7/14/2021
Lion's mane mushrooms have a hearty texture and umami-rich flavor that make them an excellent candidate for plant-based dishes that mimic meat. The fibrous fungus doesn't squeak like tofu, readily absorbs flavors and stands up to various cooking methods, including braising and frying.
7/26/2021
Plant-based beverage brand Zoa Energy is debuting its first national TV spot during the Tokyo Olympics featuring co-founder Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson honoring everyday heroes. The brand's "velocities are exceeding all our wildest expectations" as it focuses on the everyday consumer versus "typical energy stuff like Motocross," said Danny Stepper, CEO of L.A. Libations, who along with Molson Coors supports the brand's distribution.
7/1/2021
Antheia, a startup working on synthetic biology technology, raised $73 million in its Series B funding round. With the new capital the company will engineer molecules used in the development of plant-based medications.
4/22/2021
Hannaford Supermarkets has started a marketing and education campaign to teach shoppers about the benefits of 12 plant-based brands, including Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. The "Spring Into Plant Based" promotion runs through May 1 and features in-store displays, digital and print ads, digital coupons, and a special website featuring recipes and educational material.
4/23/2021
Taco Bell will test its plant-based Cravetarian Taco made with a pea and chickpea blend in place of meat at a single Tustin, Calif., store on April 29. The chain also plans to add other plant-based menu options made with Beyond Meat, which is a partner of Taco Bell parent company Yum Brands.
4/21/2021
Alexis Gauthier recently opened casual cafe 123 Vegan inside a London department store, and when his fine dining restaurant Gauthier Solo reopens for dine-in service, it will boast an entirely plant-based menu. "It's important that chefs put their creative efforts into developing unbelievably delicious plant-based dishes," Gauthier said.
6/30/2020 SmartBrief Original
The success of plant-based meat companies Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods spurred other companies to launch their own plant-based burgers in 2019.
4/20/2021
Avantium is a Dutch biochemical company developing food and beverage packaging from PEF plastic, a plant-based biopolyester called polyethylene furanoate that is 100% recyclable and degrades faster than other plastics. The company expects beverages featuring the packaging will appear on European shelves in early 2024.
7/12/2021
A number of trends including increased focus on sustainability and plant-based eating is fueling the growth in vertical farming and other types of controlled indoor growing. The USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production awarded $3 million in grants to indoor farming projects last year and retailers including Kroger and Publix are building partnerships with indoor produce growers.
7/12/2021
Climate change will show the importance of plant-based foods, as emissions and resource usage in the livestock industry are major factors affecting the environment, says Beyond Meat CEO and founder Ethan Brown. Brown discusses partnering with McDonald's and other big brands, the most difficult part of innovating and the future of meat.
