UK dairy-free brand The Coconut Collaborative has announced the launch of three products for Veganuary. The new offerings include Overnight Oats Red Berries & Coconut Yog, which is available in Tesco stores. The on-the-go breakfast option features an oat and fruit compote swirled into the brand’s Natural Coconut Yog and is free from gluten. The company is also adding a new raspberry flavour to its 350g yogurt alternatives range. The Raspberry Coconut Yog is said to be naturally high in potassium and magnesium, and is also fortified with calcium and vitamin D. The dairy-free yogurt will be arriving in Sainsbury’s from 19 January. Like the rest of the brand’s Yogs range, the new product is made with live cultures and fruit sugars. Meanwhile, The Coconut Collaborative’s new Choc and Cre&m dessert features a smooth layer of chocolate with a whipped creamy topping. The plant-based ready-to-eat pudding is free from gluten and palm oil, and contains 139 calories per pot. The dessert will be available at Tesco and Waitrose on 9 January, followed by Sainsbury’s in late-February. “We’re thrilled to be hitting Veganuary 2022 with a bang and the launch of three amazing new products, across three different categories,” said The Coconut Collaborative founder and managing director, James Averdieck. #TheCoconutCollaborative #UK

The growth of the global plant-based market has shown no signs of slowing down in 2021, with every week bringing significant new developments for the sector. From acquisitions to new product launches, FoodBev takes a look back at the year’s top trending plant-based stories, which highlight some of the key trends and innovations in the category. Nestlé opens new plant-based food production site in Malaysia In April, Nestlé inaugurated a new plant-based meal solution manufacturing facility in Malaysia, following an investment of MYR 150 million (approximately $36.3 million). Located in Selangor, the facility was established to cater for the rising local demand for plant-based food, as well as to serve the export market. It joins the company’s plant-based food facility in Tianjin, China. Supplying the foodservice and retail channels, the facility has the capacity to produce 8,000 tonnes of halal-certified plant-based food per year, including burgers, schnitzels, chargrilled pieces and mince. New biodegradable chewing gum Nuud launches into UK retail Instead of using plastic in the gum base, Nuud uses ‘sustainably’ harvested tree sap called Chicle, which it says helps the gum to biodegrade naturally like banana skin. With the product, the brand is on a mission to rid the world of plastic gum, as well as to educate consumers about the amount of single-use plastic used in regular gum – which Nuud claims is ‘as much as a drinking straw in one piece’. Britvic acquires UK plant-based drinks brand Plenish ©Plenish As the market has boomed, the plant-based drinks category has attracted the support of investors in 2021, while other companies have been on the acquisition path. This spring, Britvic expanded into plant-based nutrition with the acquisition of Plenish, a UK plant-based drinks business. Founded in 2012, Plenish offers a range of plant-based milks – including almond, coconut, oat and cashew – cold-pressed juices and functional shots, as well as a series of cleanse programmes. Nestlé debuts new pea-based milk alternative brand The drink is made from yellow peas sourced in France and Belgium and Nestlé says it is high in fibre, low in sugar and fat, enriched with calcium and a source of vitamins D, B2 and B12. According to Nestlé, the neutral taste and high protein content of the pea-based beverage mean it is very versatile, and it can be enjoyed over cereal, in hot beverages, in cooking or drunk straight. Yeo’s and Oatly announce official opening of oat milk facility Oat continues to be one of the most popular plant-based milk options, and this July saw Swedish brand Oatly and Asian food and beverage company, Yeo Hiap Seng Limited (Yeo’s), open a joint oat milk plant in Singapore. The facility is located at Yeo’s Senoko Way site and marked Oatly’s only production venture in Asia before the company opened a manufacturing facility in China a few months later. David Zhang, Asia president of Oatly, said: “This new facility will help drive Oatly’s expansion into new and existing markets in Asia and support us to drive the shift from dairy to oat milk for the benefit of people and planet”. Nestlé releases plant-based Milo drink in Asia The Milo Dairy Free recipe replaces the milk from the original formula with almond and soy, but the other two core ingredients – malt and cocoa – remain the same. McDonald’s and Beyond Meat launch plant-based burger in the UK Meat alternatives are big business globally, with foodservice operators, established brands and new market entrants alike all looking to secure a juicy slice of the plant-based pie. Among them, McDonald’s launched a UK trial for a plant-based burger this year. The McPlant has been created using a meatless patty co-developed with Beyond Meat, as well as vegan cheese that is said to taste just like McDonald’s cheese slices and is based on pea protein. The burger features: a vegan sesame bun, mustard, ketchup, vegan sandwich sauce, fresh onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and the vegan patty and cheese. Nescafé Dolce Gusto launches plant-based coffee pods Credited by The Vegan Society, the plant-based pods come in almond and coconut flavours. Happi releases new oat milk white chocolate range Most of us are no stranger to a bit of over-indulgence during the festive period, with chocolate often figuring prominently. This year has seen a proliferation of plant-based options, including Happi Free From’s two new white chocolate varieties. Happi plain white and white raspberry come in 40g and 80g bars. The brand’s portfolio is made with gluten-free oat milk and rice syrup, as well as sunflower lecithin to ensure it is completely allergen free. The new vegan white chocolate bars join the brand’s portfolio of chocolate buttons and dairy-free milk chocolate bars, including plain, cacao nib crunch, salted caramel and orange varieties. McCain Foods announces new plant-based brand The Simple Root brand uses technology to transform potatoes and other root vegetables into a creamy taste and texture – without the use of artificial flavours or allergens. #Plenish #Oatly #Britvic #Nestlé #Happi #Nuud #McCainFoods #Wunda #BeyondMeat #McDonalds #Nescafé #Yeos

UK savoury pastry brand Ginsters has added a limited-edition plant-based pastry to its range with its new Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice. The release will join Ginsters’ other vegan pastries which include Bombay Potato & Spinach Pasty and Cajun Spiced Sweet Potato & Chickpea Pasty. The slice is made with sliced white and chestnut mushrooms with a vegan cream and white wine sauce which includes roasted garlic puree, coconut milk, potato, onion and herbs. The filling is wrapped in a light puff pastry with a hint of lemon zest to finish. Sam Mitchell, Ginsters’ managing director, said: “As consumers look to a healthier start to the year, and interest in reducing meat heightens, we want to ensure we’re offering something that meets every meal occasion. Our latest vegan launch responds to the demand for more choice, while reinforcing to shoppers that Ginsters is the category leader, harnessing trends and bringing new flavours and formats to the category”. Ginsters Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice is available for an RRP of £1.70 per 170g, just in time for Veganuary. #Ginsters #UK

Chilean food tech company NotCo has announced the launch of a plant-based chicken line, NotChicken, in the Latin American market. The new range includes NotChickenNuggets, NotChickenBurger, NotChickenBurgerCrispy and NotChickenFillet. NotCo – which raised $235 million in a Series D funding round earlier this year – uses proprietary artificial intelligence technology, named Giuseppe, to develop plant-based foods. Giuseppe’s algorithms analyse thousands of plants in its database to come up with combinations that replicate the taste, feel and functional properties of animal-based products. Peas, chickpeas, bamboo and peaches are said to be among the ingredients Giuseppe identified to replicate the taste and texture of chicken. The new NotChicken offerings also feature a golden, crispy breading. “What we have achieved in terms of superior taste and texture is a true reflection of the impact we can make if we believe that things can be done better,” said Matias Muchnick, CEO and co-founder of NotCo. “It’s an exciting time for us as it is the first time we are launching into a new alt-protein category in three countries at the same time, but you can expect to see more very soon.” NotCo’s new NotChicken line will be available at retailers in Chile, Argentina and Brazil this month. The brand will also be announcing several restaurant partnerships and has plans to introduce NotChicken in the US and Canada in the future. #LatinAmerica #meatalternatives #NotCo

Fungi-based protein start-up, Kernel Mycofoods, has raised in excess of $15 million in an institutional funding round. Kernel uses artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to improve the fungi fermentation techniques of existing and approved strains. “Biotechnology and AI are beginning to converge, and by harnessing them, we will reduce both price and time to market,” said Kernel COO, Lucas Gago. The funding was led by Union Group Ventures, and Kernel Mycofoods says that the investment conglomerate has become a substantial stakeholder in the business. According to Kernel, it will use the funds to support its expansion, as well as sustainability related research and development. The company is aiming to increase its production capacity to more than 50,000 tonnes per year and plans to build several new facilities. Oscar Leon, director of Union Group Ventures, said: “We are delighted to support Kernel’s vision to become the future of food”. #alternativeproteins #KernelMycofoods

The Planting Hope Company has expanded its Hope and Sesame sesame milk product line with the addition of new refrigerated offerings. The company is introducing two new 48oz refrigerated options: unsweetened original and unsweetened vanilla sesame milk. Kroger is launching the bottles into select Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers and Mariano’s stores. The bottles join the brand’s existing range of shelf-stable cartons, which includes original, unsweetened and chocolate varieties. “Entering Kroger with our brand-new Non-GMO Verified refrigerated line-up of Hope and Sesame sesame milk marks an important milestone for Planting Hope as we continue to scale operations and rapidly expand our retail footprint,” said Julia Stamberger, CEO and co-founder of Planting Hope. The Hope and Sesame sesame milk range is vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified kosher, and contains 8g of protein per serving. #Kroger #milkalternatives #ThePlantingHopeCompany #US

UK tofu brand The Tofoo Co. has expanded its portfolio with a new range of frozen tofu products, called Straight to Wok. Straight to Wok are made with cubes of tofu coated in cornflour. The new range is available in two flavours –Naked and Ginger & Chilli. David Knibbs, co-founder of The Tofoo Co., said: “We’ve always recognised a desire from consumers to create healthy, tasty and, most importantly, easy meals with tofu. Driven by the pandemic, more consumers than ever are scratch cooking but are still looking for products that can be ready quickly while still delivering on taste.” He continued: “Like our best-selling Naked Tofoo, all our products are organic and use GM-free and sustainable soya beans.” Straight to Wok will be available at Waitrose towards the end of this month, and in Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s stores in early 2022, for an RRP of £3. #TheTofooCo #Tofu #UK

UK plant-based milk company Mighty has announced the launch of a new range of vegan milk alternatives in the country, called M.LKology. The range includes three offerings: M.LKology Whole, M.LKology Semi and M.LKology Barista, which was created specifically for coffee and hot chocolate to replicate the texture and consistency of frothed milk. Mighty’s co-founder, Nick Watkins, said: “M.LKology will launch the third generation of plant milk with precise fermentation to create a product closer to milk than has ever been seen before”. M.LKology will be available online and in major retailers, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, from early next year. #Mighty #milkalternatives #plantbased #UK

Dairy alternatives company Oddlygood Global has secured $28 million in its first funding round, led by Mandatum Asset Management. Oddlygood is a spin-off of Valio Group, which remains its majority shareholder. Oddlygood produces plant-based products, including oat drinks, oat yogurts and cheese alternatives. The company will use the funds to fuel its international expansion into new markets. “Interest in plant-based products is growing exponentially worldwide, which we see in a significant increase in our sales,” said Oddlygood Global’s CEO, Niko Vuorenmaa. “However, consumers will only change their day-to-day consumption habits if they find dairy alternatives that both taste good and fit their lifestyle.” He continued: “We will use Mandatum’s financing to accelerate the implementation of our growth strategy and to deepen our business development expertise”. Mandatum Asset Management’s head of private equity, Alexander Antas, added: “With our investment, Oddlygood Global will be able to accelerate the implementation of its growth strategy by developing its means of production, expanding its marketing efforts and hiring new professionals with global growth in mind. We will also be joining the company’s board of directors and working actively with Oddlygood’s management team.” Oddlygood products are currently sold in the UK and Europe, with US sales scheduled to begin in early 2022. #Finland #OddlygoodGlobal #Valio

Plant-based food business VBites, owned by Heather Mills, has sold its 25.1% stake in the company to Intersnack owner Pfeifer & Langen. The investment – which was completed by Pfeifer & Langen’s New Food division – signals the launch of a strategic partnership between the two companies. VBites produces plant-based alternatives in the meat, fish and dairy-free sectors, while Pfeifer & Langen is a German plant ingredients ‘farm to fork’ manufacturer. The initial focus of the new partnership will be to accelerate the growth of VBites’ plant-based cheeses and fishless fish products. VBites’ meat-free segment will also be a focus due to demand in the market for its range of plant protein isolates, including faba, quinoa, chickpea, soy and algae. Heather Mills, founder of VBites, said: “We are delighted to have found a partner that shares our values and ambition for the plant-based movement. Pfeifer & Langen specialise in the procurement and refinement of raw ingredients for their food businesses and understand the importance of controlling your own supply chain – especially with global ingredient shortages set to be a consistent challenge for the plant-based and food markets over the next 10-20 years.” She added: “VBites’ output has doubled in the last 12 months and with that growth set to continue we are also very pleased to be working with a partner that specialises in large-scale food manufacturing”. #Intersnack #PfeiferampLangen #VBites

Natural health food brand Good4U has released a new range of toppers, designed to be sprinkled on salads, soups and sandwiches for added nutrition. Good4U’s Sprouted Salad Topper portfolio includes its ready-to-eat product, Super Sprouts, which is a blend of broccoli, alfalfa, clover, and radish sprouts with a delicate hint of spice. The Lentil Sprout mix blends nutritious lentils, peas, and beans in a 90g portion containing 12g of protein. These packs are available for an RRP of £1.55 in Waitrose and £1.25 in Sainsbury’s. The brands’ versatile Salad Topper pouches include savoury Super Seeds, a mix of tamari roasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin and British-grown green peas, aromatic Garlic and Herb, a mix of crunchy edamame beans, nutty seeds and home-grown peas and beans, and spicy Garlic and Chilli seed varieties – made with sweet red peppers, chilli roasted seeds, smoky chipotle, and a sprinkle of kale. Each 25g pack is available for an RRP of £2, with selected products available across Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Ocado. Good4U’s toppers are 100% natural, high in protein and fibre, plant-based and contain essential vitamins and minerals. #Good4U #UK

Urban farming company Infarm has raised $200 million in Series D funding, as it looks to accelerate the global expansion of its climate-resilient vertical farms. The round included participation from existing and new investors, including Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Partners in Equity, Hanaco, Atomico, Lightrock and Bonnier. Infarm will use the investment to scale the deployment of its vertical farms in the US, Canada, Japan and Europe, while supporting its entry into new markets in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Infarm has also said it will open its first Growing Centre in Qatar in 2023, where it will produce tomatoes, strawberries and other fruiting crops alongside herbs, salads and leafy greens. Growing Centres connect multiple vertical farming modules and offer “the equivalent of about 110,000ft2 of growing capacity, with a distribution centre that ensures quick delivery to supermarkets”. Erez Galonska, co-founder and CEO of Infarm, said: “The current food system is broken. Vertical farming and the Infarm system provide a sustainable solution to feed a growing population in a way that’s much better for the planet and is far more resilient and flexible in the face of climate uncertainty and supply chain disruption.” “Building a global farming network of our climate-resilient vertical farms is a core mission at Infarm, which is why we’re excited to announce this latest funding round. This strategic investment will support our rapid global expansion and bolster our R&D so that we can grow more varieties of crops close to consumers across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.” He continued: “It’s another step towards meeting our ambition of growing the entire fruit and vegetable basket in the near future, providing premium products at affordable prices to everyone”. #Infarm #Urbanfarming #verticalfarming