Unilever is partnering with Algenuity, a start-up specialised in developing microalgae for use in consumer products, as it looks to innovate in its plant-based portfolio. Biotech company Algenuity will work with the research and development team within Unilever’s Foods and Refreshment (F&R) division to explore ways of bringing foods made with microalgae to market. According to Algenuity, the high chlorophyll content of chlorella vulgaris, a nutrient-rich microalgae, can make it a challenging ingredient to work with. As well as a strong green colour, chlorophyll also gives the plants a bitter taste and smell. In its Chlorella Colours palette, Algenuity is said to have developed a technology that significantly reduces the chlorophyll content of microalgae while allowing them to retain their natural nutrients. This reportedly opens up ‘a wealth’ of potential applications for microalgae, as a sustainable source of protein and fibre, in the food and beverage sector. “Microalgae offer much untapped potential as a viable, climate-friendly protein alternative,” said Alejandro Amezquita, future bio-based ingredients R&D director, Unilever F&R. “They have a significant part to play in food system transformation. We are very much looking forward to working with Algenuity to explore the possibilities of making foods that contain microalgae more mainstream.” Andrew Spicer, CEO and founder of Algenuity, added: “We are delighted to partner with Unilever on this. Our Chlorella Colours platform provides plant-based ingredients that are sustainable, natural, non-GM and protein rich with neutral flavours. “They are also vegan-friendly making them extremely relevant for today’s growing consumer appetite for more plant-based foods with additional functional benefits.”

UK brand Gosh! Food has announced that it is investing £5 million in a new manufacturing facility, as it seeks to grow its vegan and free-from food operation. The Milton Keynes-based company says that it plans to open its second factory early in 2021, with up to 25 new manufacturing jobs expected to be created. Like the brand’s existing production site, the new 17,000 square foot facility will be completely allergen-free. According to Gosh! Food, the second site will provide it with the opportunity to expand its offering and to move into new categories, as well as help it to meet consumer demand. “We believe strongly that food should be as natural as possible and have a brand that prides itself on offering high-quality, great-tasting and perfectly natural products,” said Gosh! Food CEO, Jane Rayner. “With 45% of grocery shoppers either following or considering a plant-based diet, demand for plant-based products has grown significantly. We look forward to being able to continue to grow our capacity to meet demand and support retailers in improving the way we eat. “We’re also excited about the opportunities that expanding to a second site presents in creating new jobs in an exceptionally difficult economic time.” Gosh! Food has also appointed Jahangir Khan, former innovation and category controller at Charlie Bigham’s, as its first senior category manager. #GoshFood #UK

UK brand Gosh! Food has announced that it is investing £5 million in a new manufacturing facility, as it seeks to grow its vegan and free-from food operation. The Milton Keynes-based company says that it plans to open its second factory early in 2021, with up to 25 new manufacturing jobs expected to be created. Like the brand's existing production site, the new 17,000 square foot facility will be completely allergen-free. According to Gosh! Food, the second site will provide it with the opportunity to expand its offering and to move into new categories, as well as help it to meet consumer demand. “We believe strongly that food should be as natural as possible and have a brand that prides itself on offering high-quality, great-tasting and perfectly natural products,” said Gosh! Food CEO, Jane Rayner. “With 45% of grocery shoppers either following or considering a plant-based diet, demand for plant-based products has grown significantly. We look forward to being able to continue to grow our capacity to meet demand and support retailers in improving the way we eat. “We’re also excited about the opportunities that expanding to a second site presents in creating new jobs in an exceptionally difficult economic time.” Gosh! Food has also appointed Jahangir Khan, former innovation and category controller at Charlie Bigham’s, as its first senior category manager.

Nestlé has announced the release of a vegan alternative to its popular Carnation range, made from a blend of oats and rice flour. The new product is certified by the Vegan Society as suitable for those following a vegan diet. According to the Swiss food giant, it also provides baking enthusiasts with an alternative to make dairy or caramel-based treats without compromising taste, texture or appearance. Marketing lead for dairy brands UK, Vittoria Simms, said: “Our new Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative has been in development for 18 months, bringing the plant-based, dairy-free trend straight into the kitchen for home baking. We have seen the desire to bake at home and experiment with new ingredients really boom this year, with a 61% rise in sweet baking in March and April.” She continued: “It has been a challenge for vegans to find suitable alternatives to make dairy or caramel-based sweets treats or desserts, without having to compromise on taste, texture or appearance. Carnation Vegan has a very simple taste with a hint of lightly toasted oats, which makes it very versatile for a wide variety of baking and sweet treats.” Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative goes on sale with Ocado in September, Morrisons UK supermarkets in October and Tesco in the UK and Ireland also in October. #Nestlé #veganfriendly #condensedmilk #Carnation #vegan #dairyfree

Nestlé has announced the release of a vegan alternative to its popular Carnation range, made from a blend of oats and rice flour. The new product is certified by the Vegan Society as suitable for those following a vegan diet. According to the Swiss food giant, it also provides baking enthusiasts with an alternative to make dairy or caramel-based treats without compromising taste, texture or appearance. Marketing lead for dairy brands UK, Vittoria Simms, said: “Our new Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative has been in development for 18 months, bringing the plant-based, dairy-free trend straight into the kitchen for home baking. We have seen the desire to bake at home and experiment with new ingredients really boom this year, with a 61% rise in sweet baking in March and April." She continued: “It has been a challenge for vegans to find suitable alternatives to make dairy or caramel-based sweets treats or desserts, without having to compromise on taste, texture or appearance. Carnation Vegan has a very simple taste with a hint of lightly toasted oats, which makes it very versatile for a wide variety of baking and sweet treats.” Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative goes on sale with Ocado in September, Morrisons UK supermarkets in October and Tesco in the UK and Ireland also in October.

40% of ‘leading’ food firms including Nestlé, Unilever and Kroger, now have dedicated teams for the development of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products, according to new research from investor network the FAIRR Initiative. The figures were published following a four-year investor engagement programme between the FAIRR Initiative and 25 food retailers and manufacturers. FAIRR’s Sustainable Proteins Engagement network includes a coalition of 88 investors, which work with 15 retailers and 10 food manufacturers including Nestlé, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Carrefour, Costco, Amazon and Walmart. The network aims to encourage major food firms to diversify their protein sources to drive growth following the surge in demand for plant-based products. According to FAIRR, Tesco and Unilever were praised for their commitment to shifting food portfolios to more sustainable protein sources, while 7 of these 15 retailers now sell, or plan to sell plant-based meat alternatives ‘on the meat aisle’. However, Kraft Heinz and Costco were found to be “falling behind” their rivals, according to the research. While the report states that approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by agriculture, forestry and other land-use, the report welcomed a 57% increase in Scope 3 emissions targets from 2019-2020, as companies committed to reducing the emissions footprints of animal agriculture and supply chains. Jeremy Coller, founder of FAIRR and chief investment officer at Coller Capital said: “The company data published today is hard evidence that big food brands are vying for their slice of the plant-based pie. They are drastically scaling-up and skilling-up their capacity to research and develop plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy. Tangible goals for a protein transition are being put in place. “The post-Covid landscape has made 2020 a watershed year for the sustainable protein market: the sector has attracted double the investment of last year in just six months. This engagement shows which food companies are putting in place the infrastructure and innovation to benefit from this seismic shift in the ways we shop and eat; and those that will lose out. Investors are watching closely.” #Nestlé #FAIRRInitiative #meatalternatives #plantbased #Unilever

40% of 'leading' food firms including Nestlé, Unilever and Kroger, now have dedicated teams for the development of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products, according to new research from investor network the FAIRR Initiative. The figures were published following a four-year investor engagement programme between the FAIRR Initiative and 25 food retailers and manufacturers. FAIRR's Sustainable Proteins Engagement network includes a coalition of 88 investors, which work with 15 retailers and 10 food manufacturers including Nestlé, M&S, Sainsbury's, Carrefour, Costco, Amazon and Walmart. The network aims to encourage major food firms to diversify their protein sources to drive growth following the surge in demand for plant-based products. According to FAIRR, Tesco and Unilever were praised for their commitment to shifting food portfolios to more sustainable protein sources, while 7 of these 15 retailers now sell, or plan to sell plant-based meat alternatives ‘on the meat aisle’. However, Kraft Heinz and Costco were found to be "falling behind" their rivals, according to the research. While the report states that approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by agriculture, forestry and other land-use, the report welcomed a 57% increase in Scope 3 emissions targets from 2019-2020, as companies committed to reducing the emissions footprints of animal agriculture and supply chains. Jeremy Coller, founder of FAIRR and chief investment officer at Coller Capital said: "The company data published today is hard evidence that big food brands are vying for their slice of the plant-based pie. They are drastically scaling-up and skilling-up their capacity to research and develop plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy. Tangible goals for a protein transition are being put in place. "The post-Covid landscape has made 2020 a watershed year for the sustainable protein market: the sector has attracted double the investment of last year in just six months. This engagement shows which food companies are putting in place the infrastructure and innovation to benefit from this seismic shift in the ways we shop and eat; and those that will lose out. Investors are watching closely."

Ingredients manufacturer Lycored has more than doubled its production of lycopene following a three-year multi-million-dollar investment. The investment – in new lines, equipment, and process and supply optimisation strategies – enables the company to harvest record volumes of tomato annually for its colour and health ingredient portfolio. Lycopene is a form of carotenoid found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables which has been said to have a range of health benefits. The company says that supplementation can ensure people are getting lycopene on a regular basis. Lycored has also inaugurated a new formulation facility in Branchburg, New Jersey which will contribute to increased colour formulation capabilities, reduce its carbon footprint, as well as support expansion and supply into additional markets in Asia and the Middle East. Rony Patishi-Chilim, CEO at Lycored said: “The expansion of our lycopene production follows a period of strategic equipment investments and improvements in tomato usage during key harvest periods. “These changes ensure that we have the expertise and the capacity to meet the needs of our customers across the food, beverage and health ingredient industries looking for natural colour, active health ingredients and taste-enhancing solutions.” The expansion intends to meet ‘unprecedented’ demand for its lycopene and will enable opportunities in colour applications across a variety of emerging food segments including vegan products and functional beverages. Rony added: “The demand for natural colour ingredients is higher than ever and continues to grow as clean label, traceable, vertically integrated pigments that are plant-based grow in popularity, alongside the plant-based movement towards a more sustainable future. “As manufacturers and developers look to capitalise on this trend, we are ready with our portfolio to support their projects. Our new Branchburg facility will also be the location for an application laboratory to support colour application and proof of stability initiatives.” According to Lycored, it will continue to invest further and has revealed plans to further expand to its seasonal capacity in collaboration with a third party in the Southern hemisphere. This will reportedly provide higher product availability at different times of the year. #functionalbeverages #US #sustainability #LycoRed #plantbased

Gathered Foods, maker of Good Catch plant-based seafood, has appointed Christine Mei as its new CEO. Christine Mei Mei succeeds Chris Kerr, who also co-founded the company. Kerr will remain in his role as executive chair. According to Gathered Foods, Mei has over 30 years of consumer packaged goods industry experience and has worked in positions spanning marketing, strategy, sales, and operations. She has held roles with multinationals including The Coca-Cola Company, Beiersdorf, and Nike. Most recently, Mei has been an investor and mentor for Texas-based consumer products accelerator SKU, where she advised start-ups. Gathered Foods produces vegan tuna, which it claims replicates the taste, texture and nutrition of seafood, under its Good Catch brand. The company also recently launched a line of frozen entrees and appetisers, including fish cakes and burgers. In the last year, Gathered Foods closed a $36.8 million Series B funding round, with backing from General Mills’ venture arm and Maple Leaf Foods subsidiary, Greenleaf Foods. The company has since expanded its distribution footprint through forming a joint distribution venture with US-based seafood company Bumble Bee Foods and by launching in Tesco in the UK. “We’re beyond excited to have been able to attract someone like Christine to lead our enterprise,” said Gathered Foods co-founder and executive chair, Chris Kerr. “She brings such a wealth of experience in the consumer packaged goods space, with a focus on catapulting brands to their full potential. The future of our brand is bright and we are excited for what’s to come with Christine at the helm.” Newly appointed CEO, Christine Mei, added: “I’m so energised about the tremendous potential for the Good Catch brand. In fact, the future of the entire plant-based food industry is on a trajectory of positive disruption. “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with co-founders Chris Kerr, Chad and Derek Sarno to set Good Catch onto its next curve of growth.” #GatheredFoods #GoodCatch #US

Ingredients manufacturer Lycored has more than doubled its production of lycopene following a three-year multi-million-dollar investment. The investment – in new lines, equipment, and process and supply optimisation strategies – enables the company to harvest record volumes of tomato annually for its colour and health ingredient portfolio. Lycopene is a form of carotenoid found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables which has been said to have a range of health benefits. The company says that supplementation can ensure people are getting lycopene on a regular basis. Lycored has also inaugurated a new formulation facility in Branchburg, New Jersey which will contribute to increased colour formulation capabilities, reduce its carbon footprint, as well as support expansion and supply into additional markets in Asia and the Middle East. Rony Patishi-Chilim, CEO at Lycored said: “The expansion of our lycopene production follows a period of strategic equipment investments and improvements in tomato usage during key harvest periods. “These changes ensure that we have the expertise and the capacity to meet the needs of our customers across the food, beverage and health ingredient industries looking for natural colour, active health ingredients and taste-enhancing solutions.” The expansion intends to meet ‘unprecedented’ demand for its lycopene and will enable opportunities in colour applications across a variety of emerging food segments including vegan products and functional beverages. Rony added: “The demand for natural colour ingredients is higher than ever and continues to grow as clean label, traceable, vertically integrated pigments that are plant-based grow in popularity, alongside the plant-based movement towards a more sustainable future. “As manufacturers and developers look to capitalise on this trend, we are ready with our portfolio to support their projects. Our new Branchburg facility will also be the location for an application laboratory to support colour application and proof of stability initiatives.” According to Lycored, it will continue to invest further and has revealed plans to further expand to its seasonal capacity in collaboration with a third party in the Southern hemisphere. This will reportedly provide higher product availability at different times of the year.

Gathered Foods, maker of Good Catch plant-based seafood, has appointed Christine Mei as its new CEO. Mei succeeds Chris Kerr, who also co-founded the company. Kerr will remain in his role as executive chair. According to Gathered Foods, Mei has over 30 years of consumer packaged goods industry experience and has worked in positions spanning marketing, strategy, sales, and operations. She has held roles with multinationals including The Coca-Cola Company, Beiersdorf, and Nike. Most recently, Mei has been an investor and mentor for Texas-based consumer products accelerator SKU, where she advised start-ups. Gathered Foods produces vegan tuna, which it claims replicates the taste, texture and nutrition of seafood, under its Good Catch brand. The company also recently launched a line of frozen entrees and appetisers, including fish cakes and burgers. In the last year, Gathered Foods closed a $36.8 million Series B funding round, with backing from General Mills’ venture arm and Maple Leaf Foods subsidiary, Greenleaf Foods. The company has since expanded its distribution footprint through forming a joint distribution venture with US-based seafood company Bumble Bee Foods and by launching in Tesco in the UK. “We're beyond excited to have been able to attract someone like Christine to lead our enterprise,” said Gathered Foods co-founder and executive chair, Chris Kerr. “She brings such a wealth of experience in the consumer packaged goods space, with a focus on catapulting brands to their full potential. The future of our brand is bright and we are excited for what's to come with Christine at the helm.” Newly appointed CEO, Christine Mei, added: “I'm so energised about the tremendous potential for the Good Catch brand. In fact, the future of the entire plant-based food industry is on a trajectory of positive disruption. “I'm really looking forward to collaborating with co-founders Chris Kerr, Chad and Derek Sarno to set Good Catch onto its next curve of growth.”

Swiss retailer Migros has launched a new line of dairy-free yogurts incorporating InnovoPro’s chickpea protein, CP Pro 70. Israel-based food tech firm InnovoPro claims to be the first company in the world to launch a 70% chickpea protein concentrate. The start-up says that its ‘innovative’ plant protein is suitable for a wide range of applications, spanning the dairy alternatives, meat analogues, bakery and sports nutrition categories. The new collaboration with Migros, which went on sale last month, features three flavours: natural, vanilla, and tropical fruits. The yogurts also contain oats and are said to be free from gluten and lactose. The companies are reportedly working to launch additional yogurt lines in several European countries later this year. “Our customers are looking for high quality, innovative, healthy and tasty options,” said Matthew Robin, CEO of ELSA-Mifroma, a group of manufacturing companies in the Migros Group. “The collaboration with InnovoPro on the chickpea protein CP Pro 70, opens for us the opportunity to create new solutions for unmet consumer needs. The chickpea protein with its high functionality, neutral taste and clean label profile enables us to offer consumers new and exciting products.” Nechushtan, CEO of InnovoPro, added: “This launch marks a new height in our continued growth strategy and will enable InnovoPro to gain further traction in the European market. “We believe that InnovoPro will lead the new alternative protein category and with partners like ELSA-Mifroma, introduce products with added health and nutritional values to customers. As part of our sustainable growth strategy, we are exploring production collaboration options for our protein, to expand our EU supply chain.” Earlier this year, InnovoPro raised $15 million in a Series B financing round, funds which the company said would be used to expand its production capacity and for establishing business development and marketing joint ventures. #InnovoPro #Migros #plantbasedprotein #Israel #Switzerland