Plant-based food boom brings new products and growing pains

The plant-based food sector has seen fresh activity in recent weeks, with new product launches, research partnerships, and market expansions. Companies across the globe are rolling out vegan alternatives, from desserts and snacks to dairy-free cheeses, while others face legal and financial hurdles.

In Germany, demand for plant-based products has climbed steadily over the past five years, fuelled by health trends, environmental concerns, and a preference for locally sourced ingredients.

Morrisons brought back its vegan strawberry trifle under the Plant Revolution brand on December 20. The dessert, priced at £7 for a 600g pack, is now available for order.

Meanwhile, Treeline Cheesemakers introduced a cashew-based vegan cottage cheese, sold exclusively on its website. A 6oz pack retails for $4.99.

On the restaurant front, HappyCow crowned Barcelona's Asante as the world's top vegan eatery, based on customer reviews.

In research, Coa & Co partnered with Republic Polytechnic to improve soybean fermentation. The collaboration aims to boost bioavailability, flavour, and nutritional density in soy-based products.

Abillion, a plant-based review app, surpassed two million active users, according to founder Vikas Garg.

Believer Meats, however, faced setbacks despite US approval for its cultivated chicken. The company was sued by Gray Construction over unpaid bills and recently cut staff numbers.

Kokomodo joined forces with CSM Ingredients and Nexture under the Generate Program 2025. The partnership will focus on developing scalable, next-gen ingredients.

Good Eat'n expanded its vegan snack range with White Cheddar Popcorn and Spicy Nacho Cheeze Tortilla Chips. Made from organic corn, the products are now stocked at Gopuff, H-E-B in Texas, and the brand's website.

Prefer secured an S$400,000 grant from Enterprise Singapore's Startup SG. The funding will support the development of PreferChoc, a fermented, cocoa-free chocolate alternative.

Misunderstood Brands won a spot in Walmart's Golden Ticket programme. Its Oatrageous non-dairy liqueurs will first launch in Florida, with plans for wider US distribution in 2026.

The latest developments highlight both growth and challenges in the plant-based market. New products and research collaborations continue to expand options for consumers, while some companies navigate financial and operational difficulties. In Germany, the upward trend in demand reflects broader shifts toward sustainable and health-conscious eating habits.