5/10/2021
Agtech firm Benson Hill will merge with the special purpose acquisition company Star Peak Corp. II to go public and raise funds to develop improved versions of crops used in plant-based meats. The company, which is valued at $2 billion, aims to produce yellow peas, soybeans and other crops that will grow faster and be higher in protein.
7/19/2021
Honest Tea co-founder and Beyond Meat Chairman Seth Goldman partnered with restaurateur and chef Spike Mendelsohn to create a startup called Eat the Change that's turning less-than-perfect organic mushrooms into five different flavors of jerky. Plans call for the company to expand beyond jerky with new plant-based products that are also organic, nutrient dense and made with produce that's not pretty enough to make it into retail channels.
7/19/2021
California-based startup The Plug Drink raised $1.5 million to roll out its plant-based beverages to stores nationwide. The functional recovery drink is currently available online and in stores in California and Michigan, and the company recently partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
5/6/2021
Master Chef Daryl Shular shares five elements that are key to creating flavorful vegetarian dishes: umami flavors, nutrient-rich oils, bright citrus, spices and fresh herbs. "The goal is to be creative in all things plant-based, but make sure to use ingredients at their peak to maximize the overall flavor profile," Shular writes.
7/6/2021
Selfridges will start selling plant-based accessories from luxury brand Marici this week. The products are made of Pinatex, an alternative to leather that's made from pineapple leaves, using no plastic, fossil fuels, pesticides or fertilizers during the process.
5/5/2021
Nestle is set to release a line of pea-based milk called Wunda in Portugal, France and the Netherlands, with an expanded rollout in Europe to follow. The line will include three varieties: unsweetened, original and chocolate.
6/21/2021
Companies making plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are exploring a bounty of options for plant proteins that offer the right flavor profiles and boost nutritional value. Pea protein can often be a good option because it's similar to soy without being a major allergen, said Cargill's Melissa Machen, and walnuts have a texture that works well in creating plant-based alternatives to ground meat, said Jennifer Williams of the California Walnut Board and Commission.
7/16/2021
Nestle's Gerber brand is working with Michigan State University and organic farming nonprofit Rodale Institute to study how regenerative farming affects biodiversity, soil health and the nutritional profile of its products -- including its plant-based offerings -- compared to traditional farming, said Emily Johannes, senior manager of sustainable sourcing at Gerber. The Climate Forward Nutrition initiative aims to support Gerber's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035, added Johannes.
4/27/2021
NotCo's artificial intelligence-driven approach to reverse engineering animal proteins to create plant-based alternatives results in tastes, textures and aromas that are superior to other plant-based options, said founder and CEO Matias Muchnick. Its NotMilk features a cabbage-pineapple juice blend that mimics dairy milk's taste and offers foaming and emulsification properties similar to dairy milk, said Muchnick.
4/28/2021
Restaurants are expanding their plant-based offerings from burgers to new items including hot dogs at Nathan's Famous, tacos made with a vegan meat alternative at Taco Bell and seitan-based Italian Beef Sandwiches at Buona. Spring menus across the country are also showcasing fresh, seasonal produce in new salads and other dishes.
