Soreen has brought back its Chocolate & Orange Spring Mini Loaves, with a vegan edition. The malt loaf brand claims that its new offering has “50% less sugar and also 64% fat that the average Easter cake bar”. Mark Simester, managing director at Soreen commented: “We have been working hard to launch a full vegan range, ensuring to retain that squidgy texture and treat-like taste that Soreen is notorious for. “The results from our taste panel sessions have been a huge success and we’re pleased to be able to offer an even wider range of vegan products this year, including our firm family favourite Chocolate & Orange Spring Mini Loaves,” he continued. Soreen’s loaves come in multipacks of five and will be available in Nisa, Iceland, B&M, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, Spar, Morrisons and Aldi for a limited time only. RRP £1. #chocolate #Easter #Soreen #veganfriendly

US agribusiness Bunge has launched a new programme to monitor soybean crops from its indirect supply chain in the Brazilian Cerrado region, an area at high risk of deforestation. The programme aims to support grain dealers and producers by utilising monitoring systems, such as satellite and farm-scale imaging services, and fostering large-scale action in the Cerrado area to identify and track indirect purchases of soybeans. The company says it hopes to reach 100% traceability and monitoring of its indirect soybean purchases by 2025 – Bunge currently traces and monitors 30%. “We recognise the important role we can play in our industry. This unprecedented initiative is a way for Bunge to share with its supply chain the best practices we use to build value chains that are traceable and verifiable,” said Rob Coviello, Bunge’s chief sustainability officer and government affairs. “We value our partnership with dealers and producers to make our supply chains increasingly productive and sustainable and we believe that solutions at-scale and with long-term impacts are only possible when all partners in the value chain, from farmers to customers, are involved and engaged,” he continued. Through the initiative, Bunge will share its knowledge, methodologies and tools with partner dealers looking to implement or improve the social environment evaluation of their suppliers. The pilot will be carried out in collaboration with Brazilian agricultural company Agrícola Alvorada. “Bunge’s support and expertise in monitoring and tracking is critical to the overall improvement of our supply chain. It accelerated our adaptation to market demands,” Jarbas Weis, managing director of Agrícola Alvorada, added. Roberto Marcon, Bunge’s origination director, emphasised the importance of such monitoring systems: “Grain dealers play an important role in our industry by giving market access to small and medium-sized farmers. By helping them implement traceability and monitoring systems and tools, we are doing our part to contribute to the entire sector.” #AgrícolaAlvorada #monitoring #soybean #sustainability #traceability #Bunge

Califia Farms has added two new plant milks to its Barista Blends line, including an oat milk with mushroom extracts. According to Califia, its Mushroom Oat and Hemp Barista Blends were developed with professional baristas and double as creamers. The two new offerings are said to “steam and foam beautifully without sacrificing taste or quality”. With the launch, the company aims to meet the demand for functional ingredients, which were named the most important quality in plant-based alternative milks and creamers by one in five coffee drinkers in research conducted on behalf of Califia Farms. With a ‘smooth, earthy’ flavour, Mushroom Oat Barista Blend contains 3,000mg of whole Cordyceps and 2,400mg of Lion’s Mane mushrooms. Meanwhile, Hemp Barista Blend has a ‘mild, nutty’ flavour and is a source of calcium and omega-3 ALA fatty acids. “Our new Mushroom Oat and Hemp Barista Blends have the creaminess and consistency that elevate the at-home coffee experience with the added benefits of functional ingredients,” said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer at Califia Farms. With an MSRP of $5.99, Mushroom Oat Barista Blend and Hemp Barista Blend are available in the US at retailers including Whole Foods. Last year, Califia Farms expanded its portfolio of oat-based drinks and creamers, with the launch of its Protein Oat line. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #CalifiaFarms #Dairyalternatives #plantbased #US

Lactalis-owned Siggi’s has announced the launch of a new lower sugar yogurt line, as well as range of plant-based probiotic drinks. Siggi’s claims that its 2% low-fat yogurts contain 50% less sugar than the leading Greek yogurt, with 2-8g of sugar per serving. Made with no artificial sweeteners, the reduced sugar line comes in 5.3oz cups of blueberry, vanilla, mixed berries, strawberry, key lime, coconut, black cherry, vanilla & cinnamon and seasonal spiced apple. 24oz cups of plain and vanilla varieties are also available, as well as packs of four in vanilla, strawberry and mixed berries flavours. The brand has also released a line of plant-based probiotic coconut drinks in strawberry, peach and vanilla varieties. Each drink provides 8g of protein and 7g of sugar per serving. Siggi’s coconut drinks joins the brand’s existing plant-based line, which first launched in December 2019 with yogurts made using a proprietary blend of coconut, macadamia and pea protein. The brand has also launched a larger 24oz vanilla yogurt tub. “At Siggi’s, we believe in using real fruit in our products instead of artificial flavours and sweeteners. We are proud to introduce a new product line with even lower sugar to further reinforce our mission of pushing sugar levels in yogurts lower,” said Siggi’s founder, Siggi Hilmarsson. Siggi’s new lower sugar yogurt line and plant-based additions are available now at US retailers nationwide. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Lactalis #US #yogurt #reducedsugar #probiotics #plantbased #Siggis

Due to the ever-evolving coronavirus situation, the Plant Based World Europe Conference & Expo will now be postponed to October 2021. In a move that prioritises the safety, comfort and confidence of the attendees, PBW Europe feel that these months will prove crucial in the delivery of a safe show. Jonathan Morley, Managing Director of Plant Based Global, said: “The move is welcomed and supported by everyone in the plant-based sector and the wider food industry. The new show dates will allow millions more people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and only builds further anticipation for the in-person events we all miss so much, which will showcase the latest and greatest plant-based products. We all want to reconnect in person with our suppliers, buyers, guests, investors, friends, and colleagues – and meet new contacts. To do that with confidence and respect for everyone’s safety is paramount.” We want to assure you that the World Plant-Based Taste Awards 2021 will still be taking place. The awards will still be held at the PBW Europe Conference & Expo, at the Business Design Centre in London, on the new dates: 15-16 October 2021. Our awards team are committed to ensuring our entrants the best opportunity to showcase taste in the pant-based industry and celebrate their successes with a live tasting event and awards ceremony. With that in mind, the deadline for entries into the World Plant-Based Taste Awards will be extended to the new date of Friday 20 August 2021, which means there is still plenty of time to get your entries in. As one of the first of its kind in this sector, these awards are a fantastic way for you to enhance the promotion of your plant-based brand and to ensure it gains global recognition. New ceremony date: 15-16 October 2021 New deadline date: 20 August 2021 If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards and the postponement please do not hesitate to get in touch with our awards team: awards@foodbev.com Our awards team are working from home and can be reached via LiveChat or email to answer any questions. #plantbased #WorldPlantBasedTasteAwards #WorldPlantBasedTasteAwards2021

Plant-based food company Forager Project has unveiled a new line of dairy-free cheeses, made using its probiotic cashewmilk yogurt. Launching this spring in the US, the Cheeseworks range is organic, gluten-free, soy-free and certified vegan. The Danone-backed manufacturer already offers dairy-free yogurts, plant-based milks and shakes; with the Cheeseworks range representing its entry into a new category. The line of dairy-free cheeses is made using the brand’s cultured cashewmilk yogurt as the base and comes in four varieties: Jack, Queso Fresco, Mozzarella and Parmesan. Each variety is available in chunks and shreds format. Forager Project says the vegan cheeses can melt and stretch like its dairy counterparts, making it a perfect pick for pasta, pizza and nachos. “Here at Forager Project, we’re dedicated to amazing our consumers with great tasting plant-based foods in every creamery category,” said Forager Project co-founder and CEO, Stephen Williamson. “With the launch of cheese, we’re excited to give our consumers even more delicious, plant-based options while staying true to our mission to make plant-based foods more accessible for everyone.” Forager Project’s Cheeseworks line will be available at retailers nationwide this spring for $5.99. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #ForagerProject #US #Vegancheese #Danone #dairyfree

Plant-based company Zyrcular Foods has inaugurated a new alternative protein plant in the province of Barcelona, following an investment of €3.5 million. Located in the town of Seva, the 1,500 square-metre facility will start to produce plant-based foods in mid-March. The factory will initially operate with a single shift, producing up to 1 million kilograms of alternative protein per year for third parties, supermarket chains, foodservice companies and food manufacturers. Zyrcular Foods claims that its Seva factory is Spain’s first facility exclusively dedicated to alternative protein production. As part of the Netherlands’ Wageningen Food Valley food cluster and the Good Food Institute, Zyrcular Foods will open up its facility to start-ups and foodtech businesses from Spain and elsewhere to manufacture and sell their products in Europe. The alternative protein producer and distributor says this will enable businesses to produce and export their products across the Mediterranean, and in turn, reduce their carbon footprint. Zyrcular Foods currently distributes alternative protein brands such as Beyond Meat, Gardein and Green Vie; but also supplies retail giant Aldi and Spanish chains La Sirena and Sánchez-Romero, as well as food service companies like Pad Thai Wok and Fosters Hollywood. “We have gone from being a distributor of big international plant protein brands like Beyond Meat, NEXT, Gardein and Sophie’s Kitchen to producing them under contract. This is a significant milestone for innovation in the food industry in Spain,” said Santiago Aliaga, Zyrcular Foods CEO. The company also highlights that the Seva facility operates via renewable on-site solar energy. “Our dream must be to produce using locally grown plant raw material: that would enable us to bring our CO2 footprint down as low as possible,” added Aliaga. Zyrcular Foods has also bought adjacent plots with a view to expanding the production of plant protein and other alternative protein foods in the future. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Spain #ZyrcularFoods #plantprotein #plantbased #alternativeprotein

Livekindly Collective brand, LikeMeat, has launched a new collection of chicken alternative products in the US. The line includes four varieties: Like BBQ Chick’n, Like Chick’n Pieces, Like Grilled Chick’n and Like Chick’n Nuggets. A source of plant protein and fibre, the Like Chick’n range is non-GMO, and free from gluten and dairy. The products come in ‘earth-friendly’ packaging trays, made from 95% recycled materials. “Personal pleasure too often comes at the expense of the world, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” says Emily Klooster, marketing director for LikeMeat. “What if you could do good, and still eat dirty? We’re inviting mindful meat lovers to become ‘eativists’, and making progress through good food — one meal, one product at a time. “We understand that food is personal. That’s why we believe the way to turn meat eaters into flexitarians is through pleasure: not deprivation. We stand for progress, not perfection and, of course, having fun.” The new Like Chick’n products are available from Sprouts Farmers Market stores. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #LikeMeat #LivekindlyCollective #meatalternatives #US

Vegan and free from snack brand, Crave, has launched a line of rice milk chocolate bars in the UK. Made with Cocoa Horizons-certified cocoa, the vegan chocolate bar range is free from gluten, milk, lactose and egg. The new Rocky Road offering is a rice milk chocolate bar topped with marshmallows, raisins and biscuit crumbs. Meanwhile, Kitchen Sink features rice milk chocolate covered with salted fudge, raisins, honeycomb, cornflakes and biscuit crumbs. “It’s obvious the plant-based movement is here to stay, but I found myself getting frustrated by the limited vegan and free from products in the market that actually taste normal and can match mainstream options,” said Crave founder, Robert Brice. “Rather than take away flavour, we’re all about adding as much as possible, so you’ll find a whole load of toppings on our chocolate bars to appeal to a wide target of consumers who don’t want to compromise on taste. “Crave is focused on enjoyment and indulgence, so we’re targeting both Gen Z and Gen Y where our chocolate can be shared with all of the family, and the kids of today will hopefully grow up with the brand and be the parents of tomorrow, buying for their family too whether they are vegan or have allergies or not.” With an RRP of £3 per 90g bar, the new chocolate duo is available from Holland & Barrett as well as via the brand’s website. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Crave #freefrom #UK #vegan

Outcast Foods, a Canadian food technology company tackling food waste, has raised CAD 10 million ($7.9 million approx.) in a financing round. The round included a CAD 5 million ($3.9 million approx.) equity investment from District Ventures Capital, with BDC Capital providing the remaining CAD 5 million. Established in 2017, Outcast diverts food waste from landfill and turns discarded fruit and vegetables into ‘nutrient-dense’ food products. These include its line of Plant Strong protein powders and dietary supplements, as well as plant-based ingredients for applications spanning industries including pet food and agriculture. The company’s food upcycling technology makes use of rejected, surplus or out-of-date produce from farms, food processors and grocers across Canada, which supply an average of one million pounds of daily food waste. Outcast currently operates from a facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and plans to scale ‘significantly’ in 2021. “We saw the giant issue of food waste as an opportunity to create a new category in the growing supplement industry,” said Darren Burke, co-founder and CEO of Outcast Foods. “All we needed to do was figure out how to transform waste stream food into high-purity, nutrient-dense, long-shelf life natural health products.” TJ Galiardi, co-founder of Outcast Foods, said: “We have created a win for everyone in the supply chain with Outcast. Retailers not only cut costs associated with hauling unsold produce away to the landfill, but there’s also a reduction in carbon footprint, and customers enjoy delicious and sustainable products. We’re ready and excited to scale our operations with our new partners.” Arlene Dickinson, general partner of District Ventures Capital, added: “We are pleased to support a company that not only addresses the problems of food waste but is creating a future world rooted in sustainable food production. “We’re excited to partner with Outcast with our investment as they prepare to scale their sustainable plant-based technology.” District Ventures Capital recently invested in organic sparkling tree water company, Sapsucker. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #BDCCapital #DistrictVenturesCapital #foodwaste #OutcastFoods

The Scottish government has agreed to offer non-dairy milk alternatives as part of its free government-funded nursery and early learning milk scheme. The decision comes after several years of campaigning by The Vegan Society over the lack of inclusion of plant-based milks in various public health initiatives. Established in 2019, the society’s Play Fair with Plant Milk campaign demands that fortified non-dairy milk should be recognised as an alternative wherever animal milk is currently promoted. The UK’s current Nursery Milk Scheme means children under the age of five who attend approved day care facilities are entitled to receive 1/3 of a pint of cow’s milk each day, free of charge. However, the government scheme does not currently include fortified plant milks for vegan pupils. Following discussion between The Vegan Society and the Scottish government, funding will now be available for eligible childcare providers to provide unsweetened calcium enriched soya drinks for children over 12 months. The dairy-free alternative will be made available to children under the new Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme, which will roll out across all local authorities on 1 August 2021 and will replace the current UK Nursery Milk Scheme in Scotland. In a published assessment, the Scottish government said: “During the development of the policy, a negative impact was identified for those children who are unable to consume cow’s milk due to medical, ethical or religious reasons. “These children will be unable to benefit from the cow’s milk element of the scheme but we have sought advice from Food Standard Scotland to identify safe and nutritious alternative drinks to cow’s milk which can be included in the scheme.” Goat and sheep milk alternatives will also be made available as part of the new scheme, as well as a healthy snack item such as a portion of fresh fruit or vegetable. Heather Russell, dietitian at The Vegan Society, added: “This scheme recognises the nutritional need for suitable alternatives to milk, which will help to ensure that vegan children receive the best care, including balanced food.” Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #Nondairymilk #plantbaseddairy #Scotland #TheVeganSociety

US hummus producer Sabra has introduced its first plant-based snack line for kids, which pairs a vegan dip with crackers or tortilla chips. The plant-based snack kits are available in two flavours: Brownie Batter Dip & Graham Cracker Sticks and Taco Dip & Rolled Tortilla Chips. Sabra Kids come in packs of three single-serve snacks and are also kosher. Both dips are made with cooked chickpeas and other vegan, non-GMO ingredients. The snack duo joins the brand’s wide range of hummus and other plant-based products, such as guacamole and its Dark Chocolate Dessert Dip & Spread. To support the launch of Sabra Kids, the brand is challenging parents to a game of ‘truth or delicious dare’ – sharing some less-than-proud snacking and parent truths, while daring their own children to try something new. Through the game, Sabra is hoping more kids will experiment with new snacks and more plant-based foods. “Like many families, we’ve embraced a more plant-based way of eating at home, and I know it can be very challenging to find incredibly great tasting, excellent snacks for kids,” said Jason Levine, dad of three and Sabra chief marketing officer. “Sabra Kids is a delicious snack and we’re thrilled for families to taste for themselves …in fact, we’re daring them to try it,” he added. Sabra Kids can be purchased in supermarkets nationwide and online at retailers including Walmart. Keep up to date with the plant-based industry by subscribing to FoodBev’s latest title, The Plant Base, launching March 2021. #plantbasedsnacks #Sabra #US #vegan