Plant protein news – Meatless Farm, Chik’n Tenders, Plant Protein 2.0, The Very Good Food Company, Nabati, Boursin

Meatless Farm – one of the UK’s fastest growing plant-based food companies – is now selling meat-free burgers, ground, breakfast sausages and sausage patties are available at 130 Metro locations across Ontario. This follows an announcement earlier this month, in which the brand revealed the opening of its first dedicated plant protein ingredients subsidiary, Lovingly Made Ingredients, in Calgary. Together, these announcements are the first of many milestones in Meatless Farm’s commitment to expand in the Canadian market and provide consumers with increased flexibility within the plant-based food category.

Metro Ontario is the first to bring Meatless Farm’s breakfast sausages and sausage patties to Canada. All products are 100 per cent plant-based, gluten free, high in protein and made using the highest-quality, non-GMO ingredients available. The company is targeting flexitarians and has done research on the environmental benefits of swapping one meal to plant-based each week. Making the once-weekly switch would reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 million tonnes – the equivalent to taking 6 million cars off the road.

Photo: Meatless Farms

Incogmeato By MorningStar Farms (owned by Kelloggs) introduces plant-based Chik’n Tenders. The product uses finely-honed plant-based tear technology to replicate the texture of real chicken. Hitting shelves this month in the U.S. in Original and Sweet BBQ flavors, the new Incogmeato Chik’n Tenders are indistinguishable from its animal protein counterpart.

‘ulivit’ announces the launch of Plant Protein 2.0 for Earth Day 2021 (April 22) in select stores in Saskatoon and Calgary.  More than just an alternative to meat, eggs, dairy and tofu, this food represents Canada’s next generation of plant protein.  ulivit created this food with Canadian farmers, scientists, manufacturers and foodies.  Together, they solve climate change by transforming chickpeas and fava beans into the Prairies’ next multi-billion sector. Crazy versatile, Plant Protein 2.0 is also soy-free, allergen-free, gluten-free, nut-free, non-GMO and made with a few simple ingredients.

In celebration of National Look Alike Day, Gardein, a brand of Conagra Brands, is challenging consumers to do a double take and turn their favorite meaty meals meatless. The Potash Twins, best known as the Food Network’s Takeout Twins, have joined Gardein to ask budding chefs to swap out the meat in their favorite dishes as part of the “Plant-Based Double Take Challenge.” Ten lucky winners will join the brothers for a seat at a virtual cooking class and dinner.

For inspiration, the twins created a collection of four plant-based recipes, modeling their creations off popular restaurant recipes. Their new dishes include:
• Chick’n Parm Bites with Gardein Crispy Golden Chick’n Nuggets
• Chips and Guac “Egg Rolls” with Gardein Beefless Tips and Street Corn Salsa
• Plant-based Butter Chick’n Salad Sandwich with Gardein Plant-based Chick’n Strips
• Fishless Fish and Chips Burrito with Gardein Fishless Filets and Creamy Pea Puree and Tartar Sauce
Between now and May 20th, consumers can enter for a chance to win the Plant-Based Double Take Challenge. To enter, simply swap out the meat and recreate a favorite dish using Gardein. Creations can be submitted at GardeinDoubleTake.com or by posting a photo and tagging @Gardein, including the hashtag #GardeinSweepstakes to enter on Instagram or Twitter. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See website for details.

Eat Beyond Global Holdings Inc. portfolio company The Very Good Food Company has commissioned its first production line and has butchered its first bean at an upgraded, retooled manufacturing facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. “The 45,000 square foot facility will significantly boost Very Good’s production capacity to meet significant online and retail demand for its plant-based meat alternatives,” said Eat Beyond CEO Patrick Morris.  “Eat Beyond took a strong financial stake with The Very Good Food Company because of its value, foresight, and vision for the present and future of food. We’re excited to see this infrastructure development, positioning Very Good for a successful 2021 and the potential for even bigger growth in the years ahead.”

Nabati Foods Global products are now available at Metro grocery stores in Ontario. Metro is the third largest grocery retailer in Canada, representing a major opportunity for Nabati sales growth. Nabati’s dairy free cheesecakes will be available at 150 Metro locations across the province. The cheesecakes are available in chocolate, peanut butter, and tiramisu.

France-based historic cheese-maker Boursin is expanding its product line with Boursin Dairy-Free Cheese Spread Alternative Garlic & Herbs, created to meet flexitarian food trends and evolving consumer demands.

Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta is closed. “When we launched Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta three years ago it was to raise awareness and create connections to help realize the endless opportunities the plant protein and plant-ingredient processing industry offer our province. Today, however, we sadly share the news that PPAA is shutting down. We did not receive renewed funding from the provincial government for the current fiscal year and without it we simply do not have the money to continue.

To clarify some confusion out there, the government initially confirmed in early March we would receive funding for another year, but then March 31 told us they had reversed their decision and PPAA would not get further money. While PPAA does receive membership fees, they are not enough to sustain operations. There have been some sponsorship dollars, but they are difficult to obtain for a new organization in an emerging sector, particularly during a pandemic when we were not able to hold our well-regarded events. “I’m disappointed that we’re not able to continue our work, there is just so much potential for economic growth in the plant-protein industry,” says board chair Allison Ammeter. “I am very proud of all that PPAA has accomplished and want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past three years.”

PPAA’s mandate is connect, learn, share in support of Alberta’s plant-protein industry. Since incorporating as a not-for-profit in May 2018, PPAA staff and board members have travelled the province and globe educating businesses, counties and economic development groups about this generational opportunity and how to be part of it; have connected entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and suppliers to start building a needed ecosystem; and, most importantly, raised awareness and created opportunities for entrepreneurs and industry.

One highlight in particular was the key role PPAA played in attracting the international Plant-Based Food Summit to Western Canada (Calgary and Saskatoon) in 2019, the first time the globally recognized event was held outside of Europe. We were also instrumental in helping to get funding for the federal plant-protein supercluster Protein Industries Canada, and we developed a strong communications program to connect, educate and shine a light on those doing innovative work in the plant-protein space.

While PPAA is, of course, disappointed to be closing down, we are encouraged by the growth in the industry in the past three years and the numerous opportunities out there. We hope others will pick up our work and continue to collaborate with industry to ensure that Alberta captures its share of the global plant-based protein market. A just released Ernst and Young report estimated this to be is at least a $20-billion annual opportunity for Canada in the next 15 years. An April 15, 2021 Globe and Mail column outlines the need for investment and the urgency in bringing about transformational change to our agrifood industry.” For more information, please contact:  Allison Ammeter Board Chair ammeter@platinum.ca