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Discount retailer has unveiled 28 new affordable plant-based products in the UK, which include Meat Free Cordon Bleu, Barista Oat Milk, and Smoked Tofu. The range starts from £1.09.

Also in the UK, plant-based milk brand has added caramel and chocolate flavours to its oat milk powder range.

British foodservice wholesaler has extended its plant-based range with nearly 40 new products and created a Vegan Hub for Veganuary.

London-based , a popular Chinese restaurant chain, has opened its fifth location on Gloucester Road.

Across the Atlantic, tofu maker has announced a retail expansion into Meijer, Harris Teeter, and Giant Martin’s.

New York-based has launched a barista edition of its pistachio milk, which is available at Whole Foods Market, on its webstore, and at Joe Coffee for $7.99 per carton.

AI-led ingredient discovery company has put out a partnership call to beverage manufacturers for the development and scale-up of a natural sugar replacer.

Popular fast-food chain has opened a new Bar Vegan location in Baltimore’s Rye Street Market, which is part of the Baltimore Peninsula District development.

Ingredients giant has launched an Alternative Proteins Portfolio to complement its range of plant-based seasonings, sauces, dressings, binders, coatings, and all-in-one mixes.

Dutch vegan food distributor has rebranded to to solidify its role as the “connecting factor in the protein transition”.

has introduced under its vegan brand, which is available at all Safeway and Albertsons stores across Idaho and Washington state.

Meanwhile, has introduced a range of vegan meals for children, including pizza, vegetable fajitas, cauliflower bites and strawberry crumble. It adds to the carrier’s 300-plus plant-based options.

Aussie plant-based player has unveiled a new identity for Soulara, the ready meal brand it acquired in January.

And in India, vegan startup – backed by cricketer and actor – has rolled out sweet potato fries, which are available at online retailers like Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Blinkit.

Belgian agrifood company has opened Nuverta, a plant-based protein facility in Mettet, which will initially produce pea protein concentrate.

British green energy innovator , owned by , has opened what it says is the country’s first fully vegan workplace canteen.

has partnered with UK plant-based food company and Canadian manufacturer to develop next-gen vegan products, receiving funding from the scheme.

Spanish vegan meat startup has opened a new innovation lab in Barcelona’s 22@ tech district, and plans to register six more patents over the next nine months, adding to the innovations it announced late last year.

Slovenian plant-based food producer is set to be acquired by , having signed a letter of intent to enter a share purchase agreement.

In the US, animal-free component producer has acquired , which makes plant-based, edible nanofibre scaffolds and microbeads for cultivated meat.

Boston-based ‘s co-founder Christophe Chantre has announced that he stepped down from his role as CEO last fall.

also received $5.1M as part of the US ‘s Technologies for Industrial Emissions Reduction Development (TIEReD) Program, while fellow Boston company earned $2.4M.

, the parent company of , has been sued by , which has accused the former of fraudulently selling its plant-based food tech platform to avoid contractual obligations and cheating it out of $10M.

Research and policy developments

In the UK, the has recognised cultivated meat as a key engineering biology opportunity and is calling for improved regulation of these products in a report published by its Science and Technology Committee.

‘s  at Imperial College London has officially opened with a two-day scientific event.

Vegan seafood startup and upcycled apricot kernel company have each won a €5,000 award as part of ’s Marketed Innovation Prize.

The in Ireland has introduced a 12-week course on Animal Law for undergraduate law students, which starts this month.

In their attempt to bring vegan cheese closer to what consumers expect, researchers from the and have found that blending coconut oil with pea protein provides better melting and stretching, and mixing it with sunflowerr oil lowers the saturated fat content without compromising functionality.

Finally, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion to ramp up the procurement of plant-based foods to lower emissions and improve public health, with county food services now encouraged to adopt a 2:1 ratio of plant- to animal-based mains.

Check out last week’s Future Food Quick Bites.