Australia-based Deliciou has its eye on China and other Asian markets with its market-first shelf-stable plant-based meat products after successful launches in both Australia’s Coles and Woolworths and US’ Whole Foods supermarkets.
In the first ever edition of Alt Protein Watch, we look at news about OmniFoods' latest seafood launch, cell-based IP protection, China's YouKuai and more.
Cultivated product firms with pioneering technology, a wide geographical focus and a strategy involving both short- and long-term revenue gains hold an advantage in terms of securing investments, according to ex-Beyond and Impossible Foods VC fund MD.
China looks likely to be the world’s largest consumer market of cultivated meat due its population size and government support, but a long, arduous journey lies ahead before this becomes a reality, according to an industry expert.
Asia’s first pea milk firm Snappea seeks to make the most of its first-mover advantage by emphasising the natural flavour of peas in its products as opposed to simulating dairy, believing that this sets it apart from other milk alternatives in the market.
The cultivated meat sector in APAC is calling for the establishment of a non-biased entity to lay down proper industry governance and IP protection to provide a safe, secure environment for firms to share knowledge and collaborate towards scale-up.
Hong Kong-based plant-based meat – and now seafood – firm Omnimeat has just launched a product range with a focus on versatility to fit in with local Asian and other cuisine options, in addition to its first ambient product.
The algal protein sector in India shows massive potential but still needs to overcome several challenges including regulatory barriers and attracting investments before it can come into its own as a sustainable source of alternative protein to meet local...
Israeli cultured meat firm Future Meat Technologies has its eye on Asia as a major market for its products with China and India as key targets, after notching-up two successes in significantly lowering production costs this year.
South Korea’s first food upcycling firm RE:Harvest has developed a flour alternative from beer and sikhye byproducts which has a direct claim on carbon emissions, calling this a ‘perfect fit’ for F&B firms looking for options to hit the government’s...
Thai plant-based firm Let’s Plant Meat has just launched in its first export market Singapore with the ‘most affordable’ products on the market and a focus on multicultural versatility, according to its CEO.
Governments and food industry players across the Asia Pacific region are providing increasing support to the insect-based food industry as an alternative protein source from South Korea to Australia, all touting health as sustainability as the sector’s...
China’s agriculture and grocery retail platform Pinduoduo and the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) have signed a research project agreement to study the impact of plant-based meats on human health in the Singapore population.
The plant-based dairy industry in the Asia Pacific region has traditionally seen products such as soy milk and almond milk lead the pack, but recently firms have been utilising many more unique plant-based sources to produce dairy alternatives, or creating...
TurtleTree, a biotech company using mammalian cells to produce cell-based milk, is now eyeing how its tech can be transferred to the functional foods space.
Hong Kong’s cultivated meat biotechnology firm Avant is aiming to produce its first cell-based fish maw and fillet products for consumption by late 2022, and wants products to be commonplace in supermarkets by 2025.
New Zealand hemp-based meat firm Sustainable Foods has revealed plans to scale up exports over the next five years with Asia Pacific countries its main targets, following a complete rebranding for its products and launching its hemp-based chick*n into...
New Zealand-based Leaft Foods has highlighted leaf-based protein as an ideal new plant-based protein source for F&B product manufacturing on the back of taste and solubility advantages, as it gears up to advance its R&D and commercial plans with...
Singapore-based Sophie’s Bionutrients intends to create a brand new category of products based on its microalgae fermentation technology, including yoghurt and cheese, after successfully creating the world’s first pure microalgae-based milk alternative.
United States-based cell-cultured seafood firm BlueNalu is on the hunt for the optimal launchpad in Asia to launch its cell-cultured seafood products, and is currently analysing markets in terms of regulations to potential to consumer demand.
Asia’s insect food firms are hoping a new report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Office confirming the viability of insect protein and calling for production to be modernised to ensure safety could be a major stepping stone on the sector’s path to...
Singapore’s thriving food eco-system in addition to its ambitious food security goals were key factors behind Givaudan and Buhler’s decision to open a joint Protein Innovation Centre in help businesses and researchers develop plant-based foods.
Singapore-based start-up Altimate Nutrition is on track to launch its debut bar made from cricket protein this year and become the first company to produce insect foods and supplements in the country.
ADM is doubling down its focus on plant-based expertise with a new specialist lab within its Singapore innovation centre, which first opened three years ago.
Government buy-in will be crucial for cultured meat firms looking to hit cost parity for their products by 2030, with experts claiming that it will be an uphill battle go head-to-head with traditional meat products in terms of price by the end of this...
A new tofu alternative, developed from peas rather than the conventional soybean, is offering a sustainable addition to the meat alternative landscape, according to Peafu founder Tor Kemp.
Greek-Canadian plant-based cheese firm Nafsika’s Garden has set its sights on the Middle Eastern market, looking to take advantage of the home-cooking and vegan consumer trends in the region, with India also on its hitlist.
India-based Habbit Health and Nutrition has launched a range of what it claims to be ‘the healthiest ice creams on the planet’ dubbed Wise Creams, containing zero sugar, low fat content and no more than 50 calories per serving.
Australian plant-based firm Eighth Day Foods has developed a versatile plant-based meat alternative from sweet lupins, which it claims is ‘ideal for Asia’ via its specialised fermentation process.
Nestle Japan has launched two ‘plant-based coffee’ ranges as it seeks to maximise the appeal of one of the nation’s most-consumed beverages while tapping into one of the hottest consumer trends.
Singapore-based pili nuts specialist firm Pili Pushers is maximizing the natural health and wellness factor of its products by incorporating botanicals with nutritional and health benefts into its flavour creations.
Philippines MNC Century Pacific is adopting parallel B2B/B2C retail plans for its new plant-based brand unMEAT, with a focus on simplicity and affordability as it eyes international markets from ASEAN to the Middle East.
Upcoming hemp regulations set by the Food Safety and Security Authority of India (FSSAI) will be a crucial turning point for the local hemp and cannabis sector, unlocking its potential for use in the ‘next wave’ food and beverage products.
Australian F&B brands and retailers will need to ensure their business strategy encompasses sustainability, affordability and the identification of a right niche if they wish to achieve growth in what looks to be a ‘tough year ahead’, according to...
Nestle Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is striving to create more innovative products for the region, following the launch of Quality Street dates, while also pledging to double down on its sustainability efforts.
UK’s plant-based firm VBites – owned by media personality and activist Heather Mills – is hoping to launch micro factories in the Middle East on the back of its regional expansion.
In time for National Chip And Dip Day on 23 March, Nature’s Eats – a brand of Texas Star Nut & Food Company – is launching Nutchos, all-natural grain free chips made from almonds.
Almost half (49.7%) of Chinese consumers surveyed say they were willing to sample cell-based meats, but almost as many (47.2%) said they would not wish to eat it regularly.
Chinese homegrown plant-based meat firm HERO Protein believes that an emphasis on product taste and versatility is crucial to capturing the local Chinese palate, as it finalises its B2B launch and gears up for B2C product retail launches in Q2 this year.
A Singapore food tech firm that upcycles barley into healthier noodles wants to partner with major brewers and beverage brands to put their by-products to better use.
Indonesia’s first homegrown plant-based meat firm Green Butcher is banking on its localised flavours and spices focus to pique the interest of the nation’s consumers and grow the domestic category.
Nestle has committed to focus on plant-based product localisation, sustainability and affordability as key focus areas for its Asia Pacific businesses on the back of the region posting near flat-growth as a result of poor performance in China.
Singapore's first locally-made meat-free brand ALTN, manufactured by Tee Yih Jia (TYJ) Food Manufacturing, is eyeing exports to Asia, EU, Oceania and US by Q2 of this year, as well as launching in its domestic retail market.
Chinese start-up Starfield Food Science & Technology expects to launch its first plant-based retail product in the country by June, after two years of operations in the foodservice sector.
Kerry is preparing to ramp-up promotion of its plant-based innovation service to brands in APAC and the Middle East, while also doubling down on emerging taste trends and better-for-you product innovation.
Plant-based firm and social impact venture Green Monday has recently made major strides into the South East Asian market with product and retail debuts in Singapore and Malaysia, and is now eyeing opportunities to reduce its prices in order to sustain...
Thai Union’s head of global innovation reveals why the firm has taken an interest in and invested multiple insect protein firms, as well as the importance of this to diversify and manage its product portfolio for the future.
Asian seafood giant Thai Union has revealed plans to launch a range of plant-based products comprising both seafood and non-seafood items this year in response to high consumer demand - and believes its longstanding seafood expertise will give it an edge...
Regional-level collaborations and big brand influence are crucial to help Asia’s plant-based meat sector when it comes to diversifying the raw ingredients used and to help it truly prosper on the global stage.