Danone-owned plant-based brand Silk has expanded its beverage portfolio in the US with the introduction of new Pumpkin Spice products. Silk Almond 0g Sugar Unsweet Pumpkin Spice Creamer is a limited-edition offering which blends the flavour of pumpkin spice with almond milk. The sugar-free coffee add-in retails at $3.29 per pint. Also available for a limited time only, Silk Almond Hint of Pumpkin Spice Beverage combines the brand’s Almondmilk with notes of pumpkin spice. The drink retails at $3.29 per half gallon. The new Silk products will be available from grocery stores nationwide starting this month. Silk recently entered the ready-to-drink coffee category with two new lattes, released a new dairy-free half and half alternative, and a dairy-free whipped cream alternative. The brand has also expanded its line of yogurt alternatives in the US with a range of new Almondmilk Mix-Ins Yogurt Alternatives, offering an all-in-one plant-based snacking option in four vegan combinations.

Plant-based meat alternative producer This has raised £3.5 million following the launch of a Seedrs campaign, as it aims to accelerate growth and expand its innovation function. The company says it will use its investment to boost its manufacturing capabilities through a new plant-based innovation centre, as well as expand its portfolio. Since going live on the 10 August, the UK company has surpassed its £2 million target which was secured before the campaign was fully launched to the public. This reportedly marks the fastest FMCG business to hit its target and the fastest ever campaign to hit over £1.5 million. The round still has 39 days remaining. Venture capital firms involved in the investment round include Backed, Five Seasons Ventures, Idinvest Partners, Seedcamp and Manta Ray Ventures, who also backed the business earlier this year when it raised £4.7 million. Vegan investment fund Veg Capital also invested in the latest Seedrs campaign, alongside professional footballer Chris Smalling. With its funding, This plans to invest £1 million in a London-based innovation centre, housing sensory, textural and other processing equipment. A team of food-scientists, engineers and flavourists will staff the centre. The company also intends to launch 10 products per year for three years across a number of categories. Since launching in June 2019, the business has achieved approximately 700% growth and its products are now available in over 2000 stores and restaurants. Later this year, This is launching its products in two more of the ‘big four’ supermarkets. “This is capitalising on the most important trend in nutrition: strong demand for tasty plant-based meat alternatives, for all those who are increasingly conscious about the detrimental health, climate change and animal welfare impacts of mass meat production,” said Andre de Haes, founder of Backed VC. He added: “This macro trend alone doesn’t explain This’ success; it is unprecedented to see a start-up food product achieve widespread supermarket distribution right after launching. The team at This blend executional hyper-efficiency with both ground-breaking R&D and innovative marketing.” #meatalternatives #plantbasedmeat #This #UK

Plant-based meat alternative producer This has raised £3.5 million following the launch of a Seedrs campaign, as it aims to accelerate growth and expand its innovation function. The company says it will use its investment to boost its manufacturing capabilities through a new plant-based innovation centre, as well as expand its portfolio. Since going live on the 10 August, the UK company has surpassed its £2 million target which was secured before the campaign was fully launched to the public. This reportedly marks the fastest FMCG business to hit its target and the fastest ever campaign to hit over £1.5 million. The round still has 39 days remaining. Venture capital firms involved in the investment round include Backed, Five Seasons Ventures, Idinvest Partners, Seedcamp and Manta Ray Ventures, who also backed the business earlier this year when it raised £4.7 million. Vegan investment fund Veg Capital also invested in the latest Seedrs campaign, alongside professional footballer Chris Smalling. With its funding, This plans to invest £1 million in a London-based innovation centre, housing sensory, textural and other processing equipment. A team of food-scientists, engineers and flavourists will staff the centre. The company also intends to launch 10 products per year for three years across a number of categories. Since launching in June 2019, the business has achieved approximately 700% growth and its products are now available in over 2000 stores and restaurants. Later this year, This is launching its products in two more of the ‘big four’ supermarkets. “This is capitalising on the most important trend in nutrition: strong demand for tasty plant-based meat alternatives, for all those who are increasingly conscious about the detrimental health, climate change and animal welfare impacts of mass meat production,” said Andre de Haes, founder of Backed VC. He added: “This macro trend alone doesn't explain This’ success; it is unprecedented to see a start-up food product achieve widespread supermarket distribution right after launching. The team at This blend executional hyper-efficiency with both ground-breaking R&D and innovative marketing."

UK milkshake brand Shaken Udder has entered the plant-based market with the introduction of a dairy-free sister brand, Shaken Other. Made using coconut milk, Shaken Other is described as smooth and creamy and is currently available in two flavours: chocolate and strawberry. Each 330ml bottle is under 200 calories, contains less than 5% added sugar and is gluten free. The product is also high in calcium, vitamin D and is free-from artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Shaken Other plans to launch more flavours, larger formats as well as enter other product categories in the dairy and plant-based sector. According to Andy Howie, co-founder of Shaken Other, the inspiration for the name came from the challenge that ‘Udder’ is so strongly associated with milk and Shaken Other is a play on words. He added: “We wanted to reassure our loyal consumers of our commitment to flavour whilst also being clear that this is a milk alternative. We believe that dairy-free drinks shouldn’t compromise on taste or choice. “Packed with real ingredients and a yummy coconut-milk base, our exciting range of dairy-free drinks deliver uncompromising taste for anyone who can’t drink dairy, chooses not to, or just fancies a change.” Shaken Other’s new chocolate and strawberry dairy-free shakes are available from Tesco for an RRP of £1.60, with other major retailers to follow. Established in 2004, Shaken Udder milkshakes are available from several UK retailers offering a variety of flavours in 330ml bottles, 750ml bottles and kids cartons. #dairyfree #ShakenOther #ShakenUdder #UK

UK milkshake brand Shaken Udder has entered the plant-based market with the introduction of a dairy-free sister brand, Shaken Other. Made using coconut milk, Shaken Other is described as smooth and creamy and is currently available in two flavours: chocolate and strawberry. Each 330ml bottle is under 200 calories, contains less than 5% added sugar and is gluten free. The product is also high in calcium, vitamin D and is free-from artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Shaken Other plans to launch more flavours, larger formats as well as enter other product categories in the dairy and plant-based sector. According to Andy Howie, co-founder of Shaken Other, the inspiration for the name came from the challenge that ‘Udder’ is so strongly associated with milk and Shaken Other is a play on words. He added: “We wanted to reassure our loyal consumers of our commitment to flavour whilst also being clear that this is a milk alternative. We believe that dairy-free drinks shouldn’t compromise on taste or choice. “Packed with real ingredients and a yummy coconut-milk base, our exciting range of dairy-free drinks deliver uncompromising taste for anyone who can’t drink dairy, chooses not to, or just fancies a change.” Shaken Other's new chocolate and strawberry dairy-free shakes are available from Tesco for an RRP of £1.60, with other major retailers to follow. Established in 2004, Shaken Udder milkshakes are available from several UK retailers offering a variety of flavours in 330ml bottles, 750ml bottles and kids cartons.

Upfield Group has debuted a new plant-based butter brand in the US, with the launch of Flora Plant Butter. Available in salted and unsalted varieties, Flora Plant Butter is free from gluten and non-GMO, as well as vegan. Upfield’s latest plant-based offering is made from a blend of ‘responsibly sourced’ palm, sunflower and canola oils and reportedly contains no artificial flavours or preservatives. The ‘rich and creamy’ product can be used like dairy butter 1:1 in cooking and baking, or for spreading, and is packaged in plastic-free FSC-certified parchment paper. “Flora is a culinary-inspired premium brand that brings a rich heritage of chef experience from markets around the world, and it is a thrill to bring this new brand to American consumers,” said Bernice Chao, brand lead, Flora, Upfield North America. “We are a product loved by chefs that can be used by home cooks and bakers who are looking to put a twist on traditional recipes with a dairy-free and great-tasting ingredient. “We are deeply passionate about creating new foods that will change our world because they are better for you and better for our planet. With Flora Plant Butter we have done just that. “First, as a plant butter that is a vegan and non-dairy product that offers a suitable option to help consumers meet their dietary or lifestyle needs. Second, as an environmentally conscious brand that is leading the way with 100% plastic-free paper packaging.” Flora Plant Butter is available, for an RRP of $3.49 per 8.8oz pack, from select Kroger stores. Earlier this year, Upfield Group unveiled plans to invest €50 million in a new plant-based research and development (R&D) facility, which will be located in Wageningen, the Netherlands. #Flora #UpfieldGroup #US

Upfield Group has debuted a new plant-based butter brand in the US, with the launch of Flora Plant Butter. Available in salted and unsalted varieties, Flora Plant Butter is free from gluten and non-GMO, as well as vegan. Upfield’s latest plant-based offering is made from a blend of ‘responsibly sourced’ palm, sunflower and canola oils and reportedly contains no artificial flavours or preservatives. The ‘rich and creamy’ product can be used like dairy butter 1:1 in cooking and baking, or for spreading, and is packaged in plastic-free FSC-certified parchment paper. “Flora is a culinary-inspired premium brand that brings a rich heritage of chef experience from markets around the world, and it is a thrill to bring this new brand to American consumers,” said Bernice Chao, brand lead, Flora, Upfield North America. “We are a product loved by chefs that can be used by home cooks and bakers who are looking to put a twist on traditional recipes with a dairy-free and great-tasting ingredient. “We are deeply passionate about creating new foods that will change our world because they are better for you and better for our planet. With Flora Plant Butter we have done just that. “First, as a plant butter that is a vegan and non-dairy product that offers a suitable option to help consumers meet their dietary or lifestyle needs. Second, as an environmentally conscious brand that is leading the way with 100% plastic-free paper packaging.” Flora Plant Butter is available, for an RRP of $3.49 per 8.8oz pack, from select Kroger stores. Earlier this year, Upfield Group unveiled plans to invest €50 million in a new plant-based research and development (R&D) facility, which will be located in Wageningen, the Netherlands.

UK free-from brand Livia’s has raised £1 million in a funding round, prior to the campaign’s public launch on crowdfunding platform Seedrs today. The round is said to have already attracted over 400 new investors, as well as met its £1 million investment target, and will now continue into overfunding. According to Livia’s, the new funds will help the brand to launch new products, develop its direct-to-consumer platform, grow its marketing and sales teams, and scale its operations. Livia’s offers a range of cookies, dips, and other ‘treats’ catering for those with allergies and intolerances. Lest year, Livia’s unveiled a new brand positioning, created in response to growing consumer demand for better-for-you indulgence, as well as to appeal to a more mainstream audience. As part of this, strong visuals and brighter graphics were introduced to create greater stand out on shelf. Commenting on the brand’s latest funding push, founder and CEO Olivia Wollenberg said: “I’ve always wanted to bring our customers and community on board as we continue to grow. “From day one, our community has been at the heart of everything we do, and every decision we make, and now is the time for them to be involved in a more meaningful way. “With this raise, we will be able to accelerate our growth in the UK and beyond while continuing to revolutionise sweet snacking through product innovation.” Among the private investors backing the brand are Andy Weston-Webb, who was previously president at Mars, and Vegetarian Butcher founder Jaap Korteweg. “Livia’s combination of fabulous tasting free-from sweet treats with a genuinely values-led business rightly has a passionate consumer following,” said new investor and advisor, Weston-Webb “The growth to date has been impressive enough to capture the attention of the UK’s key retailers. Still, the brand has huge headroom with store expansion, further exciting innovation and by building on the existing fanbase. I’m looking forward to helping Olivia and her impressive team further unlock this.” By 2025, the brand aims to be distributed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US, as well as to almost quadruple its product range. #freefrom #Livias #UK

UK free-from brand Livia’s has raised £1 million in a funding round, prior to the campaign's public launch on crowdfunding platform Seedrs today. The round is said to have already attracted over 400 new investors, as well as met its £1 million investment target, and will now continue into overfunding. According to Livia’s, the new funds will help the brand to launch new products, develop its direct-to-consumer platform, grow its marketing and sales teams, and scale its operations. Livia’s offers a range of cookies, dips, and other ‘treats’ catering for those with allergies and intolerances. Lest year, Livia’s unveiled a new brand positioning, created in response to growing consumer demand for better-for-you indulgence, as well as to appeal to a more mainstream audience. As part of this, strong visuals and brighter graphics were introduced to create greater stand out on shelf. Commenting on the brand's latest funding push, founder and CEO Olivia Wollenberg said: “I've always wanted to bring our customers and community on board as we continue to grow. “From day one, our community has been at the heart of everything we do, and every decision we make, and now is the time for them to be involved in a more meaningful way. “With this raise, we will be able to accelerate our growth in the UK and beyond while continuing to revolutionise sweet snacking through product innovation." Among the private investors backing the brand are Andy Weston-Webb, who was previously president at Mars, and Vegetarian Butcher founder Jaap Korteweg. "Livia’s combination of fabulous tasting free-from sweet treats with a genuinely values-led business rightly has a passionate consumer following,” said new investor and advisor, Weston-Webb “The growth to date has been impressive enough to capture the attention of the UK’s key retailers. Still, the brand has huge headroom with store expansion, further exciting innovation and by building on the existing fanbase. I’m looking forward to helping Olivia and her impressive team further unlock this.” By 2025, the brand aims to be distributed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US, as well as to almost quadruple its product range.

Keytone Dairy has launched a new vegan protein shake range in Australia, in an effort to meet growing demand for plant-based health products. Tonik Plant follows the successful roll-out of the company’s Tonik dairy protein shake brand. The RTDs are made from a blend of pea protein and brown rice protein and are available in six flavours: vanilla, salted caramel, coffee, chocolate, banana toffee and choc honeycomb. Each 330ml bottle contains 20g of protein, is low carb and gluten-free. Keytone Dairy CEO Danny Rotman said: “We are extremely excited to launch Tonik Plant and have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback and reception received from our customers, wholesalers and distributors in relation to Australia’s first vegan-based protein shake. “There are a number of ongoing discussions for ranging opportunities for Tonik Plant which will further drive the Tonik brand and Tonik Plant in the near future. The success of the Tonik brand speaks to our ability as a vertically integrated brand owner and manufacturer, offering the company enhanced margin opportunities and speed to market.” The Tonik Plant line-up is currently available currently from independent supermarkets across the nation with a further roll-out planned. Keytone Dairy also announced that it had received its largest order – more than $1.1 million – from Walmart China for its private label milk powders under the Sam’s Club brand. In addition, the company has recently launched its direct-to-consumer milk powders website for the sale of its KeyDairy Whole and Skim Milk Powders. #Australia #KeytoneDairy #plantbaseddairy #plantbasedprotein

Keytone Dairy has launched a new vegan protein shake range in Australia, in an effort to meet growing demand for plant-based health products. Tonik Plant follows the successful roll-out of the company’s Tonik dairy protein shake brand. The RTDs are made from a blend of pea protein and brown rice protein and are available in six flavours: vanilla, salted caramel, coffee, chocolate, banana toffee and choc honeycomb. Each 330ml bottle contains 20g of protein, is low carb and gluten-free. Keytone Dairy CEO Danny Rotman said: “We are extremely excited to launch Tonik Plant and have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback and reception received from our customers, wholesalers and distributors in relation to Australia’s first vegan-based protein shake. “There are a number of ongoing discussions for ranging opportunities for Tonik Plant which will further drive the Tonik brand and Tonik Plant in the near future. The success of the Tonik brand speaks to our ability as a vertically integrated brand owner and manufacturer, offering the company enhanced margin opportunities and speed to market.” The Tonik Plant line-up is currently available currently from independent supermarkets across the nation with a further roll-out planned. Keytone Dairy also announced that it had received its largest order - more than $1.1 million - from Walmart China for its private label milk powders under the Sam’s Club brand. In addition, the company has recently launched its direct-to-consumer milk powders website for the sale of its KeyDairy Whole and Skim Milk Powders.

Plant-based brand Alpro has expanded its Big Pot range in the UK with the addition of a 100% oat-based yogurt alternative. According to Alpro, Absolutely Oat is a source of fibre and is naturally low in sugars and fat. It is also said to contain natural cultures. “Oat drinks are now a firm favourite amongst consumers, with oat on track to become the number one ingredient in plant-based drinks by the end of 2020,” says David Jiscoot, marketing director for Alpro UK & Ireland. “Naturally, this means that there’s a huge opportunity to mirror this success in the yogurt aisle and, as the clear and consistent category leader, Alpro is uniquely placed to make this happen. “As well as being rich in fibre, Alpro Absolutely Oat is made from 100% European oats, so we are confident it will appeal to people looking for new ways to enjoy healthy, sustainable oat-based products in their diets. It’s the ideal choice for a delicious, nutritious breakfast – or to enjoy as a snack in the afternoon.” Alpro Absolutely Oat is available, for a MRSP of £1.99 per 350g pot, from Tesco stores nationwide. The brand also offers a range of plant-based milk alternatives, chilled coffee drinks, dairy-free desserts and ice cream in the UK. #Alpro #UK