Vegan Meals Information of the Week: Miyoko’s Considers Sale, Virgin Atlantic’s Snack Bars, and Extra

Evidently each week on this planet of vegan meals information is extra thrilling than the final and this week isn’t any exception. We’re smack dab in the midst of the vacation season and Virgin Atlantic is bettering journey with new vegan snacks. On the bottom, Divine Chocolate is giving us a brand new skinny, crunchy candy deal with, too. 

Plus, from Miyoko’s Creamery to Daiya Meals and Laughing Cow, vegan cheese is having an enormous information week. Learn on for extra. 

1Snackable chocolate crisps

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we discover ourselves snacking on every part from chips to chocolate, and one firm, Divine Chocolate, helps us just do that … on the identical time.

Divine

This vacation season, Divine Chocolate is re-launching its widespread Crispy Thins in newly designed packaging. This mild, crunchy deal with is available in 4 flavors, together with the vegan-friendly Darkish Chocolate and Darkish Chocolate with Mint. All varieties mix Divine’s fair-trade chocolate with puffed rice and can be found at chosen shops, Amazon, and Divine Chocolate’s on-line retailer.

“We’re thrilled to carry again our Crispy Thins with a brand new look that completely embodies our model’s ethos and the delectable style of those snacks,” ​​Troy Pearley, Government Vice President and Basic Supervisor for North America at Divine Chocolate, stated in an announcement. 

“These addictive treats have been well worth the wait as our new look fantastically displays each our model and the way scrumptious these thins style,” Pearley stated. 

Based mostly within the UK, Divine Chocolate has operated for 25 years and is targeted on combating exploitation within the cocoa trade, selling ladies’s empowerment, advancing grownup schooling, and numerous sustainability initiatives.

2Vegan chorizo, sizzling canine, and jackfruit meat at Publix

Chicago-based Upton’s Naturals is increasing its attain by introducing its vegan meat merchandise in additional than 1,300 Publix shops beginning January 2024. This self-funded vegan meals firm will provide Publix prospects a spread of plant-based choices, together with Chorizo Seitan, Conventional Seitan, Updog Vegan Scorching Canine, Bar-B-Que Jackfruit, and Chili Lime Jackfruit. 

Upton’s Naturals

Plus, the vegan model is growing its presence in Sprouts Farmers Market, the place 400 shops will function Upton’s Naturals Bacon Seitan of their refrigerated meat alternate options part from early December.

Daniel Staackmann, a devoted vegan, based Upton’s Naturals over 17 years in the past. The corporate has been on the forefront of plant-based meals innovation, introducing the primary pre-seasoned seitan in 2006 and main the jackfruit development. 

Upton’s Naturals emphasizes easy substances and acquainted flavors, making it widespread amongst plant-based customers.

Upton’s Naturals

“Increasing into Publix shops has been a enterprise purpose for a few years,” Staackmann stated. “[This] underscores our perception that scrumptious meals made with actual, recognizable substances will at all times be in demand no matter developments.”

3Virgin Atlantic’s vegan snacks

Vacation journey is anxious regardless of the way you slice it. However journeys are at all times higher when airways fill up on vegan treats. At Virgin Atlantic, flights have stocked up on new choices, together with LoveRaw’s Cream Wafer Bars, a caramelized biscuit now out there to Higher Class and Premium prospects.

Love Uncooked

For one thing heartier, the airline’s Higher Class menu now includes a Past Burger (served with pickled onions, vegan cheese, and vegan mayonnaise) and new double salted caramel or lemon sorbet flavors of Northern Block’s plant-based ice cream. Within the Premium cabin, prospects can order panko-coated tofu with katsu vegetable curry. 

“We’re delighted to introduce our new onboard menu, marking the return of the season that makes our prospects crave some winter solar,” Corneel Koster, Chief Buyer and Working Officer, Virgin Atlantic, stated in an announcement. 

“At Virgin Atlantic we’re at all times seeking to create memorable moments onboard, which is why we attempt to supply an unmatched, modern, and in depth collection of dishes throughout our cabins,” Koster stated. 

4Kraft’s new vegan mac and cheese

Our forks have been prepared for this second for what appears like an eternity: Kraft’s vegan mac and cheese is beginning to hit shops this week. 

The brand new Kraft NotMac&Cheese is a product developed by The Kraft Heinz Not Firm, a three way partnership between the meals big and Chile’s The Not Firm—which makes use of synthetic intelligence to develop equivalent alternate options to animal merchandise from vegetation. 

The Kraft Heinz Not Firm

“Via our three way partnership with NotCo, we’re capable of ship the creamy and comforting expertise customers have cherished for many years, now plant-based with Kraft NotMac&Cheese,” a spokesperson for the three way partnership informed VegNews earlier this week.  

“No person is aware of mac and cheese like Kraft Heinz,” the spokesperson stated. 

The kicker? We get not one however two flavors—Authentic and White Cheddar—which we intend to mix for a swirly feast of cheesiness. 

5Vegan cheese makes strikes

In different vegan cheese information, Miyoko’s Creamery is contemplating a sale of the corporate and exploring potential strategic partnerships, present CEO Stuard Kornauge revealed to shareholders in a letter. This improvement comes after this yr’s departure—and alternative—of founder, CEO, and namesake Miyoko Schinner. 

Miyoko’s Creamery

Regardless of doubling its gross sales to $40 million between 2019 and 2021, the corporate noticed a decline to $33 million in 2022 and $25 million within the third quarter of 2023. Going through market and financial challenges, the corporate ceased manufacturing at its Petaluma facility for effectivity causes. The corporate had earlier funding successes, together with a $52 million spherical in 2021.

One other vegan cheese pioneer, Daiya Meals, lately appointed a brand new CEO, Hajime Fujita, a former director with 17 years of worldwide enterprise expertise.

Fujita, who performed a key position in Daiya’s improvement underneath its guardian firm Otsuka Prescription drugs, will lead operations throughout North America and spearhead worldwide growth. 

“There may be monumental potential within the Daiya model to push the extremely aggressive plant-based class to new heights, notably by way of product innovation and daring advertising,” Fujita stated in an announcement. 

“I’m thrilled to be rejoining Daiya at such a dynamic interval within the wider cultural dialog round plant-based consuming, and I stay up for working with our implausible group in writing the following chapter of our superb model story,” he stated. 

Bel Manufacturers

Lastly, our vegan cheese-loving buddies in the UK are getting one thing new to clamor about with the growth of Bel Group’s plant-based Laughing Cow cheeses to retailers this winter. Search for the almond milk-based cheeses in Authentic and Garlic and Herb flavors at Asda and Sainsbury’s UK-wide.