Nestlé and Starbucks have unveiled the latest innovation from their global coffee alliance with the launch of non-dairy coffee creamers in the US. The launch builds on Starbucks' entry into the refrigerated creamer category in July last year, and is in response to growing consumer interest in plant-based options. Starbucks Non-Dairy Creamers feature a blend of almond milk and oat milk and claim to offer a rich and smooth texture when paired with coffee. The line-up will be initially available in two flavours inspired by beverages served at Starbucks cafés: caramel and hazelnut. Starbucks Caramel Flavored Non-Dairy Creamer is made with caramel and hints of vanilla flavouring, inspired by its Caramel Macchiato. Meanwhile, the brand’s Hazelnut Flavored Non-Dairy Creamer is inspired by the Hazlenut Latte found at Starbucks Cafes. In 2018, Nestlé paid $7.15 billion for exclusive rights to sell Starbucks’ line of packaged products with the first range of Starbucks-branded coffee products released last year. Most recently under the agreement, the companies launched a Cold Brew concentrate range, Starbucks Fresh Brew and three new coffee blends in K-Cup pods. Starbucks duo of non-dairy creamers will be available to purchase from August in grocery stores nationwide.

Plant-based meat alternative company Nuggs has rebranded as Simulate, following a new $4.1 million investment round. As a result of the rebrand, Simulate will now act as the parent company of the Nuggs brand. Nuggs was launched in 2019, releasing a line of plant-based alternatives to chicken nuggets. Existing investors in Nuggs include McCain Foods, Rainfall Ventures, Maven Ventures and NOMO Ventures. This latest $4.1 million financing includes investments from AgFunder, Lerer Hippeau (via BN), Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of Reddit), Walter Robb (former CEO of Whole Foods), and Jasmine Tookes (Victoria's Secret model). Former senior director of research & innovation at Danone, Thierry Saint-Denis, has also been appointed as the company's chief technology officer. In this role, Saint-Denis will be responsible for leading the development of new products and 'nutrition technologies'. In a statement, Simulate stated that it would aim to release a new range of Spicy Nuggs and a plant-based hot dog alternative later this year. Ben Pasternak, founder and CEO, of Nuggs and Simulate said: "We're pumped to launch new nutrition technologies over the next few months under our new parent company, Simulate. "Nuggs is just a taste of what the future holds, with new products around the corner. "I'm beyond thrilled to join the Simulate team. The food system is in need of a complete reinvention and we think the best way to change it is to recreate the products we like, using and advancing what nature gave us with better technology."

Wholefood shake brand Purition has expanded its vegan range of protein powders in the UK with new coconut, pistachio and almond flavours. Purition’s range of protein powders are made from natural whole foods like ground seeds and nuts, low sugar fruits, vegetables and natural flavourings. The three flavours have been added to the brand’s dairy-free range following a recipe revamp using a new blend of European plant-based proteins. Due to the subtlety of flavour in coconut, pistachio and almond, Purition was not originally able to produce these flavours with its original vegan rice recipe. However, moving to a new blend of golden pea, organic sunflower, organic pumpkin and hemp seed, and using a smaller amount of natural flavourings has allowed the brand to add the new flavours to its vegan range. Purition has also extended its core vegetarian range with a new blackcurrant flavour, which was originally only available in the vegan format. “We offer a large variety of flavours in both the ordinary and vegan range, and constantly trial new recipes to deliver the best natural taste. The use of various vegetable proteins and a small amount of natural flavouring has allowed us to make a truly delicious recipe and enabled us to expand our vegan product portfolio.” Vegan Almond, Vegan Pistachio and Vegan Coconut protein powders from Purition will be available to purchase for an RRP of £22.95 per 500g pack or £2.49 per 40g sachet from a variety of health food retailers in the UK. #Purition #UK #vegan #dairyfree #plantbasedproteins

Gathered Foods has launched a new product line of frozen entrees and appetisers under its Good Catch plant-based seafood brand. Thai style plant-based fish cakes, New England style plant-based crab cakes and classic plant-based fish burgers mark the brand’s second product launch following its fish-free tuna last year. The frozen entrees and appetisers are made from Good Catch’s proprietary six-legume blend (peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans and navy beans), which is said to create a texture that mimics the flakiness of seafood. To create seafood notes, the company uses natural vegan flavourings and a shot of DHA. Good Catch flavours its crab cakes with sweet red and yellow bell peppers, green onions, spice and parsley. Meanwhile, its fish burgers have a light whitefish texture and flavour and are seasoned with green onion, celery, and salt and pepper. The Thai fish cakes are suggested to be served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce, while the crab a plant-based spicy remoulade and fresh-squeezed lemon, or a red sauce and pasta for a heartier meal. Each product is recommended to be pan-seared. “Quality and innovation are essential to the Good Catch culinary journey. Recreating the taste and texture consumers expect from whitefish and crab cakes challenged our team to push our boundaries. We are really proud of the final outcome,” ” said Chad Sarno, co-founder and chief culinary officer at Good Catch. The product launch follows a Series B Financing round with key investors Greenleaf Foods and 301 Inc, the venture arm of General Mills, which reached a total of $36.8 million. In January, the brand launched its plant-based tuna in the UK with Tesco, further expanding its distribution footprint on an international scale. Good Catch also formed a joint distribution venture with Bumble Bee Foods and most recently, announced backing from a group of celebrities such as Shailene Woodley, Paris Hilton and Lance Bass. The new frozen appetizers and entrees are now available to purchase in retailers across the East Coast for an RRP of $5.99, with expanded distribution throughout the US planned for later this year. #GatheredFoods #US #frozenfood #Plantbasedseafood #GoodCatch

Wholefood shake brand Purition has expanded its vegan range of protein powders in the UK with new coconut, pistachio and almond flavours. Purition’s range of protein powders are made from natural whole foods like ground seeds and nuts, low sugar fruits, vegetables and natural flavourings. The three flavours have been added to the brand’s dairy-free range following a recipe revamp using a new blend of European plant-based proteins. Due to the subtlety of flavour in coconut, pistachio and almond, Purition was not originally able to produce these flavours with its original vegan rice recipe. However, moving to a new blend of golden pea, organic sunflower, organic pumpkin and hemp seed, and using a smaller amount of natural flavourings has allowed the brand to add the new flavours to its vegan range. Purition has also extended its core vegetarian range with a new blackcurrant flavour, which was originally only available in the vegan format. Edward Taylor, founder at Purition, said: “Our focus with Purition is to provide real food nutrition with real taste. We don’t use artificial flavourings to make our products hyper-palatable. Instead we work hard to create a blend of natural ingredients, locally sourced where possible, that make a truly delicious product. “We offer a large variety of flavours in both the ordinary and vegan range, and constantly trial new recipes to deliver the best natural taste. The use of various vegetable proteins and a small amount of natural flavouring has allowed us to make a truly delicious recipe and enabled us to expand our vegan product portfolio.” Vegan Almond, Vegan Pistachio and Vegan Coconut protein powders from Purition will be available to purchase for an RRP of £22.95 per 500g pack or £2.49 per 40g sachet from a variety of health food retailers in the UK.

Gathered Foods has launched a new product line of frozen entrees and appetisers under its Good Catch plant-based seafood brand. Thai style plant-based fish cakes, New England style plant-based crab cakes and classic plant-based fish burgers mark the brand’s second product launch following its fish-free tuna last year. The frozen entrees and appetisers are made from Good Catch's proprietary six-legume blend (peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans and navy beans), which is said to create a texture that mimics the flakiness of seafood. To create seafood notes, the company uses natural vegan flavourings and a shot of DHA. Good Catch flavours its crab cakes with sweet red and yellow bell peppers, green onions, spice and parsley. Meanwhile, its fish burgers have a light whitefish texture and flavour and are seasoned with green onion, celery, and salt and pepper. The Thai fish cakes are suggested to be served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce, while the crab a plant-based spicy remoulade and fresh-squeezed lemon, or a red sauce and pasta for a heartier meal. Each product is recommended to be pan-seared. "Quality and innovation are essential to the Good Catch culinary journey. Recreating the taste and texture consumers expect from whitefish and crab cakes challenged our team to push our boundaries. We are really proud of the final outcome,” " said Chad Sarno, co-founder and chief culinary officer at Good Catch. The product launch follows a Series B Financing round with key investors Greenleaf Foods and 301 Inc, the venture arm of General Mills, which reached a total of $36.8 million. In January, the brand launched its plant-based tuna in the UK with Tesco, further expanding its distribution footprint on an international scale. Good Catch also formed a joint distribution venture with Bumble Bee Foods and most recently, announced backing from a group of celebrities such as Shailene Woodley, Paris Hilton and Lance Bass. The new frozen appetizers and entrees are now available to purchase in retailers across the East Coast for an RRP of $5.99, with expanded distribution throughout the US planned for later this year.

Food tech start-up Hooray Foods has secured the backing of venture capital firm Stray Dog Capital in a seed funding round. Founded in 2019, Hooray Foods has created a plant-based bacon that aims to replicate the cooking experience, taste and texture of animal-based bacon. The San Francisco-headquartered company claims to have developed a novel approach to encapsulating fat into a plant-based meat substrate. Its vegan offering is reportedly minimally processed and uses only ‘simple, clean’ ingredients. It is also free from gluten and soy. Hooray Foods is led by Sri Artham, who previously worked as the VP of Consumer Packaged Goods at Fairtrade USA. In a funding pitch video posted on the company’s LinkedIn page, Arthram said they were seeking capital to “ramp up” production and invest in R&D. The company has already been market testing in two San Francisco restaurants and says that it has interest from two “leading grocers” in rolling out its bacon by the end of 2020. Stray Dog Capital also led the brand’s pre-seed round last October. It was among several members of the GlassWall Syndicate, a group of investors focused on products and services that ‘positively impact animals, people, and the planet’, to participate in this latest round. “Grubhub reported that vegan bacon spiked 113% last year – we know that consumers are hungry for options like this,” said Macy Marriott, GlassWall Syndicate manager at Stray Dog Capital. “We’re thrilled to have led the round for this SDC portfolio company – Sri is a true visionary when it comes to creating plant-based bacon’s new reputation as a crisp, savoury, and guilt-free addition to any breakfast lover’s plate.” Hooray Foods founder Artham added: “Stray Dog Capital is one of the most prolific investors in plant-based eating, and I’m beyond honoured that they believe in us so early on, and see that beyond bacon, we have a vision for plant-based meats that closely mimic their animal counterparts while using ingredients you can feel great about – Hooray!” #HoorayFoods #StrayDogCapital #US

Food tech start-up Hooray Foods has secured the backing of venture capital firm Stray Dog Capital in a seed funding round. Founded in 2019, Hooray Foods has created a plant-based bacon that aims to replicate the cooking experience, taste and texture of animal-based bacon. The San Francisco-headquartered company claims to have developed a novel approach to encapsulating fat into a plant-based meat substrate. Its vegan offering is reportedly minimally processed and uses only ‘simple, clean’ ingredients. It is also free from gluten and soy. Hooray Foods is led by Sri Artham, who previously worked as the VP of Consumer Packaged Goods at Fairtrade USA. In a funding pitch video posted on the company’s LinkedIn page, Arthram said they were seeking capital to “ramp up” production and invest in R&D. The company has already been market testing in two San Francisco restaurants and says that it has interest from two “leading grocers” in rolling out its bacon by the end of 2020. Stray Dog Capital also led the brand’s pre-seed round last October. It was among several members of the GlassWall Syndicate, a group of investors focused on products and services that ‘positively impact animals, people, and the planet’, to participate in this latest round. “Grubhub reported that vegan bacon spiked 113% last year - we know that consumers are hungry for options like this,” said Macy Marriott, GlassWall Syndicate manager at Stray Dog Capital. “We’re thrilled to have led the round for this SDC portfolio company - Sri is a true visionary when it comes to creating plant-based bacon’s new reputation as a crisp, savoury, and guilt-free addition to any breakfast lover’s plate.” Hooray Foods founder Artham added: “Stray Dog Capital is one of the most prolific investors in plant-based eating, and I’m beyond honoured that they believe in us so early on, and see that beyond bacon, we have a vision for plant-based meats that closely mimic their animal counterparts while using ingredients you can feel great about - Hooray!"

Plant-based brand Treeline Cheese has unveiled a new line of dairy-free cream cheeses, made with cashew nuts. Treeline’s ‘tangy’ new offering comes in three flavours: Plain, containing only five ingredients and delivering ‘a rich, creamy texture’; Chive & Onion, a savoury spread made with fresh chives and onions; and Strawberry, featuring real strawberries for ‘the perfect sweet spread’. As well as catering for vegan diets, the new Cashew Cream Cheeses are reportedly free from gluten, kosher parve, and low in saturated fat when compared to their dairy counterpart. The New York-based brand says that it ferments, or cultures, cashew nuts with a healthy probiotic known as L. Acidophilus to make its cheeses. Treeline also offers two varieties of Aged Nut Cheese wheels – Classic and Cracked Pepper – and four flavours of Soft French-Style Nut Cheese. These are all said to be made without artificial ingredients, stabilisers, and thickeners. Commenting on the brand’s latest product launch, CEO Justin Lambeth said: “As more consumers look to reduce their dairy intake, the introduction of delicious and creamy plant-based cheeses that match the rich flavours and consistency of dairy cheese is driving category growth. “Treeline appeals to a broad spectrum of consumers from flexitarians to vegans.” Treeline’s Cashew Cream Cheese is available via the company’s website and nationwide in the US from retailers such as Sprouts Farmers Market. #TreelineCheese #US

Plant-based brand Treeline Cheese has unveiled a new line of dairy-free cream cheeses, made with cashew nuts. Treeline’s ‘tangy’ new offering comes in three flavours: Plain, containing only five ingredients and delivering ‘a rich, creamy texture’; Chive & Onion, a savoury spread made with fresh chives and onions; and Strawberry, featuring real strawberries for ‘the perfect sweet spread’. As well as catering for vegan diets, the new Cashew Cream Cheeses are reportedly free from gluten, kosher parve, and low in saturated fat when compared to their dairy counterpart. The New York-based brand says that it ferments, or cultures, cashew nuts with a healthy probiotic known as L. Acidophilus to make its cheeses. Treeline also offers two varieties of Aged Nut Cheese wheels – Classic and Cracked Pepper – and four flavours of Soft French-Style Nut Cheese. These are all said to be made without artificial ingredients, stabilisers, and thickeners. Commenting on the brand’s latest product launch, CEO Justin Lambeth said: “As more consumers look to reduce their dairy intake, the introduction of delicious and creamy plant-based cheeses that match the rich flavours and consistency of dairy cheese is driving category growth. “Treeline appeals to a broad spectrum of consumers from flexitarians to vegans.” Treeline’s Cashew Cream Cheese is available via the company’s website and nationwide in the US from retailers such as Sprouts Farmers Market.

US snacking company Simply 7 has expanded its better-for-you snacking portfolio with Sea Salt Veggie Straws and Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips. Sea Salt Veggie Straws are made up of potato and dehydrated cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach and beetroot, providing 1/3 cup of vegetable per 1oz serving. Available in a 6oz bag, each serving contains 140 calories. Meanwhile, Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips are made with wholesome lentils and a blend of cayenne and chilli peppers. The snack is available in a 4oz bag and contains 140 calories per serving. Both snacks are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, kosher, organic and vegetarian. The two new products join Simply 7’s better-for-you and allergen-friendly snacking portfolio including Quinoa Curls, Kale Chips, Hummus Chips and flavoured ‘skinny’ popcorn. Simply 7’s recent product launch coincides with a fresh new look and packaging for the brand. It has also reduced sodium by an average of 30% across its entire portfolio. “We are excited to transform our brand and bring our fans what they’ve been asking for – stronger flavours, lower sodium, and a packaging design that is contemporary, fun, and healthy,” said Rashim Oberoi, president of Simply 7 Snacks. Sea Salt Veggie Straws and Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips are available to purchase now for an RRP of $3.99 in natural and mainstream grocery stores across the US. #Simply7 #US

US snacking company Simply 7 has expanded its better-for-you snacking portfolio with Sea Salt Veggie Straws and Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips. Sea Salt Veggie Straws are made up of potato and dehydrated cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach and beetroot, providing 1/3 cup of vegetable per 1oz serving. Available in a 6oz bag, each serving contains 140 calories. Meanwhile, Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips are made with wholesome lentils and a blend of cayenne and chilli peppers. The snack is available in a 4oz bag and contains 140 calories per serving. Both snacks are Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, kosher, organic and vegetarian. The two new products join Simply 7’s better-for-you and allergen-friendly snacking portfolio including Quinoa Curls, Kale Chips, Hummus Chips and flavoured ‘skinny’ popcorn. Simply 7’s recent product launch coincides with a fresh new look and packaging for the brand. It has also reduced sodium by an average of 30% across its entire portfolio. "We are excited to transform our brand and bring our fans what they've been asking for – stronger flavours, lower sodium, and a packaging design that is contemporary, fun, and healthy," said Rashim Oberoi, president of Simply 7 Snacks. Sea Salt Veggie Straws and Fiery Pepper Lentil Chips are available to purchase now for an RRP of $3.99 in natural and mainstream grocery stores across the US.