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

Plant-based snack company Superfoodio has unveiled its new release, Peanut Butter Buttons, which are made from pure peanut butter. The buttons come in four flavour variations including: Original, Coco Crunch, PBJ and Original Plus. They are made using only four to five natural ingredients, including peanuts, coconut blossom sugar and sea salt. The on-the-go snack includes macros with up to 6g of protein and less than 4g of sugar per pack. They also have high levels of dietary fibre, no refined sugar or palm oil and are gluten-free and vegan friendly. Nirali and Jagir Mankodi, founders of Superfoodio, said: “We wanted a simpler way to enjoy peanut buttery goodness on-the-go. The problem with a jar (or a squeezy pack) is that you always end up with sticky fingers and an oily mess! That’s why we created our Peanut Butter Buttons that you can hold in your hand. They are the perfect snack to satisfy that peanut butter craving anywhere, anytime. No jars, no mess, no fuss”. Superfoodio’s Peanut Butter Buttons are available on the website or through Amazon UK with a retail price of £1.59. #Superfoodio #UK

Fazer Group has agreed to purchase Swedish plant-based drinks producer Trensums Food from Profuragruppen. The acquisition, which will expand Fazer’s oat drink production capacity, provides the company with a platform for further growth and access to new non-dairy markets. Trensums Food will become part of Fazer Lifestyle Foods Business Area, which focuses on oat-based non-dairy products, breakfast products, fruit-based snacks, plant-based meals and food tech. The company has a sizeable capacity, efficient operations and state-of-the-art production, which makes the business well-positioned to respond to the growing demand for plant-based food and drink. Christoph Vitzthum, president and CEO of Fazer Group, commented: “Fazer’s growth is based on in-depth consumer insights turned into innovative products and meaningful food experiences. Consumer demand for nutritious plant-based foods is growing fast and our ambition is to become one of the leading players in oats and plant-based food in Northern Europe.” He continued: “The acquisition gives Fazer an even stronger foothold in a rapidly growing category and the opportunity to expand in our current and future markets. With its long history in oat drinks, Trensums Food will also offer us extensive manufacturing and R&D expertise to further strengthen Fazer’s already strong know-how in oats.” The transaction is subject to Swedish Competition Authority approval. #FazerGroup #Profuragruppen #Sweden #TrensumFoods

Nestlé has expanded its plant-based product portfolio with new Garden Gourmet vegan breaded fillet and vegan nuggets, launching in time for Veganuary. The two new offerings join the brand’s existing range of plant-based products, including Garden Gourmet’s sensational burger, vegan mince, vegan fillet pieces and vegan balls. Nestlé Professional’s category manager, Rohini Alam, said: “We’re big supporters of Veganuary and excited to launch these two delicious new products with resources and recipes to help food operators make it a big hit. But as well as helping them provide greater variety and inspiring dishes during Veganuary and beyond, we’re keen to offer products that appeal to those who are curious about plant-based eating, too. That’s why we’re launching our new breaded range of vegan nuggets and vegan breaded fillet, which offer no compromise on taste or texture.” Last year, Garden Gourmet entered into the plant-based seafood market with the launch of a vegan tuna, called Sensational Vuna. #GardenGourmet #Nestlé #vegan