Martie’s Post

Technology or taste, which comes first? Plant-based 'meat' startups that aren't meat (kinda like 'milk' that isn't milk) are proliferating. They start in technology, but most don't make it in the taste department. We've been trying a lot of these substitutes and we're fans - as long as there are lots of spices involved. How we grow our meat isn't sustainable, so we'd better start sharing recipes! (Have you tried mushroom crunch supreme tacos?) Plant-based ‘meat’ startup Tender has already nabbed a fast-food chain contract, and another $11M | TechCrunch http://tcrn.ch/4cAvo0y #PlantBased #FoodTech #Food

🍳 Exciting News! Yo Egg, a Los Angeles-based #startup, is breaking new ground in the world of #plantbased eggs. 🥚🌿 Their patent-pending technology allows them to create sunny-side-up and poached eggs entirely from plants! 🌞🌱 Founded in September 2021 by the visionary #entrepreneur Eran Groner (CEO) and the talented chef Yosefa Ben Cohen, Yo Egg has garnered support from notable investors, including NFX, Stray Dog Capital, Secret Chord Ventures, and Surround Ventures. 🚀 What makes Yo Egg stand out? These eggs are not only delicious but also health-conscious. 🍳 They are zero-cholesterol and have low-saturated fat content. The secret lies in their unique composition: a blend of soy and #chickpea #protein, combined with sunflower oil. The ‘runny’ yolks are expertly sealed from the whites using an alginate film. 🌟 Now, get ready for the big reveal: Yo Egg is hitting retail shelves on the west coast! 🛒🌴 You can find these #innovative plant-based eggs in four-packs in the freezer section of select supermarkets across LosAngeles City. Look out for them at BESTIES Vegan Paradise, Rainbow Acres Natural Foods, Hanks Organic, Follow Your Heart Natural Foods Market & Cafe, and PlantX-XMarket Venice. 🛍️ But that’s not all! Yo Egg has ambitious plans for expansion.  California, New York, and eventually, nationwide availability is on the horizon for next year. 🌎🌟 So, whether you’re a #foodie, a health enthusiast, or simply curious about cutting-edge #culinary creations, keep an eye out for Yo Egg! 🥳🌱🍳 #FoodInnovation #PlantBasedEggs #StartupSuccess #yoegg #foodtech #alternativeproteins #vegan AgFunder #agfundernews Read more >> https://lnkd.in/dhh8Fs5T

🛵🌎 Are you ready for the future of UK cuisine? Discover Horus Market, an eco-friendly food delivery service launched by Martin Engelbrecht. 🌱🚴♀️ With a strong promise of clean environmental consciousness, Horus Market is championing carbon efficiency within the food delivery industry. From delivering vegan and vegetarian foods on bikes to their focus on overall sustainable practices, this startup is reshaping how we think about food delivery. 🗞️ Dive into this insightful article exploring the journey of this innovative startup, and see why it just might represent the future of our food habits.👇 https://UKT.news/?p=13251 👏Let's celebrate the success of Horus Market and inspire others to follow in their environmentally-friendly footsteps. #FoodDelivery #Sustainability #Startup #EcoFriendly #Vegan #Vegetarian #CarbonEfficiency #FutureIsGreen #HorusMarket

Oscar Mayer is launching a vegan hot dog. I'm conflicted. The Good: It’s another plant-based option (and availability drives trial). It's a simple 1:1 substitute (making habit change easy). It’s a taste-first proposition (addressing the top barrier). It’s a mass brand (quickly building trust & distribution). It's relatively affordable (making this accessible to many). The Bad: It’s another plant-based option (adding to the noise). It’s hardly a BFY substitute (650mg sodium, ingredients TBD). It’s a taste-first proposition (achieved by packing it with salt). It’s a mass brand (further diluting the plant-based movement). It's relatively affordable (using its scale to undercut startups). The Ugly: It reinforces two negative (and growing) associations: 1. That vegan food = heavily processed food 2. That vegan food = unhealthy food All considered, this feels like a desperate “me too” product. Why? Ask yourself a simple question – who is this for? It’s probably not for typical Oscar Mayer ($1B ) brand buyers. It’s probably not for typical vegan consumers (~1% of the U.S.). It’s probably not for ethical vegans (b/c it’s all one piggy bank). It *might* be for junk food vegans who still support big brands. Which suggests it’s for way less than 1% of Americans. And for that reason, I think this one is going to tank. I might be wrong. Some big brands have strong vegan sub-lines. (Ben & Jerry’s, Hellmann’s, Taco Bell, etc.) But without a clear target and a well-defined unmet need… This one will probably come and go. Maybe not immediately.  Slotting & trade can buy quick distribution & promo sales. But in 3 yrs, when the sizzle, promo spend, and velocity fades… When leadership changes & they lose sight of the big picture… Like other “me-too” vegan products, this one will fade away.  And as it goes, it will further dilute the plant-based movement. Not a fan. #food #innovation #sustainability #strategy h/t Deena Shanker & Bloomberg

"We’ve given the recipe to make egg proteins that are identical to those from chicken eggs," said Arturo Elizondo, co-founder and CEO of The EVERY Company. "Every Egg is the first precision-fermentation-derived core food product that is indistinguishable from its animal-derived equivalent. Its launch proves to the world that this food production method is uniquely capable of creating the same essential foods we all know and love, but in a more equitable and sustainable way." Read how The Every Co. is bringing its liquid egg alternative into the food service sector in 2024. More here 🍳▶️ https://ow.ly/fVqe50QnuqY #foodentrepreneur #startup #emergingbrands #fermentation

What do our dives for start-up pearls at Oyster Bay look like? It's a mix of organic deal flow and a targeted search for start-ups that solve specific problems in the food industry. ➡️ Organic Dealflow: We receive up to eight pitch decks per day and up to 500 per quarter - that's quite a lot. We go through all the decks and discuss every Tuesday whether there is something we should take a closer look at. ➡️ Targeted search for innovative solutions for issues in the food-industry: The food system offers lots of potentials to build successful game changing companies. We have a list of topics along the food value chain that we think are worth solving, economically as well as from an impact perspective.  We pick one and do a deep dive on this specific issue: we analyze the market, talk to different companies and look at all the start-ups that we think contribute to solving this issue. And If we find a start-up that really convinces us, then we make an investment. A good example is our recent investment in GoodBytz. They are solving two core issues: the availability of healthy, sustainable food in a convenient manner, and the labor shortage facing the whole food supply chain from the farm to fork. With one automated kitchen, GoodBytz is able to produce up to 3000 healthy meals and is launching this in locations where currently the food choices are limited and no chefs or service personell is available. Such an amazing team and idea, and we are very happy we found this pearl of a start-up!

Getting a nutritious and delicious breakfast is a great start to any day. 😬 But in the rush of a busy morning, a good breakfast can get skipped. Many different cereal grains have a lot to offer for breakfast, but a new ancient grain is looking to enter the competition. 🥣 Gruff’s Ancient Grain Grits, made from regenerative organic cracked farro, offer a nutritionally dense, delicious, and easy-to-prepare breakfast for eaters of all ages. Gruff’s farro grits are high in dietary fiber, easy to digest, high in protein, and can be prepared sweet or savory. Not to mention that they are also Regenerative Organic Certified® and single-origin sourced from a 100-year-old family farm! Jody, Crystal, and Brei joined us to share the story of how Gruff came to be plus what they’re cooking up for the future! ReGen Brands #64 is LIVE now on all platforms! Viewing and listening links in the comments! #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #regenerativefoodsystems #cpg #regenbrands #food #beverage #podcast #sustainability #innovation #entrepreneurship #startups #business #inspiration

From Techcrunch: Food tech roundup: Plant-based protein eaters still want it to taste like meat ------------------------------- Taste is something that continues to be a challenge for plant-based protein companies. If it tastes more like meat, it's a winner, according to new stats from Good Food Institute. #techcrunch #startups #breakingtechnews

Good for them. We were happily surprised with meati™ products (As a #vegan I'm not often a fan of plant-based "meats"). https://lnkd.in/eNXm3CmU #veganbusiness #plantbasedfood #plantbasedmeat #startupgrowth

Tender Food Inc, a food technology startup based in Massachusetts, USA, has successfully closed over US$11 million in Series A funding. Led by Rhapsody Venture Partners, with existing investors Lowercarbon Capital and Safar Partners and new investors Claridge Partners and Nor'easter Ventures, the additional funding will allow Tender to further its goal of revolutionizing the way we produce and consume meat. What's different about Tender? Its patented technology spins plant protein fibers like cotton candy to create structured cuts of meat. The result is hyper-realistic, nutritious, affordable, products with simple ingredients, in any format – from pulled pork to chicken breast to seafood to steak. "Consumers are largely disappointed with plant-based meat products in the market – they’re too expensive, they don’t taste good, and are mostly limited to burgers and sausages with long, unrecognizable ingredient lists," said Christophe Chantre, Co-founder & CEO, Tender Food. "We need new technologies to address these challenges and drive meaningful adoption in this category, which is crucial for decarbonizing our food system. Our technology allows us to create healthy products that taste great, have the structure and feel of animal meat and are much cheaper to produce.” #alternativeproteins #foodtech #investment #foodproduction