News Roundup: Bel Group Brings In Another Alt-Cheese Partner; Farm.One Returns With New Investment

Bel Group Partners With Food Tech Company Climax Foods

The maker of cheese brands Laughing Cow, Boursin, Babybel and others has added yet another alt-dairy platform to its list of alt-dairy cheese partners. This week, Bel Group announced a new agreement with California-based biotech startup Climax Foods to create new lines of nutrient-dense, sustainable alt-cheese products. As part of the arrangement, Bel Group has also acquired an equity stake in the company.

Bel Group, which has launched plant-based alternatives for its three flagship brands as well as vegan cream cheese line Nurishh, has partnered with other alt-dairy food tech companies in the past including Paris-based precision fermentation business Standing Ovation as well as California-based Perfect Day.

The new partnership will see the two companies co-create products under its Laughing Cow, Boursin, Babybel, Nurishh and Kiri brand foods. Bel Group aims to develop its portfolio to hold an even split of animal-based and plant-based products in the U.S. and Europe by the end of 2024.

“Food is a key lever to address climate change, and we, at Bel, have a strong determination to explore new territories and develop innovative solutions that will define the future of food, for all,” said Cécile Béliot, CEO of the Bel Group, in a press release. “This collaboration epitomizes our co-innovation strategy by combining their distinctive technological data science and AI platforms and expertise with Bel’s pioneering and historical knowledge.”

Climax Foods uses “predictive analytics” and AI to harness a deep understanding of animal-based cheese products, as well as other foods, at the molecular level and recreate them with plant-based ingredients to match texture, flavor and nutrition density. The food tech firm has already created prototypes of blue, brie, feta, and goat cheeses.

“AI and data can be game changers in food in terms of delivering optimal taste and texture while at the same time making it affordable and sustainable,” said Dr. Oliver Zahn, CEO and founder of Climax Foods Inc., in a press release. “Evolving recipes over time is what we’ve been doing for hundreds of years. In addition to changing consumer preferences, climate change requires us to accelerate the evolution of food.”

Kraft Heinz company has a joint venture with food-tech platform NotCo to use its own AI program, Guiseppe, to develop products made from already existing plant-based ingredients. The duo launched a NotCo version of cheese product Kraft Singles last year.

Farm.One Returns To Brooklyn With New Investment

Indoor vertical farming operation Farm.One has reopened its Brooklyn Neighborhood Farm over a year since it closed its doors. The farm has secured long-term capital from controlled environment agriculture (CEA)-focused family investment office DK-Bell Holding Company, which is funded by its Managing Partner, Derek Pitts.

The news comes only a week after Brooklyn-based vertical farming company Upward Farms announced it would close its doors due to the “infinitely complex” operating environment for CEAs.

“In order to succeed, urban indoor farming requires an approach that is more than just growing healthier and tastier greens indoors,” said Pitts, in a press release. “You need a neighborhood-centric presence that is incredibly engaged with chefs, consumers and communities. Our urban farms are places where people can gather, hang out, taste, experiment and live the experience.”

Fresh Thyme Market Launches Ecommerce Site

Midwestern natural grocer Fresh Thyme Market announced the launch of a new ecommerce platform to bring its online grocery ordering in-house. The company said the move will allow customers to capitalize on the grocer’s in-store prices, savings and deals while shopping online.

“We are excited to bring a more convenient way of shopping to our loyal and new customers with this e-commerce launch,” said Liz Zolcak, president of Fresh Thyme Market, in a press release. “We are proud to be able to bring our great in-store shopping experience to life, online. With our new appealing and convenient e-comm experience, we can provide more shoppers with savings without sacrificing quality or freshness.”

Fresh Thyme employees will fulfill orders and customers are able to change, edit and cancel orders up until an employee begins picking. Previously, Fresh Thyme customers could only place orders online through third-party delivery services such as Instacart. The service will be available for both curbside pickup and delivery. The move follows the path other retailers have taken, with Whole Foods Market moving its own delivery services from Instacart, in-house.

PepsiCo Launches New Customer Sustainability Platform

PepsiCo announced an expansion of its pep+ program this week with the launch of ​​Partners for Tomorrow, designed to assist and support PepsiCo customers in achieving their own sustainability goals. The platform will initially launch in the U.S. with planned expansion to key markets by 2024.

The platform currently hosts five sustainability focused programs including CIRQU, which allows for on-demand collection of recyclable containers for foodservice and retail customers and Sow+ Agriculture, a program that allows PepsiCo customers to make direct investments to help convert agricultural land to regenerative practices, among others.

“The Partners for Tomorrow platform aims to scale those solutions to foster the most effective partnerships and long standing impact,” said Todd Squarek, SVP and chief sustainability officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America. “With this platform we’re leveraging the shared scale of PepsiCo’s and our customers’ businesses to maximize impact, drive progress toward our pep+ goals, and benefit both our businesses, the planet and the communities we serve.”

The Grassfed Alliance Hosts 2nd Annual “The Real Burger of Earth Day” Campaign

The Good Meat Project’s Grassfed Alliance group launched its second annual “The Real Burger of Earth Day” with family farmers, ranchers, butchers, chefs and retailers from 26 states nationwide. The campaign intends to educate consumers on health and climate benefits of grassfed beef by connecting them with grassfed beef producers.

“We want people to understand that eating meat isn’t the climate culprit—it’s what kind of meat, how it’s raised, and where it comes from,” said Tim Joseph, Grassfed Alliance advisor, in a press release. “Grassfed beef is a better choice for the environment, and there’s no better tasting burger.”