How the Anne Hathaway-Backed Every Co. Is Making Alpha Foods’ Vegan Meat Better

In a bid to drive the next generation of alternative meat products, precision fermentation producer The Every Co., has partnered with plant-based foods producer, Alpha Foods.

The new collaboration of California-based companies aims to accelerate advancements in the taste and texture of Alpha’s vegan meat products by incorporating Every’s fermented animal-identical proteins. The companies say the result is meat that tastes more like conventional animal products without disease risk, price volatility, or environmental footprint.

A better binder

Alpha says Every’s egg white protein performs better at binding its vegan protein. The companies say the precision fermentation protein has demonstrated its ability to create desired textures and flavors in various plant-based foods, delivering taste and performance outcomes beyond those of plant-based replacements. Last year, the company partnered with Pulp Culture on a zero-sugar drink range and Guillon‘s macarons.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Alpha Foods to work hand-in-hand to craft better-than-ever alt meat offerings, unlocking the massive potential of this category to drive the next generation of kinder consumer-favorite foods,” Arturo Elizondo, Co-Founder and CEO of Every said in a statement.

Elizondo also emphasized that the expansion into the alt-meat category allows the B2B company to further its goal of offering “game-changing solutions” to various categories.

Every’s hyper-functional alternative egg whites are made through precision fermentation and certified by the Vegan Society. In alt-meat applications, the company says the egg white provides superior binding and gelation properties, allowing food products to more closely resemble their conventional counterparts without relying on synthetic or heavily processed binding agents. This results in “meatier” textures that consumers often find lacking in plant-based products, the companies say.

‘Food without labels or judgment’

In February, Every announced that Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway invested in the platform, bringing its total funding raised to nearly $240. It marked the actor’s first investment into a B2B platform and one she says is critical.

“The need to transform our food system has never been clearer or more urgent,” Hathaway said in a statement at the time. “An important piece of the puzzle is in nature-equivalent animal proteins, such as Every has been developing. I’m proud to back this vision of a better future.”

“We believe that everyone, meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike, should be welcomed to enjoy plant-based products without any ‘labels’ or judgment, savoring all the health and environmental benefits that they provide,” said Cole Orobetz, Alpha Foods Co-Founder and CEO.

Orobetz says the company was drawn to Every’s animal-free proteins, “given they’re designed to help bridge the gap between plant-based products and the real thing” — a move the companies say can broaden the category and attract new customers. “We are very excited about this collaboration and look forward to bringing products to consumers soon.”