Author

Anay Mridul 1290 posts 0 comments

Anay is Green Queen's resident news reporter. Originally from India, he worked as a vegan food writer and editor in London, and is now travelling and reporting from across Asia. He's passionate about coffee, plant-based milk, cooking, eating, veganism, food tech, writing about all that, profiling people, and the Oxford comma.

Alt Protein

Aussie Vegan Meat Maker v2food Acquires Ready Meal Brands as Plant Based Sector Undergoes Consolidation

Anay Mridul Jan 18, 2024

Leading Australian plant-based meat maker v2food has acquired ready meal brands Soulara and MACROS for an undisclosed sum to expand its portfolio, in a sector flooding with M&A activity. Aussie alt-meat leader v2food has expanded…
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Alt Dairy

Imagindairy Unveils Industrial-Scale Facility to Produce Animal-Free Dairy Proteins at Price Parity

Anay Mridul Jan 17, 2024

Israeli precision fermentation startup Imagindairy has acquired and begun operating industrial-scale production lines for its animal-free dairy proteins. Two weeks after becoming just the third precision fermentation dairy company to…
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Alt Protein

Aleph Farms: Israel Awards the World’s First Regulatory Approval for Cultivated Beef

Anay Mridul Jan 17, 2024

Israeli cultivated meat producer Aleph Farms has received the world's first regulatory approval for cell-cultured beef, marking a milestone in the alternative protein sector. This makes Israel – still in the middle of regional…
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Future Foods

Future Food Quick Bites: Ben & Berry’s, Better Butter & A Covid-19 Study

Anay Mridul Jan 17, 2024

In our weekly column, we round up the latest news and developments in the alternative protein and sustainable food industry. This week, Future Food Quick Bites covers Ben & Jerry's new oat milk ice-creams, Beyond Meat's new marketing…
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Vegan

Sodexo: Ahead of Schedule on Net Zero Plan as 11% of All UK/Ireland Meals Sold Are Meatless

Anay Mridul Jan 17, 2024

French catering group Sodexo has revealed that 11% of all its meals sold at UK and Ireland sites in 2023 were vegan or vegetarian, a marginal increase from the previous year. It has also made strides in promoting food security, and is…
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Vegan

‘Substitarians’ on the Rise in Switzerland as Meat Consumption Falls: Survey

Anay Mridul Jan 16, 2024

A new survey by Coop Switzerland has revealed that over half of Swiss consumers have eaten plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and seafood – a demographic it labels 'substitarians' – while nearly six in 10 are reducing their…
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Fermentation-Based Alt Protein

Daisy Lab: Women-Led NZ Startup Scales Animal-Free Whey Production, Diversifies Protein Portfolio

Anay Mridul Jan 16, 2024

New Zealand's Daisy Lab has scaled up the production of its precision-fermented beta-lactoglobulin powder a year after discovering its initial expression systems, while diversifying into lactoferrin to boost its commercial gains. Just…
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Alt Dairy

The Milk Wars: Dairy vs Plant-Based Marketing Campaigns Boil Over

Anay Mridul Jan 16, 2024

Is it okay to drink milk, or do you need to "quit the tit"? A host of campaigns over the last few months have been intensifying the dairy industry's battle with the plant-based sector, which has responded with its own initiatives to leave…
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Policy & Regulation

JBS Backlash Goes Political as US & UK Lawmakers Ask SEC to Reject IPO Filing

Anay Mridul Jan 15, 2024

The pushback against JBS's plans to go public is no longer confined to just climate activists – politicians from the US and the UK are the latest to air their concerns in letters to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asking…
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Cell-Based News

Arizona Republicans Attempt to Ban Cultured Meat with Two New Bills

Anay Mridul Jan 15, 2024

In yet another move targeted at the alternative protein industry, House representatives in Arizona have proposed bills prohibiting the "misbranding" of meat alternatives and banning cultivated meat altogether. The latter's legislation…
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Vegan Dining

Veganuary 2024: Whole Food Mains Trending on UK Restaurant Menus

Anay Mridul Jan 15, 2024

We're nearly halfway through Veganuary 2024, and one trend is coming out strong on UK restaurant menus: a focus on whole-food plant-based dishes. It comes as consumers are hit hard with price hikes and express concern about the processed…
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Vegan

Smmmile, It’s Plant-Based!: The 9 Best Vegan Mac and Cheese Brands

Anay Mridul Jan 13, 2024

Boxed, frozen, or in a cup, vegan mac and cheese brands ensure there's something for everyone – here are nine of the best. I've made my share of vegan mac and cheese recipes – whether it's cashew- and cauliflower-based sauce or a…
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Alt Dairy

Bel Group-Backed Standing Ovation Bags €3M from French Government & EU Fund for Animal-Free Casein

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

Fresh from raising €3M, Standing Ovation CEO Romain Chayot speaks to Green Queen about the startup's 2024 plans, its CASPEX project, and France's stance on factory farming. Founded in 2020, Bel Group-backed startup Standing Ovation,…
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Alt Protein

UC Davis Launches Alternative Protein Center to Advance Commercialisation

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

In collaboration with other institutions and government bodies, the University of California, Davis is launching an Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein to research and accelerate the commercialisation of alternative…
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Vegan Dining

Next Level Burger Acquires Veggie Grill to Become North America’s Largest Fast-Casual Vegan Chain

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

In one of the largest M&A deals in the US plant-based space, Next Level Burger has acquired fast-casual chain Veggie Grill. The move comes a year after the latter was saved from bankruptcy, and makes Next Level Burger the largest…
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Alt Protein

How Do Singapore’s Consumers & Experts Feel About Cultivated Meat?

Anay Mridul Jan 12, 2024

Singapore is renowned for its position as an alternative protein leader – a new study reveals how members of the general public as well as scientific experts feel about cultured meat, and its effects on general health and society. Soon,…
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Animal Rights

No More Dog Meat: Big Animal Rights Win as South Korea Bans Sale in ‘Historic’ Decision

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

In a landmark decision, South Korea's parliament has banned the country's dog meat trade, after years of decline in consumption and an increase in pet adoption over the last few decades. It's a move hailed by youngsters and animal rights…
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Alt Protein

67% of Thai Consumers Want to Eat Less Meat and More Plant Proteins For Health

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

Two-thirds of Thailand's population wants to eat less meat over the next two years and replace it with plant-based alternatives, according to a new survey. Health and nutrition are the main motivators, while price and availability remain…
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Consumer Trends & Insights

What Do Indians Want From Vegan Food? New Survey Reveals Sector Challenges & Potential

Anay Mridul Jan 11, 2024

The Good Food Institute (GFI) India has conducted a first-of-its-kind survey on consumer awareness, adoption and purchase behaviour for vegan meat and dairy in India. Here are 12 key takeaways. Two months after publishing its first…
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Alt Protein

From VFC to VFG: UK Alt-Meat Maker Rebrands with Aim to Become ‘Vegan Unilever’

Anay Mridul Jan 10, 2024

After a year of acquisitions and continued sales growth, VFC Foods has rebranded to the Vegan Food Group with the aim of becoming "a vegan Unilever", as it plans further deals and expects sales to hit £25M in 2024. UK plant-based meat…
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Vegan

MeliBio’s Vegan Honey Expands European Presence with Aldi Deal

Anay Mridul Jan 10, 2024

Shortly after launching into the UK, the vegan honey from MeliBio and Narayan Foods is widening its European footprint with the debut of its bee-free product in Aldi/Hofer stores in Switzerland and Austria. MeliBio's European launch is…
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