Winterbotham Darby-owned Squeaky Bean has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of vegan Roast Chicken Flavour Sandwich Slices. High in protein, the plant-based brand’s latest offering is mad e from ingredients including wheat, tofu and herbs. The new slices are said to be ‘perfect’ for making a flavourful sandwich filling or salad accompaniment, or for eating straight from the pack. The new product, which is packaged in a recyclable paper container with a peelable film lid, joins Squeaky Bean’s existing range of Pastrami and Ham Style Slices. “Squeaky Bean is your sidekick in the kitchen, with these wonderfully versatile and flavourful Roast Chicken Flavour Slices that are sure to challenge negative perceptions of vegan food,” said Squeaky Bean co-creator, Sarah Augustine. “Adding a deliciously moreish filling to sandwiches has never been easier – that’s if you can resist eating the slices straight from the pack.” The new product is available, for an RRP of £2.50 per 90g pack, from 221 Sainsbury’s stores in the UK, and will be rolling out to 155 Waitrose stores on 30 September. Earlier this year, Squeaky Bean launched a ready-to-eat plant-based tortilla, which it said was the first of its kind on the UK market. The brand’s parent company, Winterbotham Darby, recently announced that it had transformed one of its sites into a dedicated plant-based manufacturing facility, following a multi-million-pound investment.

Holy Moly, known for its avocado dips, has entered a new category with the launch of a range of cold-pressed Nutshakes across the UK. The vegan, gluten-free Nutshakes are low in fat and are made from a blend of raw unpasteurised almond mylk and fresh fruit. Holy Moly aims to disrupt the ready-to-drink category through its cold-pressed production process which it says retains the nutritional value of the natural ingredients and delivers a 30-day chilled shelf life without the need for preservatives. With an average of 73 calories per 150ml serving, the range features three varieties: Strawberry Almond, Chocolate Almond and Banana Almond. The plant-based brand claims its new products are the only range of cold-pressed Nutshakes in the UK and have around a third less sugar than smoothies and up to 90% less saturated fat than some traditional dairy milkshakes. Tom Walker, co-founder of Holy Moly Nutshakes, said: “We are committed to innovation and disrupting the food and drink industry by providing consumers and retailers with more choice. We’ve had success with Dips, bringing an all-natural, branded, plant-based product range to a stagnant category. By launching Nutshakes in Sainsbury’s, we will be applying the same level of innovation to the ready-to-drink market. “The Nutshakes are unlike anything else on the market. The product is made from a blend of raw, unpasteurised almond mylk and fresh fruit. We don’t heat pasteurise the nut mylk and instead use a cutting edge cold-press production process that retains the nutritional value of the natural ingredients to deliver the optimum health benefits.” All three flavours of Holy Moly’s Nutshakes will launch in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide for an RRP of £3.80 and £2.00 for 750ml and 250ml bottles, respectively. #coldpressed #HolyMoly #plantbaseddairy #UK

Plant-based chicken brand Daring has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round, led by venture capital firm Maveron. The US brand claims to offer the “cleanest plant-based chicken on the market that gets as close as possible to the taste and texture of the real thing”. According to Daring, the capital raised in its latest financing push will be used to support the brand’s expansion in retail and foodservice. Additional funds will be spent on marketing and staffing. As well as Maveron, Stray Dog Capital, GoodFriends, and Palm Tree Crew Investments all participated in the round. Private investors including Stitch Fix CFO, Mike Smith, and Brian Swette, former chair of Burger King, are also said to have backed Daring’s latest funding efforts. In conjunction with the investment round, Daring is launching a new product, Breaded Daring Pieces. Daring is introducing a new breaded variant to its range. Free from GMOs and gluten, Daring’s latest offering joins Original, Cajun, and Lemon & Herb Pieces in the brand’s range. The new Breaded Pieces are available online via the company’s website, and from retailers including Gelson’s, Bristol Farms, and Fresh Thyme. “We are excited to have attracted a group of investors that have been involved in building monumental consumer businesses and we will leverage this investment to continue our growth in an ever-changing, competitive landscape,” said Daring CEO and co-founder, Ross Mackay. “This gets us a huge step closer to mitigating the negative impact of the poultry industry on the planet and human health.” Dan Levitan, managing partner and co-founder of Maveron, added: “We are always looking to partner with entrepreneurs that are building the next generation in consumer products. Daring’s co-founders have a massive mission and the product exceeded our expectations in every capacity – taste, texture, and clean ingredients. “We are in the early innings of the plant-based movement. The next wave of plant-based alternatives needs to be significantly less processed with a cleaner ingredient profile to win the hearts, minds and stomachs of consumers. We are confident that Daring will emerge as a leader in the space.” #Daring #meatalternatives #StrayDogCapital #US

Holy Moly, known for its avocado dips, has entered a new category with the launch of a range of cold-pressed Nutshakes across the UK. The vegan, gluten-free Nutshakes are low in fat and are made from a blend of raw unpasteurised almond mylk and fresh fruit. Holy Moly aims to disrupt the ready-to-drink category through its cold-pressed production process which it says retains the nutritional value of the natural ingredients and delivers a 30-day chilled shelf life without the need for preservatives. With an average of 73 calories per 150ml serving, the range features three varieties: Strawberry Almond, Chocolate Almond and Banana Almond. The plant-based brand claims its new products are the only range of cold-pressed Nutshakes in the UK and have around a third less sugar than smoothies and up to 90% less saturated fat than some traditional dairy milkshakes. Tom Walker, co-founder of Holy Moly Nutshakes, said: “We are committed to innovation and disrupting the food and drink industry by providing consumers and retailers with more choice. We’ve had success with Dips, bringing an all-natural, branded, plant-based product range to a stagnant category. By launching Nutshakes in Sainsbury’s, we will be applying the same level of innovation to the ready-to-drink market. “The Nutshakes are unlike anything else on the market. The product is made from a blend of raw, unpasteurised almond mylk and fresh fruit. We don’t heat pasteurise the nut mylk and instead use a cutting edge cold-press production process that retains the nutritional value of the natural ingredients to deliver the optimum health benefits.” All three flavours of Holy Moly's Nutshakes will launch in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide for an RRP of £3.80 and £2.00 for 750ml and 250ml bottles, respectively.

Plant-based chicken brand Daring has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round, led by venture capital firm Maveron. The US brand claims to offer the “cleanest plant-based chicken on the market that gets as close as possible to the taste and texture of the real thing”. According to Daring, the capital raised in its latest financing push will be used to support the brand’s expansion in retail and foodservice. Additional funds will be spent on marketing and staffing. As well as Maveron, Stray Dog Capital, GoodFriends, and Palm Tree Crew Investments all participated in the round. Private investors including Stitch Fix CFO, Mike Smith, and Brian Swette, former chair of Burger King, are also said to have backed Daring’s latest funding efforts. In conjunction with the investment round, Daring is launching a new product, Breaded Daring Pieces. Free from GMOs and gluten, Daring’s latest offering joins Original, Cajun, and Lemon & Herb Pieces in the brand’s range. The new Breaded Pieces are available online via the company’s website, and from retailers including Gelson’s, Bristol Farms, and Fresh Thyme. “We are excited to have attracted a group of investors that have been involved in building monumental consumer businesses and we will leverage this investment to continue our growth in an ever-changing, competitive landscape,” said Daring CEO and co-founder, Ross Mackay. “This gets us a huge step closer to mitigating the negative impact of the poultry industry on the planet and human health.” Dan Levitan, managing partner and co-founder of Maveron, added: “We are always looking to partner with entrepreneurs that are building the next generation in consumer products. Daring’s co-founders have a massive mission and the product exceeded our expectations in every capacity – taste, texture, and clean ingredients. “We are in the early innings of the plant-based movement. The next wave of plant-based alternatives needs to be significantly less processed with a cleaner ingredient profile to win the hearts, minds and stomachs of consumers. We are confident that Daring will emerge as a leader in the space.”

Next Friday, FoodBev Media, in association with Plant Based World Conference & Expo, will present the World Plant-Based Awards (WPBA) 2020 live ceremony on FoodBev.com and on our FoodBev Media YouTube channel. The WPBA are in their inaugural year and are designed to celebrate excellence and innovation across every category of the global plant-based industry. This year, the judging panel considered 222 entries across 15 categories, from 24 different countries. FoodBev Media Marketing Manager, Matthew Rushton, said: “After witnessing the quality of entries in our first year hosting the World Plant-Based Awards, it is clear that innovation in this sector is booming. To see over 200 entries from around the world also confirms what we predicted, that not only is the plant-based market a truly international one, it is one that will continue to grow. “Our awards celebrate some of the most ambitious new plant-based products of 2020 from both established brands and start-ups. Whilst we would have loved to celebrate these successes at the Plant Based World Conference & Expo in New York, we can’t wait to watch the ceremony with you all on October 2.” The ceremony will premiere on our FoodBev Media YouTube channel, at 5pm BST on Friday 2 October. Don’t miss out! Subscribe to the FoodBev Media YouTube channel and turn notifications on. You can also stay in the loop by following FoodBev Media on our social media channels, and by subscribing to our range of industry newsletters. #innovation #WorldPlantBasedAwards #WorldPlantBasedAwards2020

Next Friday, FoodBev Media, in association with Plant Based World Conference & Expo, will present the World Plant-Based Awards (WPBA) 2020 live ceremony on FoodBev.com and on our FoodBev Media YouTube channel. The WPBA are in their inaugural year and are designed to celebrate excellence and innovation across every category of the global plant-based industry. This year, the judging panel considered 222 entries across 15 categories, from 24 different countries. FoodBev Media Marketing Manager, Matthew Rushton, said: “After witnessing the quality of entries in our first year hosting the World Plant-Based Awards, it is clear that innovation in this sector is booming. To see over 200 entries from around the world also confirms what we predicted, that not only is the plant-based market a truly international one, it is one that will continue to grow. “Our awards celebrate some of the most ambitious new plant-based products of 2020 from both established brands and start-ups. Whilst we would have loved to celebrate these successes at the Plant Based World Conference & Expo in New York, we can’t wait to watch the ceremony with you all on October 2.” The ceremony will premiere on our FoodBev Media YouTube channel, at 5pm BST on Friday 2 October. Don’t miss out! Subscribe to the FoodBev Media YouTube channel and turn notifications on. You can also stay in the loop by following FoodBev Media on our social media channels, and by subscribing to our range of industry newsletters.

UK start-up Re:Nourish has secured a ‘seven-figure’ investment to expand the distribution footprint of its on-the-go fresh soups. Founded in 2019 by former critical care nurse Nicci Clark, Re:Nourish claims to be the first soup brand in the world to have a heatable and fully recyclable bottle. The brand says that its range can be enjoyed hot or cold straight from the bottle, with no utensils required, or resealed and put back in a bag for later. The company says that it will look to use the new capital to increase marketing activity, including for an ad campaign at the end of September, as well as to fund growth into foodservice and major UK retailers. The brand will also be focusing on expansion into Europe. With the backing of this investment, Re:Nourish has already hired Steve Parsons to take on the position of head of foodservice and out of home. In this role, Parsons who previously held positions at Plenish, B.fresh and Pukka, will help with the export of Re:Nourish products into Europe. The brand’s latest capital raise was backed by Döhler Ventures and a private investment angel. “…we’ve secured a significant investment, which is a huge milestone for the business and I very much see this as an opportunity to further grow and disrupt the category,” said Re:Nourish founder, Nicci Clark. “With the help of Döhler Ventures and the private investment angel, we now have an exciting pipeline of activity to help expand the business, including entering foodservice and launching the products into Europe.” #ReNourish #UK

UK start-up Re:Nourish has secured a ‘seven-figure’ investment to expand the distribution footprint of its on-the-go fresh soups. Founded in 2019 by former critical care nurse Nicci Clark, Re:Nourish claims to be the first soup brand in the world to have a heatable and fully recyclable bottle. The brand says that its range can be enjoyed hot or cold straight from the bottle, with no utensils required, or resealed and put back in a bag for later. The company says that it will look to use the new capital to increase marketing activity, including for an ad campaign at the end of September, as well as to fund growth into foodservice and major UK retailers. The brand will also be focusing on expansion into Europe. With the backing of this investment, Re:Nourish has already hired Steve Parsons to take on the position of head of foodservice and out of home. In this role, Parsons who previously held positions at Plenish, B.fresh and Pukka, will help with the export of Re:Nourish products into Europe. The brand’s latest capital raise was backed by Döhler Ventures and a private investment angel. “…we’ve secured a significant investment, which is a huge milestone for the business and I very much see this as an opportunity to further grow and disrupt the category,” said Re:Nourish founder, Nicci Clark. “With the help of Döhler Ventures and the private investment angel, we now have an exciting pipeline of activity to help expand the business, including entering foodservice and launching the products into Europe.”

MyLife, an Australian plant-based food manufacturer, has launched a variety of vegan cheese products in Coles supermarkets under its BioCheese brand. Four new products – including a marinated cheese and a grated version of its vegan parmesan – have joined the brand’s existing range of plant-based cheddar blocks and slices, feta, halloumi, and dairy-free butter. Recommended on its own, on toast or in salads, BioMarinated retails for AUD 14 ($10) and is marinated in Australian Extra Virgin Olive oil, garlic and herbs. Meanwhile, BioCheese Grated Parmesano retails for AUD 7.50 ($5.40) and is described as having a hard, gritty texture and a fruity and nutty taste. MyLife’s Original BioCreamy is free-from additives and preservatives and is said to be light on the stomach and ideal on a bagel, in desserts or paired with strawberries. The dairy-free cheese spread retails for AUD 6.50 ($4.70). BioCheese Pizza Shred – which is made with coconut oil that provides a mild nutty flavour – is already currently listed in Woolworths but will now be available to purchase at Coles. According to MyLife, the vegan cheese melts and stretches easily and evenly, without going oily. According to MyLife, BioCheese was the first mover in the Australian plant-cheese market approximately five years ago. “During these unprecedented times, our customers and their dietary needs remain top priority, and we’re committed to continuing to provide Australians with the incredible plant-based products that they have come to expect from MyLife BioCheese,” said Terry Paule, CEO of MyCo, creators of MyLife. #BioCheese #MyLife #Vegancheese #Australia #MyCo

MyLife, an Australian plant-based food manufacturer, has launched a variety of vegan cheese products in Coles supermarkets under its BioCheese brand. Four new products – including a marinated cheese and a grated version of its vegan parmesan – have joined the brand’s existing range of plant-based cheddar blocks and slices, feta, halloumi, and dairy-free butter. Recommended on its own, on toast or in salads, BioMarinated retails for AUD 14 ($10) and is marinated in Australian Extra Virgin Olive oil, garlic and herbs. Meanwhile, BioCheese Grated Parmesano retails for AUD 7.50 ($5.40) and is described as having a hard, gritty texture and a fruity and nutty taste. MyLife’s Original BioCreamy is free-from additives and preservatives and is said to be light on the stomach and ideal on a bagel, in desserts or paired with strawberries. The dairy-free cheese spread retails for AUD 6.50 ($4.70). BioCheese Pizza Shred – which is made with coconut oil that provides a mild nutty flavour – is already currently listed in Woolworths but will now be available to purchase at Coles. According to MyLife, the vegan cheese melts and stretches easily and evenly, without going oily. According to MyLife, BioCheese was the first mover in the Australian plant-cheese market approximately five years ago. “During these unprecedented times, our customers and their dietary needs remain top priority, and we’re committed to continuing to provide Australians with the incredible plant-based products that they have come to expect from MyLife BioCheese,” said Terry Paule, CEO of MyCo, creators of MyLife.

Natural Balance Foods has expanded its Trek range with the introduction of plant-based Power bars, as it seeks to capitalise on consumer demand for protein-filled treats. Containing 15g of plant-based protein, the new bars are available in two variants: Peanut Butter Crunch and Millionaire Shortbread. Trek’s new sweet treat-inspired offering is reportedly free from gluten, as well as artificial sweeteners. The vegan bars are coated in a natural alternative to chocolate and are designed to provide slow-release energy, according to Trek. “This was the next step for Trek, as research has found that nearly two thirds of consumers (63%) said recognising the ingredients that go into a product had some impact on their purchasing decisions,” said Trek senior brand manager, Georgina Crook. “Providing natural, plant-based energy has always been at the heart of what the Trek brand does, and we have seen a real opportunity to fill a gap in the sports nutrition market as there is not currently a bar in the top 50 of the category which simultaneously provides plant-based protein and contains no artificial sweeteners.” Trek Power bars are launching in the UK this month, with an RRP of £1.75, and will be available from retailers including Sainsbury’s and from November, Tesco. Earlier this year, Lotus Bakeries agreed to acquire the majority of the remaining stake in Natural Balance Foods, taking its ownership to 97.9%. #LotusBakeries #NaturalBalanceFoods #Trek #UK