The Week In Food Tech: Ashton Kutcher Invests In 3D Meat, Hormel And The Better Meat Co. Join Forces, Oatly’s New Ice Cream

Just a few short years ago, it was unusual to get more than a handful of stories each week about meat analogues, dairy alternatives, and other alt foods. Nowadays, the opposite is true. In fact, there are so many developments in the alt-protein and food tech space we decided to create a weekly column that gathers all the various bits of news out there into one single place for easy reading. 

This week, a new vegan coffee shop in Indonesia, US-based Hormel Foods partners with mycoprotein-maker The Better Meat Co., Oatly UK launches a new ice cream, and Singapore’s Shandi Global raises new funds for its alt-chicken.

Oatly UK launches new ice cream flavor

Alt-dairy heavyweight Oatly has launched a new ice cream flavor in the UK, a vegan take on the classic Mint Chocolate. The company says the flavor is as close to traditional mint ice cream as possible but still uses all-natural ingredients. Tubs of the new flavor are currently available at Sainsbury’s and Ocado now, and will be at Tesco stores in November.  

Earthling Ed launches vegan fish and chip shops across the UK

Vegan activist Ed “Earthling Ed” Winters has launched a chain of vegan fish and chip shops around the UK. Working with business partner Kevyn Bourke, Ed opened the first location of The No Catch Co. in Brighton on October 9. More locations are to follow.

Singapore vegan chicken startup Shandi Global raises $700,000

Singapore alt-protein startup Shandi Global has raised over $700,000 USD in funding. The company will use the money to further commercialize its plant-based chicken product, which was released in Singapore earlier this year. The company said at the time its products will be sold at “a similar price” to conventional chicken.

Hormel Foods partners with The Better Meat Co.

Global meat corporation Hormel Foods’ venture arm has entered into an exclusive partnership with The Better Meat Co. to bring new mycoprotein and plant-based protein products to the marketplace. The two companies will work together using Better Meat’s Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient to develop new products. 

Australia’s MEET has a new range of plant-based meats

Australian alt-protein startup MEET has launched a new range of chilled plant-based meat products at Coles stores across the country. The range includes what the company says are Australia’s first plant-based beef-free strips and plant-based Italian meatballs.

Ashton Kutcher and other celebs partner with cultured meat co MeaTech 3D

A collective that includes Aston Kutcher, Guy Osearry, and Effie Epstein is partnering with cultured meat company MeaTech 3D to help the Israel-based company further develop its cultured fat and 3D-bioprinted whole cuts of meat. According to a statement, the collective will provide “expertise and relationships with key industry players” that could advance MeaTech’s mission. 

Odd Burger now trading on US stock market

Odd Burger, one of the world’s first vegan fast-food chains, has completed its listing on the U.S. trading market, with common shares posted on the OTC (QB) under the symbol GBLYF. The Canadian chain has five locations currently open and plans to launch one in New York City, too. By this time next year, the chain aims to have a total of 20 restaurants operational. 

Fully plant-based Mad For Coffee opens in Indonesia, launches thrift shop

Mad For Coffee, Indonesia’s first fully plant-based coffee shop, celebrated its grand opening in Jakarta recently with a two-day thrift shop pop-up highlighting the issue of fast fashion, which can be as detrimental to the environment as animal agriculture. The marketplace was meant to encourage reusing, repairing, and thrifting clothes items rather than simply throwing them away.

Survey: Brits reducing animal protein intake

A survey from supermarket cashback app Shopmium found that more than one-third (38%) of the participating 1,700 British consumers have already reduced meat, fish, and dairy consumption to diminish their carbon footprint. Meanwhile 80% plan to switch to more environmentally friendly food brands in the future. 

Lead image courtesy of The Better Meat Co.