UK meat alternatives brand, Meatless Farm, has launched a dedicated plant protein ingredients subsidiary, which will operate out of a new facility in Calgary, Canada. Meatless Farm has invested an initial $12 million in the 30,000 square-foot factory, which will have the capacity to produce up to 14,500 tonnes of plant protein ingredients by 2023. The company says its facility will be the first-of-its-kind on this scale in Canada and marks one of its biggest investments to date. Lovingly Made Ingredients – the company’s plant protein subsidiary – will provide Meatless Farm’s global supply of textured plant protein and enable the expansion into producing customised plant proteins for selected external partners across the meat alternatives, bakery, snacks and cereals sectors. Established in 2016, the Yorkshire-based company now operates in 24 countries with multiple product lines stocked in six major supermarkets in the UK. The news comes after two rounds of over-subscribed fundraising with funds totalling $48 million. The facility marks an important step in the business’ Farm to Fork programme, which works directly with farmer collectives to source peas and guarantee traceability. Meatless Farm aims for the plant to be net zero on carbon emissions throughout the supply chain within the first year and will use manufacturing processes to halve its water and energy use. Morten Toft Bech, founder of Meatless Farm, said: “Meatless Farm started less than five years ago at my kitchen table so it’s amazing to see us open a facility of this size and scale and is testament to the growth and importance of this sector. “The pace of global growth presents opportunities for how we can share our expertise and innovation with other partners and that is where Lovingly Made Ingredients comes in. “Canada is the pea-capital of the world so it makes sense to have a facility here which will give us the ability in future to grow, harvest, process and extract our pea protein all within one country. Bringing this under our own operations in Canada will have huge benefits for efficiency, quality, sustainability and innovation and enable us to offer that innovation and manufacturing expertise to other partners too.” Meatless Farms says it has 10 SKUs planned over the next six months and is also investing in plans for Europe and Asia to help shorten the supply chain in local markets. #plantbasedprotein #Canada #meatalternatives #MeatlessFarm #TheMeatlessFarmCo

US meat alternatives company Barvecue has broken ground on what it claims will be the world’s largest plant-based smokehouse. Barvecue, which makes wood-smoked, plant-based barbecue products, says that the new facility in Cornelius, North Carolina, is scheduled to open in July this year. Called the Carolina Smokehouse, the 10,000-square-foot production plant will have an initial capacity to produce 800,000lb of Barvecue’s Pulled BVQ, Chopped BVQ and Naked versions of both, per year. Within walking distance of the new site, Barvecue’s current facility will become the brand’s innovation centre when the Carolina Smokehouse opens. “As the plant-based meat market surges, so too does the demand for our wood-smoked, plant-based Barvecue,” said Barvecue founder and CEO, Lee Cooper. “As we grow to keep up with demand for Barvecue products, we decided that it was time to expand production and lead the way in the plant-based barbecue market.” The company has also announced that it will complete a $1 million capital raise from current investors this month. Cooper added: “Our goal is to make delicious Barvecue, for everyone. We are excited to break ground on the world’s largest plant-based smokehouse so that we can soon do exactly that.” Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Barvecue #meatalternatives #US

RightRice has reimagined a classic Italian dish with a new line of dairy-free, high protein risotto pouches. RightRice Risotto features a blend of lentils, chickpeas, peas and rice and each serving contains 10g of plant-based protein and 5g of fibre. The new plant-based line comes in four flavours: Creamy Parmesan, Wild Mushroom, Basil Pesto and Creamy Cracked Pepper. Ready in just 12 minutes, the brand aims to meet demand for convenient plant-based meal solutions. “As consumers are looking to incorporate more plant-based products into their diets without sacrificing taste or flavour, RightRice Risotto continues our focus on reimagining the rice aisle and redefining classic rice dishes,” said RightRice founder and CEO, Keith Belling. RightRice Risotto will roll out later this month and is available exclusively in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide for $3.99 per 6oz pouch. Last year, RightRice added two new seasonal flavours to its lower carb veggie rice portfolio; brown butter sage and holiday stuffing medley. #dairyfree #plantbased #RightRice #US

Califia Farms has announced the passing of the company’s founder and plant-based pioneer, Greg Steltenpohl, aged 67. Steltenpohl stepped down from his position as CEO of Califia Farms last September, but remained on the board as an executive director. “It is with a heavy heart we share the news of the passing of our company’s founder, Greg Steltenpohl,” the company said in a statement. “He built the Califia Farms brand from the ground up with a passion for nourishing people and the planet. Greg touched so many lives on his plant-fuelled journey to make the world a healthier place. He will be profoundly missed. We tip our hats to our visionary founder,” the company wrote. Prior to launching Califia Farms in 2010, Steltenpohl founded Odwalla Juice Company, which was later acquired by The Coca-Cola Company. Califia Farms specialises in the production of plant-based beverages such as oat milks, nitro cold brew coffees, and mushroom oat and hemp blends. Under Steltenpohl’s leadership, Califia Farms attracted a wide range of investors, securing $225 million in Series D financing last year. #CalifiaFarms #GregSteltenpohl #plantbaseddairy #US

Swedish investment firm Novax has acquired a majority stake in Ulrick & Short, a UK producer of clean label food ingredients, for an undisclosed sum. Established in 2000, Ulrick & Short specialises in clean label, plant-based and natural ingredients such as starches, flours, fibres and proteins. The company supplies food manufacturers across Europe looking to develop healthier and sustainable alternatives in the bakery, meat, dairy and ready meal sectors. With the acquisition, Novax says it continues to commit to a more sustainable “Future of Food” by investing in the European speciality food ingredients market. The deal will see Ulrick & Short continue to operate as a standalone business; while founders Adrian Short and Andrew Ulrick will remain as minority shareholders. “From the first meeting with the Novax team it was clear we had found an organisation and group of people that shared our values and beliefs of how a business should be nurtured and developed,” said Adrian Short, co-founder, director and shareholder of Ulrick & Short. “With Novax behind the company and team, we will continue to grow and have the best chance of seeing Ulrick & Short reach its full potential. The next stage of the journey is going to be an exciting one,” he added. While Adrian Short will continue to lead the business, Andrew Ulrick will retire from his operational role and continue to support the business as a strategic advisor. Pär Warnström, senior investment manager and sector manager food at Novax – the investment arm of Axel Johnson – said: “As a long-term thematic investor and operating partner, we are pleased to offer our enduring commitment to together with the team build and expand Ulrick & Short over the years to come. “At Novax, we remain determined to take an active part in driving the food industry forward with innovation, health and sustainability in focus. We look forward to together with Adrian and the team grow Ulrick & Short and continue on this mission.” #cleanlabel #Novax #UK #UlrickampShort

Functional beverage brand Moju has launched a new plant-based prebiotic shot, which it claims supports immune and digestive health. The product is available as a 500ml dosing bottle and as 60ml shot. Designed to be shot daily, Moju says the beverage encourages a healthier, more diverse gut microbiome. Moju’s new shot contains a blend of prebiotics and plant-based fibres, including chicory root inulin, golden kiwi and green banana. Each shot contains 3.7g of plant-fibre and offers the flavour combination of raspberry, lemon and baobab. According to a survey by Moju, over a third of people are looking to prioritise gut health in the next 12 months, highlighting the need for an accessible and convenient prebiotic. “The gut and digestive health category is a really exciting space which has the potential to have a hugely positive impact on consumers’ lives,” said Moju co-founder, Rich Goldsmith. He added: “To date it’s been driven by dairy based probiotic products, but without a diverse menu of food the good bacteria in your gut cannot thrive. We all want to eat a diet full of a wide variety of whole foods but the realities of modern life often make that challenging, so we developed the UK’s first ready to drink product with an efficacious dose of prebiotics and plant fibres in a super convenient, nutrient dense format. “It delivers big on flavour and is free-from dairy, added sugars, sweeteners, gums and preservatives which is an important and significant step forward for the category.” Moju’s new Prebiotic Shot is available online, in Waitrose stores nationwide and will be launching in Ocado at the end of March. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #guthealth #Moju #prebiotics #UK

Refrigerated bar maker Core Foods is launching a new keto-friendly line to cater for those looking for low-carb snacks. Containing 3g of net carbs per bar, the new range offers Fudgy Chocolate Brownie and Chewy Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter flavours. Sweetened with allulose, the latest additions to Core’s portfolio contain prebiotic fibre and plant-based protein. Core Keto Bars will be available for $2.99 per bar at Vons, Pavilions, Safeway and via the brand’s website, starting next month. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #CoreFoods #Keto #US

Oishii, a vertical farming startup based in New Jersey, has raised $50 million during a Series A funding round led by Sparx Group’s Mirai Creation Fund II. The funds will enable Oishii to open vertical strawberry farms in new markets, expand its flagship farm outside of Manhattan, and accelerate its investment in R&D. “Our mission is to change the way we grow food. We set out to deliver exceptionally delicious and sustainable produce,” said Oishii CEO Hiroki Koga. “We started with the strawberry – a fruit that routinely tops the dirty dozen of most pesticide-riddled crops – as it has long been considered the ‘holy grail’ of vertical farming.” “We aim to be the largest strawberry producer in the world, and this capital allows us to bring the best-tasting, healthiest berry to everyone. From there, we’ll quickly expand into new fruits and produce,” he added. Oishii is already known for its innovative farming techniques that have enabled the company to “perfect the strawberry,” while its proprietary and first-of-its-kind pollination method is conducted naturally with bees. The company’s vertical farms feature zero pesticides and produce ripe fruit all year round, using less water and land than traditional agricultural methods. “Oishii is the farm of the future,” said Sparx Group president and Group CEO Shuhei Abe. “The cultivation and pollination techniques the company has developed set them well apart from the industry, positioning Oishii to quickly revolutionise agriculture as we know it.” The company has raised a total of $55 million since its founding in 2016. #Oishii #strawberry #US #verticalfarming

Halo Top is launching a new range of oat milk ice cream tubs in the UK, each containing 400 calories or less. Replacing the brand’s current dairy-free line, which features a coconut milk base, Halo Top’s new range comes in two vegan-friendly flavours. Packed with dark chocolate chips and chewy brownie pieces, Peanut Butter Chocolate Overload features a creamy peanut butter base blended with oat milk, as well as a fudge swirl. Meanwhile, Caramel Chocolate Pretzel balances sweet and salty with caramel swirls, fudge-coated pretzels and a creamy, caramel oat milk base. Ryan Bouton, CMO of Halo Top International, said: “We’re always working to improve our recipes behind the scenes. When we tried our new oat milk formula for our plant-based tubs, we immediately knew we had created a creamier, more indulgent texture our fans would really love. “We are so excited for our fans to taste the two new flavours and enjoy another dairy-free and vegan-friendly alternative to our traditional dairy tubs.” The Halo Top Oat Milk range will be available in Tesco stores nationwide starting in mid-March. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base. #Dairyalternatives #HaloTop #lowcalorie #UK

Swedish vegan brand Oatly has unveiled plans for a new plant-based dairy manufacturing site in Peterborough, marking its first UK factory. The company has partnered with food and drink capital investment firm Integrated Food Projects to build its new facility, which is expected to be completed in early 2023 and create over 200 jobs. The facility will able to produce 300 million litres of oat drink per year at launch, with the capacity to expand to 450 million litres, which Oatly says will make it one of the largest plant-based dairy factories in the world. Located in Peterborough, the factory will form part of a new end-to-end integrated supply chain in the UK – sourcing oats locally across the UK and supplying oat beverages to the UK market. The Peterborough site forms part of Oatly’s wider initiative to build factories ‘fit for the future’, with efficient use of resources and minimal negative impact on the planet. By 2029, the company aims to use 100% renewable energy and decrease its energy consumption and waste by 75% at the factory. “We look forward to supplying the UK with more oat drink – we’re even more excited to do it in a sustainable way,” said Johan Rabe, Oatly chief supply chain officer. He added: “Like everything we do at Oatly, we’ve ensured that sustainability is core to our factory planning. Everything, from the sourcing of our oats, to the production of our product range specifically designed for humans, has sustainability at the heart of it. Even as we strive to grow one of the biggest plant-based dairy factories to its full capacity, this will still be our top priority.” Matt Carr, joint-managing director at Integrated Food Projects, said: “There is a huge demand for Oatly products in the UK, and we are delighted to be working with them to deliver their vision of what a factory of the future can achieve. Sustainability is at the heart of Oatly’s business and helping to create a new factory and UK supply chain, in line with the ethos of the Oatly brand, is vital for the successful delivery of the project.” Last July, Oatly sold a minority stake in its business for $200 million to fund its expansion and the inauguration of new production plants. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Oatly #UK #sustainability #Oatmilk #plantbaseddairy

Meat alternatives producer Planted has raised CHF 17 million ($18.3 million approx.) in a Series A financing round. Planted, a spin-off from public research university ETH Zurich, will use the funds to support its international expansion and bolster its research and development (R&D) platform. The plant-based meat company’s Series A round was co-led by Blue Horizon Ventures and Vorwerk Ventures, which were joined by Swiss footballer Yann Sommer and a number of existing investors. Michael Kleindl, founder and managing partner of Blue Horizon Ventures, will join the Planted board. Planted – which was founded in 2019 – is said to be committed to using only 100% natural ingredients across its portfolio. The brand’s product ranges, each consisting of different plant protein sources, include: Planted. Chicken, Planted. Pulled, and Planted. Kebab. The company’s products are currently sold through retailers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, as well as via its online shop, while Planted also supplies hundreds of foodservice partners. “Unique aspects such as our natural, healthy, non-artificial ingredients and incredible taste make all the difference and are being valued by an increasing number of customers,” said Planted co-founder, Pascal Bieri. “We’re excited to further strengthen our international footprint with the current funding, expand our product range and extend our partner network.” The company plans to make significant investments in R&D, including continuing to develop its fermentation technologies with the aim of enhancing product structure and taste. Planted co-founder, Lukas Böni, said: “We will further invest in our structuring and fermentation platforms. Combining structuring technologies with the biochemical toolboxes of natural microorganisms will allow us to create ultimately new products with transformative character — all clean, natural, healthy and tasty.” Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #BlueHorizonVentures #Planted #meatalternatives #plantbased #Switzerland

UK-based Munchy Seeds has unveiled six new sweet and savoury seed blends, which aim to provide consumers with a ‘third condiment’. The brand’s new Breakfast Boosters come in three flavours: Super Berry, Goji Berry, Chia & Cranberry Seed Mix; Totally Tropical, Coconut, Mango & Banana Seed Mix; and Cacao & Apricot, Cacao, Apricot & Date Seed Mix. The new Savoury Sprinkles collection includes three flavours: Toasted Tamari Mega Omega 7 Seed Mix; Spicy Peri Peri Chilli, Sunflower & Pumpkin Seed Mix; and Warm Cumin & Fennel Sunflower, Pumpkin & Cumin Seed Mix. A source of vitamin E, the seeds are dry roasted ‘for maximum flavour’, and are high in fibre and protein. The new range is suitable for vegans and free from gluten. “Everyone knows that seeds are good for you – they are packed with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals – and yet they still need inspiration as to when and how to use them,” said Lucinda Clay, co-founder of Munchy Seeds. “Our new Savoury Sprinkles and Breakfast Boosters remove the guess work and give people a clear use for our delicious, flavour-packed seed mixes. “From adding to salads, soups and savoury dishes, to blending in a smoothie, using in porridge or granola, or mixing into yogurt, we’re setting out to show the nation just how easy it is to add seeds to your daily meals.” With an RRP of £2.99 for a 125g pack, all six products will launch into Ocado. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #MunchySeeds #seeds #UK