The Week In Plant-Based: Singapore’s Top 50 Vegan Dishes, Plant-Based Pizza From Hell, The Search For Britain’s Greenest School Lunch

It was another busy week for plant-based protein startups around the world. Perhaps most notably, UK-based Meatless Farms teamed up with the country’s youngest vegan chef to help more schools build healthier lunch menus. Elsewhere, v2food debuted menu items in Hell (Pizza, that is), and passionate diners in Singapore picked their top vegan dishes of 2021.

UK: Meatless Farm is searching for the greenest school menu in Britain

The plant-based meat maker and non-profit ProVeg UK have teamed up with teen celebrity chef Omari McQueen to help UK schools launch greener menus. 

Schools can enter The Green School Menu League challenge and potentially win £5,000 of prizes including a supply of Meatless Farm food, a live cooking masterclass from McQueen, and a cooking workshop for the caterers of the winning school delivered by ProVeg UK.

McQueen and Meatless Farm previously partnered on the For Kids by Kids initiative to promote more plant-based eating in schools across the country. 

Canada: V-Planet heads brings vegan dog food to new countries

Expansion to China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, and Chile brings the total number of countries in which V-Planet sells its vegan dog food to 16. 

V-planet’s products are made in Canada using vegan protein-filled ingredients like peas, oats and lentils. The expansion to new markets comes at a time when more pet owners are considering putting their dogs, cats, and other animals on a flexitarian diet for both environmental and health reasons.

Australia/New Zealand: v2food launches partnership with Hell Pizza 

One of Australia’s most popular vegan meat brands, v2food, continues its global expansion with a move next door to New Zealand. The company’s newly announced partnership with the Hell Pizza chain is the first of “many partnerships and launches coming in 2022,” according to a LinkedIn posting.

V2food’s Snack and Double Size vegan pizzas are available at more than 70 Hell Pizza stores across New Zealand.

Last year, v2food raised $54 million to further expand around Asia and other parts of the world.

UK: The Vegan Kind appoints Tony Buffin as Non-Executive Director 

The plant-based grocery retailer recently brought on Buffin, who was formerly the CEO of health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett.

Speaking in a press release, Buffin noted, “The switch to plant-based diets is vital to avoid the worst impacts of climate change so it’s truly inspiring to be helping consumers be kinder to themselves and to the planet at the same time.”

Canada: Alt-protein company TNRW Foods launches in Loblaws and Walmart

TNRW is known for its plant-based products that include sausage analogues as well as buffalo and BBQ “shreds.” The company uses its own “proprietary TMRW protein” that is gluten-free.

Beginning in March 2022, TMRW products will be available at 553 Loblaws stores across Canada. Roughly 232 Walmart stores nationwide will carry the company’s products starting in April.

US: Planet Based Foods debuts hemp burgers

The products debuted at the Specialty Food Associations Winter Fancy Food Show in February. The frozen food line includes five varieties of hemp-based meat: two burgers, one breakfast sausage patty, and two crumble products.

Hemp, which is considered more and more important in the fight against climate change, is the main ingredient. Other ingredients in the products include pea protein and brown rice.

Canada: Odd Burger launches a Preposterous new brand

Vegan QSR chain Odd Burger is launching a new line of plant-based products under its new Preposterous Foods brand. The initial lineup of products includes a crispy “chickUN” burger, meatless wings, beefy ground meat, gyro meat, breakfast sausage, dairy-free ranch dressing, ‘honey’ mustard sauce, tzatziki sauce, eggless mayo, and dairy-free cheese sauce. 

Food services company Sysco will distribute the products exclusively. The company has more than 600,000 clients across restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, and lodging/hospitality businesses.  

Singapore: abillion members pick Singapore’s top 50 vegan dishes

Vegan food platform abillion analyzed more than 18,000 reviews and of 10,000 dishes to find the best plant-based and vegan dishes in the city-state in 2021. 

Pho, avocado roll, BBQ, and a very nutritious baguette took some of the top spots on abillion’s list. You can check out the full list here. 

Lead image courtesy of Meatless Farm.