Sustainable ingredients company, EverGrain, has now launched its nutrient-rich barley ingredients with the backing of AB InBev. EverGrain utilises saved grain from brewing and transforms the barley into protein and fibre-based ingredients, enabling them to be used in a variety of food and beverage products. After five years of R&D, the team – with support from AB InBev – is now ready to showcase its range of barley ingredients and products. “Our unique barley ingredients will transform plant-based products, delivering better tasting and more nutritious options to consumers who seek a healthier and more sustainable future,” said founder and CEO of EverGrain, Greg Belt. “EverGrain’s innovative and circular approach, which we’ve honed over the past five years, offers a scalable, local and reliable solution for the global food industry to help address the world’s food security and sustainability challenges,” Belt continued. By committing to a circular economy, EverGrain hopes to partner with some of the world’s leading organisations to encourage and support them to turn barley into an essential ingredient. “AB InBev is proud to support such a remarkable, purpose-driven venture with a mission to create incredible ingredients to nourish the world through the transformative power of circularity,” added Tony Milikin, chief sustainability and procurement officer, AB InBev. “EverGrain marks an important milestone in our ultimate goal of building a better world as we look to the next 100 years and beyond.” With this launch, the ingredients company will commercialise its first-generation of ancient-grain products to market, EverPro and EverVita. EverGrain ingredients can be found in products such as Take Two plant-based barley milk, with product launches planned in the US and Europe in the first quarter fiscal year 2021. #ABInBev #barley #EvergrainIngredients

Danone North America has expanded its So Delicious Dairy Free portfolio with the introduction of a new range of plant-based cheese alternatives. Offering a ‘rich and creamy’ texture, So Delicious’s plant-based shreds come in cheddar- and mozzarella-style variants, as well as a Mexican flavour. The brand’s plant-based American- and cheddar-style slices are said to be perfect for melty grilled sandwiches and as a topping for black bean burgers. Meanwhile, the new cream cheese-style spreads can be enjoyed on bagels, crackers or in dips, and come in original and chive & onion flavours. The new products are all reportedly free from dairy, gluten and soy, and are Non-GMO Project Verified. Both the slices and the shreds will be available nationwide in the US from this month onwards, at retailers including Target, Walmart, Hannaford, Market Basket and Fresh Thyme. The cream cheese-style spreads are launching in March. Last year, Danone North America added a new line of coconut yogurt alternatives paired with curated toppings to the So Delicious range. #US #Dairyalternatives #Danone #plantbased #SoDeliciousDairyFree

Asda has partnered with Kbox Global to trial a supermarket vegan butcher counter at one of its stores in the UK, in response to the growing plant-based trend. The one-store vegan butcher trial will initially last six months and is part of a new joint venture between Asda and Kbox Global, a UK start-up that helps optimise kitchen assets. The Veelicious counter will be situated at Asda’s Watford store and will offer a range of meat-free alternatives starting from 75p such as facon, bean burgers, mock lamb and vegan ‘black pudding’, as well as a small selection of vegan cheeses, ready-to-eat meal kits, chutneys and cooking sauces. With Veelicious, Asda hopes to provide consumers with access to high quality and flavoursome vegan foods, coinciding with Veganuary. Preyash Thakrar, Asda’s chief strategy officer, said: “The demand for vegan products is on the rise and we have seen a surge in people seeking out ways to easily enjoy a plant-based lifestyle. “Veelicious will be a ‘test and learn’ trial to help us understand what resonates with customers to enable us to enhance our plant-based proposition.” Asda says it has recorded an increase in online searches for ‘vegan’ on its website by 175% year-on-year and is forecasting its vegan sales in January to rise by 391% year-on-year. This month, Asda has also added 22 new meat-free alternatives to its plant-based range. Salima Vellani, founder and CEO of Kbox Global, said: “Our partnership with Asda to launch the UK’s first vegan butcher is an exciting joint venture that recognises growing demand for plant-based brands, from meat eaters and vegans alike. “Veganism is now a mainstream, healthy and environmentally sustainable way for anyone to eat. We are pleased to be working with one of the country’s leading supermarkets to give consumers more of what they are asking for.” Last January, Asda announced plans to trial a new sustainability store in Leeds where shoppers can refill containers of products such as Kellogg’s cereals and Unilever’s PG Tips tea. #Asda #meatalternatives #UK #KboxGlobal #vegan

New Wave Foods has raised $18 million in a Series A funding round to grow its plant-based seafood operation. The US company has developed a plant-based shrimp alternative that it says is virtually indistinguishable from ocean shrimp in terms of taste and texture. The company plans to initially focus on selling its product – which is made from sustainable seaweed and plant proteins – to restaurants and foodservice locations. New Wave Foods’ latest financing push was backed by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Evolution VC Partners, and other new and existing investors. The new funds will enable the company to scale up production, expand its sales and marketing efforts, and continue to build its team. “We’re launching a versatile plant-based shrimp that can be used in a wide range of shrimp dishes,” said Michelle Wolf, co-founder and CTO of New Wave Foods. “We have developed a product that is delicious and easy to prepare; these are key factors for foodservice operators.” New Wave Foods CEO, Mary McGovern, added: “Along with a delicious-tasting product, we aim to address the environmental issues that come with shrimp farming and overfishing.” With the additional capital, New Wave Foods will also be able to accelerate its plans for future products, including plant-based lobster, scallops and crab. “Plant-based protein is one of the most important consumer trends in decades, with explosive demand for healthy, sustainable products, and New Wave Foods is delivering a plant-based seafood alternative that is delicious, responsible and humane,” said NEA general partner Liza Landsman, who will join the New Wave Foods board of directors. In 2019, New Wave Foods announced that it had secured funding from Tyson Foods through the meat giant’s Tyson Ventures subsidiary. #NewWaveFoods #plantprotein #Plantbasedseafood #US

US-based breakfast sausage maker, Jimmy Dean, has launched a plant-based patty breakfast sandwich. The company’s Plant-Based Patty, Egg & Cheese Croissant Sandwich features a meat-free patty made with soy protein and egg whites, as well as American cheese and whole eggs, in a croissant. The croissant sandwich offers 13g of protein per serving and will be available in 12-count packages at Sam’s Club locations nationwide from January. Meanwhile, its Jimmy Dean Delights Plant-Based Patty & Frittata Sandwich is made from a vegetable and grain patty containing soy protein, black beans, brown rice, quinoa and egg whites, topped with a spinach and egg white frittata and American cheese, inside a whole-wheat English muffin. The frittata sandwich contains 15g of protein, 280 calories per serving, and will be available at retailers nationwide in Spring 2021. Jimmy Dean’s croissant sandwich comes with an RRP of $11.65, while its frittata sandwich will have an estimated RRP of $7.29. #JimmyDean #US #meatfreealternatives #plantbasedpatty #breakfast

Mars has expanded its range of vegan and gluten-free chocolate with the introduction of Bounty Vegan and Topic Vegan in the UK. The vegan Bounty alternative is a combination of rich cocoa and diced coconut, blended with almond paste. Meanwhile the vegan Topic bar combines hazelnut paste and rich cocoa with whole hazelnuts. The new products come after Mars launched a vegan Galaxy chocolate range in 2019, as the company continues to capitalise on growth in the free-from chocolate confectionery category. “We are so pleased to be offering more consumers the opportunity to try our brands. Galaxy Vegan has proved incredibly popular and we believe that Topic Vegan and Bounty Vegan will add something excitingly different to the free-from category,” said Michelle Frost, general manager at Mars Chocolate Drinks & Treats. Registered with The Vegan Society, each 100g chocolate bar can be purchased at Morrisons stores now for an RRP of £3. Bounty Vegan will also roll out in Asda from the end of January. #Topic #Mars #Bounty #UK #veganchocolate

Plant-based food firm Livekindly Collective has announced the acquisition of British supermarket Iceland Foods’ vegan meat alternative company, No Meat. The frozen vegan brand marks Livekindly Collective’s latest deal and will join its portfolio of start-up plant-based brands such as Fry Family Food Co, LikeMeat and Oumph!, which it acquired last year. Developed by British supermarket chain Iceland Foods, the No Meat range first launched in 2018 with the No Bull burger. The line has since expanded to include products such as No Porkies sausages, No Chick fillets and strips, No Cheese pizzas and pasties, as well as No Moo dairy-free chocolate puddings. The range is currently available in Iceland, Asda and Ocado in the UK. As part of the agreement, Iceland Foods will also begin to sell Livekindly Collective’s existing brands in Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores across the UK and Ireland from April 2021. “This acquisition is very complementary to our current portfolio, further strengthening our position in the frozen sector of the fast-growing plant-based meat category,” said Domenico Speciale, general manager for Livekindly Collective in the UK. He added: “Iceland Foods has done an amazing job in building the No Meat brand over the last few years. The team has been brilliant in their approach by continually developing new products and rotating the range to bring excitement to the category.” The acquisition – which was made for an undisclosed sum – also comes on the heels of Livekindly Collective’s $135 million funding round led by Blue Horizon Corporation. Kees Kruythoff, CEO and chairman of Livekindly Collective, said: “Bringing No Meat into the Livekindly Collective family as a mission aligned partner was a natural next step for us. Its strategy to meet the demand of consumers for healthier and more environmentally friendly vegan products mirrors our own commitment to protect the planet.” Andrew Staniland, trading director of frozen at Iceland Foods, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Livekindly Collective both to bring the No Meat brand to new consumers globally and to significantly expand Iceland Foods’ plant-based product offering in the UK.” #LivekindlyCollective #NoMeat #meatalternatives #IcelandFoods #UK #plantbased

Meat alternatives producer Vivera has announced that it is introducing two new plant-based products in the UK to mark Veganuary. Launching exclusively into Sainsbury’s, the brand’s new meat-free Lincolnshire Style Sausages can be fried, grilled or oven baked. The meatless sausage alternatives feature Lincolnshire-style seasoning and a coating made from algae. Vivera’s new plant-based nuggets are seasoned with southern-style spices and feature a ‘meat-like’ centre encased in a crispy coating. The Southern Fried Nuggets are accompanied by a smoky BBQ sauce and are said to offer a realistic alternative to their chicken-based counterpart. Rosie Bambaji, buyer, fresh plant-based at Sainsbury’s, said: “The plant-based category is booming, and we’re delighted to exclusively launch Vivera’s new Lincolnshire Style Sausages and Southern Fried Nuggets with BBQ Sauce. “Consumers now have more choice than ever, and we’re sure Veganuary 2021 will be successful in encouraging more people to try the wide range of tasty plant-based foods on offer.” Vivera’s new Lincolnshire Style Sausages and Southern Fried Nuggets with BBQ Sauce are launching into Sainsbury’s stores at the beginning of this month. The brand recently announced a €30 million investment to double the size of its Dutch facility and the production of its plant-based food. #meatalternatives #plantbased #UK #Vivera

Kerry Foods is expanding its Naked Glory meat-free range in the UK with two new products: No-Beef Strips and Chick’n Burgers. The new products will launch in early January 2021, in order to allow retailers to tap into the growing number of consumers looking to reduce their meat intake as part of Veganuary. Naked Glory’s No-Beef Strips are ready-to-eat and can be used in a range of meals such as sandwiches, salads, stir fries and curries. Meanwhile, the brand’s meat-free chicken burgers are described as juicy and tender, ideal for consumers looking for a convenient light meal. Both meat alternative products are said to be high in fibre and protein. Last year, Kerry Foods expanded its Naked Glory meat alternative brand with a new range of Tenderstrips and ready-to-eat Deli Readybites, joining its meat-free quarter pounders, mince and sausages. Alison Lees, marketing manager at Naked Glory, said: “The launch of No-Beef Strips is a new venture within beefy plant-based options, so we are excited to give consumers more options at mealtimes. “On top of this, our Quarter Pounders have proven hugely popular since launch so we’re confident our Chick’n Burgers will also be much-loved by consumers, giving them new options when it comes to evenings in with a burger.” David Hamilton, chief innovation officer at Kerry, added: “We’ve taken on the challenge to create the meatiest thing since meat and have taken the time to make sure our No-Beef Strips and Chick’n Burgers taste exactly like their meat counterparts and are bursting with flavour.” Both No-Beef Strips and Chick’n Burgers will be available to purchase in Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, while the strips will also be found in Morrisons, for an RRP of £2.75. #meatalternatives #KerryFoods #UK #plantbased #NakedGlory

New snack brand Mark’s Mindful Munchies has launched a range of air-popped chips, featuring ancient grains. Made from 100% whole grain sorghum, as well as brown rice, quinoa and chia, Pop Bitties are available in four flavours: pink Himalayan salt, maple & sea salt, hickory BBQ and vegan sour cream & onion. Containing only 120 calories per serving, the ‘light and crunchy’ snacks are vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified. Pop Bitties are also said to be free from gluten, trans fats and artificial ingredients. Mark’s Mindful Munchies claims that the snacks are made using sorghum sourced exclusively from eco-responsible US farmers. In addition, the brand says that the grain is a source of nutrients including magnesium, potassium, iron and protein, while also being resource efficient and ‘gentle on the planet’. “We are proud to be launching a snack food that is made from the highest quality ingredients, tastes great, is good for the body and is responsibly made,” said Mark’s Mindful Munchies founder Mark Andrus, who also launched the Stacy’s Pita Chips brand. “I founded this company based on the belief that snacking should be fun, delicious and mindful. With its bright and bold packaging, our four versatile flavours and our commitment to sustainability, Pop Bitties truly embodies our snacking philosophy.” Pop Bitties are available in 4.5oz (RRP $3.69) and 1oz (RRP $1.49) bags, online and at grocery stores across the US. #US #StacysPitaChips #MarksMindfulMunchies #plantbased #glutenfree #sorghum

New snack brand Mark’s Mindful Munchies has launched a range of air-popped chips, featuring ancient grains. Made from 100% whole grain sorghum, as well as brown rice, quinoa and chia, Pop Bitties are available in four flavours: pink Himalayan salt, maple & sea salt, hickory BBQ and vegan sour cream & onion. Containing only 120 calories per serving, the ‘light and crunchy’ snacks are vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified. Pop Bitties are also said to be free from gluten, trans fats and artificial ingredients. Mark's Mindful Munchies claims that the snacks are made using sorghum sourced exclusively from eco-responsible US farmers. In addition, the brand says that the grain is a source of nutrients including magnesium, potassium, iron and protein, while also being resource efficient and ‘gentle on the planet’. “We are proud to be launching a snack food that is made from the highest quality ingredients, tastes great, is good for the body and is responsibly made,” said Mark's Mindful Munchies founder Mark Andrus, who also launched the Stacy's Pita Chips brand. “I founded this company based on the belief that snacking should be fun, delicious and mindful. With its bright and bold packaging, our four versatile flavours and our commitment to sustainability, Pop Bitties truly embodies our snacking philosophy.” Pop Bitties are available in 4.5oz (RRP $3.69) and 1oz (RRP $1.49) bags, online and at grocery stores across the US.

FiveStar Gourmet Foods has partnered with Beyond Meat to launch a taco salad made using the meat alternative company’s plant-based beef crumbles. The new Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat pairs Beyond Beef Crumbles with toppings including fire-roasted corn, black beans, roasted red bell peppers and cheese. Containing only 260 calories, the new vegetarian offering also features crunchy tortilla strips and a creamy salsa ranch dressing. “We are thrilled to be working with Beyond Meat, a company we appreciate and respect. This partnership allows us to be more versatile with our main product lines and enables us to feature plant-based protein as a key ingredient within all of our fresh, prepared categories, such as salads, breakfast and meal entrées,” said Tal Shoshan, CEO of FiveStar Gourmet Foods. “From a culinary perspective, the Beyond Beef Crumbles are delicious, innovative, versatile and are designed to look, cook and taste like beef — which our chefs really like.” Tim Smith, VP of foodservice sales, North America at Beyond Meat, added: “We're proud to partner with FiveStar to make delicious and nutritious plant-based meat more accessible for consumers on the go with the launch of the new Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat.” The new salad recently debuted in Publix supermarkets and will be available to retailers nationwide in the US starting in January 2021. Garden Lites-owned brand, Veggies Made Great, recently released a new line of frittatas made with Beyond Meat.