LoveRaw has expanded its line of plant-based Cre&m Wafer Bars with the launch of what it claims is the world’s first vegan Salted Caramel Cre&m Wafer Bar. The new edition, which supports the company’s expansion plans, is filled with the brand’s salted caramel cre&m filling, contains a vegan caramel coating and is sprinkled with LoveRaw’s own vegan chocolate. LoveRaw’s Salted Caramel Cre&m Wafer Bar joins the brand’s vegan range of milk chocolate bars, white chocolate cream wafer bars and hazelnut cream filled wafer bars. LoveRaw’s co-founder, Manav Thapar, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our range of Cre&m Wafer Bars, following the huge success and popularity of LoveRaw’s M:lk and White Choc editions”. “The Salted Caramel Cre&m Wafer Bar is our latest innovation and is part of our accelerated growth plan and mission to be the best tasting vegan chocolate in the UK.” The offering is available at Amazon, The Vegan Kind, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market and Spar stores with an RRP of £1.69 per bar. #Loveraw #UK #vegan

Plant-based superfood company Laird Superfood has announced that Paul Hodge will step down from his role as president and CEO, and transition to a non-executive position once a successor has been named. Laird’s board of directors has already commenced the search for Hodge’s replacement, and they are seeking someone with experience in scaling consumer packaged goods (CPG). “It has been a privilege to lead this company for the past six years and I’m extremely proud of all we’ve accomplished together,” said Hodge. “In a short period of time, we’ve gone from ideation to creating a leading consumer brand and dominant omnichannel platform while staying true to our values around high-quality, natural ingredients and sustainability. “My deep passion for this Company is widely known as is my commitment to its long-term success for all stakeholders. As a large shareholder myself, I recognise the benefit that complementary platform expertise would bring to accelerating growth on the path to becoming the multi-billion dollar business to which we aspire.” He continued: “So the search is underway for a person who shares our passion, vision and values for the Laird Superfood brand along with possessing other key attributes including large CPG experience. I thank you all for your support. The next chapter of growth for Laird Superfood is underway, it’s going to be an exciting journey.” Geoffrey Barker, chairman of the board of directors added: “We are grateful for Paul’s vision in inventing and building the Laird Superfood brand from the ground up, and his leadership throughout a period of rapid growth. He and his team have created significant value for our customers and shareholders.” “On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Paul for his efforts in making Laird Superfood the unique, dynamic company it is today, well-positioned for substantial long-term growth. Paul will remain a valued member of the company’s board of directors and we look forward to continuing our work together.” #LairdSuperfood #plantbased #US

Rebbl, a US producer of organic plant-based functional beverages, has announced the launch of two new product lines. Available in four flavours – root beer, mandarin orange, blackberry and ginger lime – the new Rebbl Pop is a sparkling prebiotic soda that aims to support immunity and digestive health. The new certified-organic beverages are free from gluten, and contain only 50 calories and 5g of sugar. “We’re excited to bring a better-for-you alternative to the soda category,” said Bonnie Neulight, chief marketing and innovation officer at Rebbl. “Rebbl Pop is the answer to the soda drinker’s dilemma. With Rebbl Pop there are no more feelings of guilt nor yearning for taste.” Meanwhile, Rebbl Stacked Coffee is a ‘plant-powered’ ready-to-drink cold brew beverage that combines caffeine with L-theanine. Made with oat milk and functional ingredients such as lion’s mane mushrooms, the new offering aims to support focus, immunity and energy. The organic drink comes in four flavours – cafe mocha, vanilla latte, hazelnut latte and straight black – all of which are non-GMO, while also being free from dairy, soy and gluten. “We literally ‘stacked’ our best-tasting, fair trade coffee with premium function,” commented Neulight. Rebbl Pop and Rebbl Stacked Coffee are available online via the brand’s website and Amazon, as well as at Whole Foods Market stores across the US. #functionalbeverages #US #Rebbl #plantbased #Coldbrewcoffee

Mushroom-based meat alternatives company Fable Food has raised AUD 6.5 million (approx. $4.8 million) in seed funding, as it looks to expand its production globally. The seed funding round was led by Blackbird Ventures, with participation from VC AgFunder, sustainability-focused Aera VC, Better Bite Ventures, Singapore-based Ban Choon Marketing and former Sequoia Capital partner, Warren Hogarth. Founded in 2019, the Sydney-based start-up plans to use its new capital on continued research and product development, as well as to expand its production and manufacturing capacity globally. After having already launched in Singapore and the UK, Fable Food is now preparing to arrive in the United States by the end of this year. Fable Food’s co-founder and CEO, Michael Fox, said: “We’re thrilled to have partners dedicated to creating a more sustainable future, and who believe in our mission to help people reduce their meat consumption and ultimately end industrial animal agriculture”. “Thanks to the backing and support of Blackbird Ventures, AgFunder and all of our investors, we will be able to bring our delicious, clean, and responsibly crafted meaty mushroom products to more people around the world. “We’re continually developing delicious meaty mushroom products to make it as easy as possible for people to eat less meat. We want to inspire people to make more healthy and sustainable food choices, and we believe that people shouldn’t have to compromise on taste or quality to do so.” Late last year, Fable Food released a range of ready meals made with its plant-based braised beef product. #US #meatalternatives #Australia #UK #Singapore #plantbased #FableFood

Plant-based cheese maker Good Planet Foods has introduced new ‘snackable’ vegan cheese wedges. The ‘creamy’ plant-based wedges are individually wrapped for portability and can be enjoyed as a snack, in a lunchbox or as part of a charcuterie board. According to Good Planet Foods, its wedges are made with simple ingredients such as coconut oil and plant proteins, and are free from gluten, soy and lactose. Three varieties are available – original, pepper jack and smoked gouda – each of which is keto-friendly. “The plant-based cheese segment is growing extremely fast, but the potential is far greater than we are seeing,” said Good Planet co-CEO, Bart Adlam. “We are committed to growing the segment by making it easy for consumers to make a sustainable choice and choose plant-based. With this innovation, we are delivering an allergen-free, keto-certified, plant-based snackable cheese wedge that delivers all the creaminess, satisfaction and taste of dairy cheese.” The new offering comes in 4oz packs of six wedges and is available for $4.99 at HyVee, Wakefern and other grocery retailers. Last year, Good Planet secured $12 million in a Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Cleveland Avenue. #Dairyalternatives #GoodPlanetFoods #US

Plant-based food manufacturer Alpha Foods has introduced five new products, including breakfast sandwiches and burritos. Alpha’s latest breakfast offerings are said to be “perfect for quick mornings on the go” and contain around 15g of protein. The new Alpha Breakfast Burritos include: Protein Supreme, featuring meatless sausage crumble, plant-based bacon strips, seasoned tofu scramble and dairy-free cheddar; Bac’n Scramble, with tofu scramble, crispy meatless bacon and spicy dairy-free cheese; and Rockin Ranchero, combining tofu scramble and savoury sauce with spicy dairy-free cheese. Meanwhile, two new English muffin Breakfast Sandwiches are available: Sausage Original, featuring seasoned meatless sausage patty, plant-based egg fold and dairy-free cheese; and Spicy Chorizo, with meatless chorizo, plant-based egg fold and dairy-free cheese. The new breakfast offerings are available in Costco and Safeway, as well as online. #AlphaFoods #meatalternatives #plantbased

Australian meat alternatives company V2food has raised €45 million in a Series B extension round to bring its plant-based products to Europe and China. Based in Sydney, V2food produces a range of alternative protein products, including plant-based burgers and sausages made from legumes. Launched in 2019, V2food worked with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Agency (CSIRO) to create products that aim to mimic the taste and high protein, iron and vitamin B content of meat. The company’s offerings are free from GMOs, as well as artificial colours and flavourings. “We’ve drawn upon the best food, nutrition and sustainability science from CSIRO to develop a sustainable and nutritious product, with an unmatched texture and flavour,” said Nick Hazell, founder and CEO of V2food. The company has also developed a production process that allows its products to be made in any standard meat production facility. The extension round brings V2food’s total Series B funding to €92 million following a raise last year and was led by Astanor Ventures, V2food’s first European investor. The investment from Belgium-based Astanor comes as V2 looks to expand into Europe, while the round was also joined by ‘one of China’s largest delivery platforms’, offering V2 the opportunity to distribute products to consumers across its network. V2food recently hired its first China-based general manager and has developed new products aimed specifically at the Chinese market. The Series B extension round was also backed by existing investors such as Main Sequence, ABC World Asia and Esenargo, which will reportedly help support the company’s expansion into China. Hazell continued: “We are delighted to bring Astanor on board and are grateful for the continuous support from our returning investors. The company is speeding up product advancements and scaling up our business footprint. “This round enables us to continue our efforts improving and iterating our products and further grow the company in terms of scale, global competitiveness and business development.” #China #Europe #meatalternatives #v2food

The World Plant-Based Awards 2021, in association with Plant Based World Expo and sponsored by ADM, are now live! Following the success of FoodBev’s inaugural World Plant-Based Awards in 2020, we are excited to launch the second edition of this upcoming event, which pays homage to the most innovative companies in this fast-paced industry. A live ceremony will be held during this year’s Plant Based World Expo in New York, US, on Thursday 9 December, to recognise and celebrate excellence across every sector of the burgeoning global plant-based sector. Last year, the judging panel considered over 220 entries from all corners of the globe, and despite the coronavirus pandemic, the winners and finalists were announced during an exclusive virtual ceremony hosted in association with Plant Based World Expo. Matthew Rushton, marketing manager at FoodBev Media said: “When we decided to launch the World Plant-Based Awards scheme in 2019, we had a feeling it would be a success. We could not have foreseen the circumstances of the past year, but we were thrilled these conditions did not stifle innovation, and delighted to receive significant interest from companies across the food and beverage industry.” “This December, we are looking forward to hosting our first-ever live World Plant-Based Awards in New York, at Plant Based World Expo. I am excited to celebrate the raft of innovative plant-based products that are driving the sector forward.” There are 15 categories in total to enter, ranging from plant-based products and packaging, through to technology innovation and brand recognition. Smaller challenger brands and start-ups, and more established brands are all invited to enter your plant-based innovations. Entrants that submit their entries before September 3rd will also be entitled to our early bird discount, saving £55 on your regular entry price. With our small business rate options available the awards are now more accessible than ever before Have you launched an innovative new plant-based product or service? Find out more #WorldPlantBasedAwards2021 #WorldPlantBasedAwards #Food #awards #innovation #beverage #plantbased

A UK kombucha brand has secured its first retail listing with Booths supermarkets after unveiling its new name: Hip Pop. Originally launching in 2019 as Booch & Brew, the newly rebranded Hip Pop offers a portfolio of organic vegan kombucha – a gut-friendly, sparkling fermented soft drink. The brand’s kombucha line comes in four flavours: ginger & yuzu, strawberry & pineapple, blueberry & ginger, and elderflower & apple. The Booths retail listing reportedly comes after a period of online growth for the brand, which was supported by an investment in new brewing equipment following a crowdfunding campaign last November. The Cheshire-based drinks business says it has scaled production and increased its ecommerce sales by over 250% over the last six months. Emma Thackray, co-founder of Hip Pop, said: “We believe one of the best ways in which we can achieve both brand recognition and long-term growth is by expanding our gut-focused product line under the new Hip Pop name and working directly with leading retailers. “We are, therefore, really excited to have secured our first retail listing with such a well-known chain as Booths and look forward to building on this success and expanding our product range of functional health drinks in the near future.” Hip Hop expects its retail distribution to accelerate by 150% over the next 12 months and plans to release a new line of products in the UK and overseas at the beginning of 2022. #Booths #HipPop #kombucha #UK

Glebe Farm Foods has won its legal battle against Oatly after the Swedish oat milk company took it to court over trademark infringement claims. Today, the judge rejected Oatly’s claims of trademark infringement and passing off – finding no likelihood of confusion between Glebe Farm’s PureOaty sign and carton and any of the Oatly trademarks. Oatly took the UK manufacturer to court over claims that its use of the PureOaty name for its gluten-free oat milk and packaging redesign was too similar and “intended to take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the Oatly trademarks”. The court hearing examined wide ranging aspects of the beverage including the choice of language and typefaces, the use of the colour blue, and the detail of a coffee cup on its pack. The judge also ruled against Oatly’s allegation that Glebe Farm intended to gain some unfair advantage. Phillip Rayner, owner and managing director of Glebe Farm, said: “We have had the threat of this court case – which has pitched our challenger brand against Oatly’s multinational business – looming over us for more than a year. “It is enormously gratifying that the judge has ruled in our favour, and to see that smaller independent companies can fight back and win. The facts are that we have never wanted to be an Oatly clone. Pride in our own product aside, as British farmers we do not agree with any brand that comes across as anti-farming in its approach.” According to a statement by Oatly: “The court ruled in favour of Glebe Farm, the judge recognised Oatly’s strong brand and uniqueness but felt the similarities weren’t enough to rule in our favour. “We’ve collected the main documents of the case for you to read as it was presented to the court. The reason is because we believe in transparency and we want you to be able to form your own opinion about the case.” #Oatly #dairyfree #Oatmilk #trademarkprotection #GlebeFarmFoods

Sleep Well has rolled out its new vegan oat sleep aid beverage in Holland & Barrett stores across the UK. The non-dairy version joins the brand’s vanilla and chocolate-flavoured milk drinks. Like these beverages, Sleep Well Oat Drink contains valerian – a herb which is proven to help people relax and enjoy a better night’s sleep. Following extensive product development, the brand launched its non-dairy oat beverage earlier this year. The oat bedtime drink is now available exclusively in 800 Holland & Barrett stores, as well as online. Sam Watts, co-founder of Sleep Well, said: “Securing this exclusive listing with Holland & Barrett gives people who are allergic to or choose not to consume dairy the chance to enjoy Sleep Well as part of a positive and healthy bedtime routine.” Sleep Well says the oat beverage can be drunk chilled or warmed, 30 minutes before you want to sleep as part of a healthy bedtime routine. Suitable for all ages over 12 months, the 200ml cartons have a long shelf life. Watts continued: “Improving quality of sleep makes a huge difference to how we feel, how we behave and what we can achieve every day. A good night’s sleep is also known to have a positive impact on our immune system. Investing in a proper bedtime routine, and sticking to it, is vital to getting the good night’s sleep you deserve.” Georgina Stoddart, assistant category manager food at Holland & Barrett, said: “With sleep and overall wellness being a big focus for the nation we are delighted to be able to stock a product that can really help people manage their bedtime routine, getting them relaxed for a restful night.” #sleep #UK #SleepWell #dairyfree #Oatmilk

Actual Veggies, a maker of ‘veggie-only’ burgers, has closed a $2.3 million funding round to increase brand awareness and expand its range. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Actual Veggies claims that its burgers are filled with wholesome ingredients – including vegetables, legumes and spices – and are free from fillers and preservatives. The company’s portfolio currently includes four burger varieties and Actual Veggies says that it is working to introduce new offerings, including seasonal products. Investors in the company’s latest funding round include Electric Feel Ventures, Big Idea Ventures, Rose Street Capital and professional footballer, Kieran Gibbs. Actual Veggies plans to use the new funds to expand its portfolio, invest in new equipment to streamline production and increase brand awareness through marketing. “Since we launched the company, it’s been an incredible whirlwind and despite the challenges of 2020, we made it a reality,” said Hailey Swartz, co-founder and co-CEO of Actual Veggies. “The growth we have seen over the past few months far exceeded our expectations as we expanded nationally with partners including Sprouts Farmers Market, HungryRoot, Imperfect Foods, Sunbasket, QVC and FreshDirect. We are humbled by our new partners’ shared excitement and look forward to building off our success to further scale Actual Veggies.” Andrew D Ive, founder of Big Idea Ventures, added: “We initially invested in Actual Veggies because we knew they had a great concept that would fill a significant gap consumers and retailers were looking for, a plant-based burger that not only tastes great but is actually clean and healthy.” #ActualVeggies #BigIdeaVentures #US