US plant-based company Califia Farms has announced the nationwide distribution of its line of plant butters, as it looks to capitalise on consumer demand for vegan butter alternatives. Known for its plant-based milk, creamers and cold brew coffee, the plant-based butter alternative marks the company’s first product outside the beverage category. The cashew and tiger nut-based butters are available in two flavours: sea salt with avocado oil, and sea salt with olive oil. They contain no canola or palm oil, soy or GMOs. Califia Farms launched the range earlier this summer but both varieties are now available nationally at Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Target, among other retailers. Each 8oz tub retails at $4.99. “With people of all generations – especially Gen Z – eating more plant-based foods, now is the perfect time to introduce more delicious, plant-based options that fit seamlessly into their lifestyle,” said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer at Califia Farms. “Our Plant Butters spread, melt and bake just like dairy butter, but have a clean label and high quality ingredients. We will continue to innovate and introduce products that are better for people and the planet.” #CalifiaFarms #dairyfree #plantbasedbutter #US

US plant-based company Califia Farms has announced the nationwide distribution of its line of plant butters, as it looks to capitalise on consumer demand for vegan butter alternatives. Known for its plant-based milk, creamers and cold brew coffee, the plant-based butter alternative marks the company’s first product outside the beverage category. The cashew and tiger nut-based butters are available in two flavours: sea salt with avocado oil, and sea salt with olive oil. They contain no canola or palm oil, soy or GMOs. Califia Farms launched the range earlier this summer but both varieties are now available nationally at Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Target, among other retailers. Each 8oz tub retails at $4.99. "With people of all generations – especially Gen Z – eating more plant-based foods, now is the perfect time to introduce more delicious, plant-based options that fit seamlessly into their lifestyle,” said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer at Califia Farms. “Our Plant Butters spread, melt and bake just like dairy butter, but have a clean label and high quality ingredients. We will continue to innovate and introduce products that are better for people and the planet."

Plant-based snacks maker, Biena Snacks, is expanding its portfolio with the launch of Keto Puffs in the US. Made from a simple list of ingredients, including chickpeas and lentils, the plant-based snacks are free from gluten, grains and dairy. According to Biena, its new non-GMO offering is made with pea hull fibre to bring down the net carb count, making the puffs ketogenic diet compliant. Biena Snacks CEO and founder, Poorvi Patodia, said: “We created this product for two reasons. First, the consumer response to our Chickpea Puffs launch last year was incredible – fans were drawn to the low-carb and high-protein content. And second, we saw a major void in the keto snack market – everything was meat and cheese. “Keto Puffs are a complimentary addition to the Puffs line, bringing a delicious option to consumers following a keto or low-carb diet. With this launch, we’re excited to continue our mission of reinventing the snack aisle by creating products that are made with the best plant-based nutrition.” Biena Keto Puffs will be available, for $3.99 per 2oz bag, at Whole Foods Market from 28 October, as well as via the company’s website, and the snacks launch on Amazon in January. The puffs will also be available in a six-count case on bienasnacks.com. Last year, Biena secured $8 million in Series B financing led by MAW Investments. #BienaSnacks #Keto #US

Plant-based snacks maker, Biena Snacks, is expanding its portfolio with the launch of Keto Puffs in the US. Made from a simple list of ingredients, including chickpeas and lentils, the plant-based snacks are free from gluten, grains and dairy. According to Biena, its new non-GMO offering is made with pea hull fibre to bring down the net carb count, making the puffs ketogenic diet compliant. Biena Snacks CEO and founder, Poorvi Patodia, said: “We created this product for two reasons. First, the consumer response to our Chickpea Puffs launch last year was incredible – fans were drawn to the low-carb and high-protein content. And second, we saw a major void in the keto snack market – everything was meat and cheese. "Keto Puffs are a complimentary addition to the Puffs line, bringing a delicious option to consumers following a keto or low-carb diet. With this launch, we're excited to continue our mission of reinventing the snack aisle by creating products that are made with the best plant-based nutrition.” Biena Keto Puffs will be available, for $3.99 per 2oz bag, at Whole Foods Market from 28 October, as well as via the company’s website, and the snacks launch on Amazon in January. The puffs will also be available in a six-count case on bienasnacks.com. Last year, Biena secured $8 million in Series B financing led by MAW Investments.

Finnebrogue Artisan, a UK producer of meat products including Naked nitrite-free bacon, is building a new factory for plant-based food. The Northern Ireland company says that it is investing £25 million in the project which will create 300 new jobs. According to Finnebrogue, the move comes amid “surging” demand for plant-based food from customers in Britain. Finnebrogue will be launching a portfolio of plant-based products in January, and it says that these are expected to fall under a more diverse Naked brand. A spokesman for the company said: “This state-of-the-art factory, combined with some extraordinary technological leaps in new product development, will enable us to make nutritionally balanced, delicious and sustainable plant-based food that’s virtually indistinguishable from the meat we will be imitating. It is a tantalising prospect for flexitarians up and down the United Kingdom.” The plant will be Finnebrogue’s fourth new factory in five years and will take the company’s head count to 1,200 by the end of 2021. George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “I am very pleased that Finnebrogue’s brand new investment will provide a valuable boost to local employment opportunities in Northern Ireland, advancing the company’s ambition to create and promote fantastic and affordable UK food.” #FinnebrogueArtisan #NorthernIreland #plantbased #UK

Finnebrogue Artisan, a UK producer of meat products including Naked nitrite-free bacon, is building a new factory for plant-based food. The Northern Ireland company says that it is investing £25 million in the project which will create 300 new jobs. According to Finnebrogue, the move comes amid “surging” demand for plant-based food from customers in Britain. Finnebrogue will be launching a portfolio of plant-based products in January, and it says that these are expected to fall under a more diverse Naked brand. A spokesman for the company said: “This state-of-the-art factory, combined with some extraordinary technological leaps in new product development, will enable us to make nutritionally balanced, delicious and sustainable plant-based food that’s virtually indistinguishable from the meat we will be imitating. It is a tantalising prospect for flexitarians up and down the United Kingdom.” The plant will be Finnebrogue’s fourth new factory in five years and will take the company’s head count to 1,200 by the end of 2021. George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “I am very pleased that Finnebrogue’s brand new investment will provide a valuable boost to local employment opportunities in Northern Ireland, advancing the company’s ambition to create and promote fantastic and affordable UK food.”

Plant-based egg substitute producer, Eat Just, has partnered with an investment consortium to establish a plant protein production facility in Singapore that will serve the Asian market. The consortium, led by Proterra Investment Partners Asia, will provide up to $100 million in funding to build and operate the factory, while Eat Just will invest up to $20 million. The resulting Eat Just subsidiary – Eat Just Asia – will serve Just Egg manufacturing and distribution partners across the continent. Just Egg is a plant-based, dairy-free product which reportedly mimics the properties of egg. The egg alternative is made with protein derived from mung beans and is available in pourable liquid and pre-baked patty formats. Eat Just also offers a mayonnaise substitute. The new factory, the company’s first in Asia, will generate thousands of metric tons of protein, according to Eat Just. “This partnership will further accelerate our path to become one of the world’s largest producers of eggs in the next decade,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just. “Proterra’s experience across sourcing and manufacturing will be invaluable. Consumer demand, driven by health, food security and food safety, is creating an environment of extraordinary opportunity for this unique partnership.” Tai Lin, managing partner of Proterra Asia, added: “Proterra is excited to announce this collaboration to form a strategic alliance with Eat Just for Asia; we would like to help consumers across Asia get better access to the excellent plant-based egg product by establishing a fully integrated supply chain within Eat Just Asia.” Outside of the Just Egg protein partnership, Eat Just and Proterra Asia are said to be in discussions to expand their alliance to encompass the commercial production of cultured meat. Earlier this year, Eat Just partnered with Michael Foods, a subsidiary of Post Holdings, to scale up supply of Just Egg in the US. #ProterraInvestmentPartnersAsia #Just #Asia #Singapore #JustEgg

Nestlé has raised its full-year guidance after beating third-quarter expectations with 4.9% organic growth, driven by strong performance by its health products and pet food. While the company previously expected organic growth of 2-3% for the year, Nestlé has now signalled the top range with full-year organic sales growth guidance of around 3%. Strong momentum in the Americas, Nestlé Health Science and Purine PetCare helped offset a slump in the company’s out-of-home sales. For the nine month period, Nestlé’s organic sales grew by 3.5% to CHF 61.9 billion ($68.4 billion). Sales in the Americas zone stood at CHF 25 billion ($27.6 billion), representing 5.1% organic growth. Growth was also supported by the acceleration of Nestlé’s at-home coffee business in the third quarter, with particular demand for Starbucks products, Nespresso and Nescafé. The Swiss giant’s vegetarian and plant-based food products witnessed strong double-digit growth, as did its Nestlé Health Science business. Dairy grew at a high single-digit rate, based on increased demand for fortified milks and home-baking products. Meanwhile, sales of confectionery and water decreased due to their high exposure to out-of-home channels and on-the-go consumption. The maker of KitKat and Quality Street also saw its ecommerce sales grow by 47.6%, reaching 12.3% of total group sales. According to Nestlé, its current strategic reviews – including its North American water unit and Yinlu peanut milk and canned porridge businesses in China – are fully on track, with further progress in its portfolio management made. “We continue to develop our portfolio with speed and discipline. As an example, we are transforming Nestlé Health Science into a nutrition and health powerhouse through a combination of strong organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The recent additions of Zenpep, Vital Proteins and Aimmune Therapeutics are further steps in the expansion of our nutritional health offerings,” said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO. #Nestlé #US #NestléHealthScience #Starbucks #plantbased

Plant-based egg substitute producer, Eat Just, has partnered with an investment consortium to establish a plant protein production facility in Singapore that will serve the Asian market. The consortium, led by Proterra Investment Partners Asia, will provide up to $100 million in funding to build and operate the factory, while Eat Just will invest up to $20 million. The resulting Eat Just subsidiary – Eat Just Asia – will serve Just Egg manufacturing and distribution partners across the continent. Just Egg is a plant-based, dairy-free product which reportedly mimics the properties of egg. The egg alternative is made with protein derived from mung beans and is available in pourable liquid and pre-baked patty formats. Eat Just also offers a mayonnaise substitute. The new factory, the company’s first in Asia, will generate thousands of metric tons of protein, according to Eat Just. “This partnership will further accelerate our path to become one of the world's largest producers of eggs in the next decade,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just. “Proterra’s experience across sourcing and manufacturing will be invaluable. Consumer demand, driven by health, food security and food safety, is creating an environment of extraordinary opportunity for this unique partnership.” Tai Lin, managing partner of Proterra Asia, added: “Proterra is excited to announce this collaboration to form a strategic alliance with Eat Just for Asia; we would like to help consumers across Asia get better access to the excellent plant-based egg product by establishing a fully integrated supply chain within Eat Just Asia.” Outside of the Just Egg protein partnership, Eat Just and Proterra Asia are said to be in discussions to expand their alliance to encompass the commercial production of cultured meat. Earlier this year, Eat Just partnered with Michael Foods, a subsidiary of Post Holdings, to scale up supply of Just Egg in the US.

Australian start-up V2food has raised AUD $77 million ($54.5 million approx.) in Series B funding to grow its plant-based meat operation. The company, which officially launched in October 2019, worked with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO to create products that “look like meat, cook like meat and taste like meat”. Made using protein extracted from legumes, V2food’s ‘mince’ contains added fibre and nutrients. Main Sequence Ventures and Horizons Ventures were among the supporters of V2food’s Series A round to now back its Series B financing push. They were joined by new investors including ABC World Asia, Altitude Partners, China Renaissance, Esenagro, Novel Investments and Temasek. Sydney-headquartered V2food claims that the funding round marks the largest to date in Australia’s plant-based meat sector. According to V2food, the new investment will enable it to complete its production facility in Wodonga, grow its team, and continue to launch products into new markets, including Asia. “As we enter our next phase of growth, we are grateful to have the support of world-renowned investors who share our urgent mission of solving the global food challenge,” said V2food founder and CEO Nick Hazell, who previously served as research director with Mars and then PepsiCo. “V2food has had a global view since our founding, and this investment will help us establish our business in Asia, Europe and the rest of the world.” Phil Morle, partner at Main Sequence Ventures, added: “V2 has gone from strength to strength, and we’re delighted to continue to help Nick and the team take on the global challenge of producing Australian-made plant-based meat that is delicious and environmentally sustainable. “In this round, we are pleased to be joined by an assembly of world-class investors to support the company’s international export ambitions.” #Australia #meatalternatives #v2food

Nestlé has raised its full-year guidance after beating third-quarter expectations with 4.9% organic growth, driven by strong performance by its health products and pet food. While the company previously expected organic growth of 2-3% for the year, Nestlé has now signalled the top range with full-year organic sales growth guidance of around 3%. Strong momentum in the Americas, Nestlé Health Science and Purine PetCare helped offset a slump in the company’s out-of-home sales. For the nine month period, Nestlé’s organic sales grew by 3.5% to CHF 61.9 billion ($68.4 billion). Sales in the Americas zone stood at CHF 25 billion ($27.6 billion), representing 5.1% organic growth. Growth was also supported by the acceleration of Nestlé’s at-home coffee business in the third quarter, with particular demand for Starbucks products, Nespresso and Nescafé. The Swiss giant’s vegetarian and plant-based food products witnessed strong double-digit growth, as did its Nestlé Health Science business. Dairy grew at a high single-digit rate, based on increased demand for fortified milks and home-baking products. Meanwhile, sales of confectionery and water decreased due to their high exposure to out-of-home channels and on-the-go consumption. The maker of KitKat and Quality Street also saw its ecommerce sales grow by 47.6%, reaching 12.3% of total group sales. According to Nestlé, its current strategic reviews – including its North American water unit and Yinlu peanut milk and canned porridge businesses in China – are fully on track, with further progress in its portfolio management made. “We continue to develop our portfolio with speed and discipline. As an example, we are transforming Nestlé Health Science into a nutrition and health powerhouse through a combination of strong organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The recent additions of Zenpep, Vital Proteins and Aimmune Therapeutics are further steps in the expansion of our nutritional health offerings,” said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO.

Australian start-up V2food has raised AUD $77 million ($54.5 million approx.) in Series B funding to grow its plant-based meat operation. The company, which officially launched in October 2019, worked with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO to create products that “look like meat, cook like meat and taste like meat”. Made using protein extracted from legumes, V2food’s ‘mince’ contains added fibre and nutrients. Main Sequence Ventures and Horizons Ventures were among the supporters of V2food’s Series A round to now back its Series B financing push. They were joined by new investors including ABC World Asia, Altitude Partners, China Renaissance, Esenagro, Novel Investments and Temasek. Sydney-headquartered V2food claims that the funding round marks the largest to date in Australia’s plant-based meat sector. According to V2food, the new investment will enable it to complete its production facility in Wodonga, grow its team, and continue to launch products into new markets, including Asia. “As we enter our next phase of growth, we are grateful to have the support of world-renowned investors who share our urgent mission of solving the global food challenge,” said V2food founder and CEO Nick Hazell, who previously served as research director with Mars and then PepsiCo. “V2food has had a global view since our founding, and this investment will help us establish our business in Asia, Europe and the rest of the world.” Phil Morle, partner at Main Sequence Ventures, added: “V2 has gone from strength to strength, and we’re delighted to continue to help Nick and the team take on the global challenge of producing Australian-made plant-based meat that is delicious and environmentally sustainable. “In this round, we are pleased to be joined by an assembly of world-class investors to support the company’s international export ambitions.”