. Founded in 1980, Odwalla offered plant-based fruit juices, smoothies and energy bars. “We’re thrilled that Odwalla, with its long history of innovation, high levels of brand awareness and reputation for great products, will be our first acquisition,” said Full Sail’s CEO, Alan Kravetz. “We look forward to providing consumers with the best tasting, artfully crafted functional beverages and foods to allow them to snack well, feel well and live well.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed. #FullSailIPPartners #Odwalla #TheCocaColaCompany

Plant-based, better-for-you ramen company Immi has raised $3.8 million in seed funding, as it looks to modernise its instant ramen brand. Launched last year during the pandemic, Immi is described as the “world’s first” low-carb, high-protein and 100% plant-based instant ramen. The seed funding round was led by Siddhi Capital, with participation from Palm Tree Crew, Constellation Capital, Animal Capital, Pear Ventures, Collaborative Fund and others. US-based Immi plans to use the new funds to release a reformulated version of its product, with the aim of replicating the taste of the traditional instant ramen. The relaunch will improve broth taste and texture, and the revamped product will include increased fibre for gut health and lower net carbs. “The excitement and reception to Immi and a better-for-you ramen was incredible upon our initial launch,” said Immi co-founder, Kevin Lee. “As we continue to iterate and listen to our consumer feedback, this seed round funding will be utilised to perfect a product that’s not just nutritious, but that is also truly indistinguishable from the delicious taste of traditional instant ramen.” Immi co-founder, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, added: “The investors within our seed round bring an incredible wealth of knowledge that has helped guide us in bringing Immi to the everyday eater”. He continued: “With this influx of capital, and the continued support from our investors, we plan to ramp up manufacturing and production in a way that will allow us to bring new product innovation to our customers in rapid succession”. #immi #plantbased #ramen

Swedish plant-based cheese start-up Stockeld Dreamery has announced it has raised €16.5 million from investments in its Series A funding round. The investments were led by existing supporters Astanor Ventures and Northzone, and also included new European investors, such as Gullspång Re:food and Eurazeo. Daniel Skaven Ruben, head of strategy and special projects for Stockeld Dreamery, said: “We think it’s possible to create cheese in better ways, and that no one has tried hard enough yet to do so. Our first product, Stockeld Chunk launched in May 2021 and gave a hint as to what’s possible.” He continued: “One of the things we’re most proud about with Stockeld Chunk is how much people love eating it. We’ve worked intensively with scores of chefs over the past few years to help nail every sensory aspect. We’ll continue to be as laser-focused on great taste as we launch our new products.” By 2022, Stockeld plans to expand its team and move into a brand-new headquarters and pilot production plant in Stockholm, Sweden. #Europe #plantbased #StockeldDreamery

Canada-based vegan food company Gusta has added two new products to its portfolio: the Original and the Mex veggie ground. The new offerings are made from soy protein, containing 9g of plant-based protein per 55g, and GMO-free ingredients. The Original is a plant-based ground that can be either crumbled in lasagne or made into veggie balls. Meanwhile, the Mex veggie ground is a Mexican-inspired crumble, which is rounded out by spices. Both veggie grounds are produced with vegetables and the brand’s spice blend. Gusta veggie grounds are available in Canadian grocery stores. #Canada #Gusta #vegan