Top Stories
BLUU and Cultivate at Scale produce fish cells at 1,000-liter scale in Europe. BLUU and Cultivate at Scale have produced fish cells in 1,000-liter bioreactors in the Netherlands, establishing what they call Europe's first industrial platform for cell-cultured marine ingredients aimed initially at the personal care market. (Protein Report)
Swiss Food and Nutrition Valley selects eighteen startups for investor pitch event. The Swiss Food and Nutrition Valley has chosen eighteen foodtech startups to present at its annual Investing in the Valley showcase on April 22. The selected companies span a wide range of sectors, including plant protein ingredients, cell-cultured meat, seaweed-based packaging, microbial fermentation, functional beverages, and AI-driven food optimization. Notable participants include Aleph Farms, a cell-cultured agriculture company with operations in Israel and Zurich; and Catchfree, an ETH spin-off producing plant-based seafood. (startupticker.ch)
THIS launches plant-based deli slices in UK retailers. THIS has introduced two ready-to-eat plant-based deli slices in the UK: Roast Chicken Slices and Butter Bean, Garlic and Paprika Slices, both priced at £2.95 for a 95g pack. The products became available at Morrisons on April 22, with Waitrose and Sainsbury's following on May 6. Each pack is marketed as high in protein, a source of vitamin B12 and iron, and low in saturated fat, targeting flexitarian and health-conscious consumers. The butter bean variety uses butter beans as a base ingredient, while the chicken-style slices aim to replicate the texture of roast chicken without animal ingredients. (retailtimes.co.uk)
Minor Figures launches seed oil-free barista almond milk in Australia. Minor Figures, known for its oat milk range, has entered the almond milk segment with a new Barista Almond product — its first move beyond oat globally. The product uses Australian olive oil instead of seed oils and sources all almonds from Australian farms near the South Australian and Victorian border, with production based outside Ballarat in regional Victoria. According to the company, almond milk holds a 37 percent share of the Australian grocery plant milk market, compared to 33 percent for oat. Minor Figures says the product underwent nearly a year of development and approximately 25 trials, with pre-orders reportedly accumulating ahead of its official launch last month. (beanscenemag.com.au)
Global dairy margins tighten as oversupply drives sharp commodity price declines. Dairy producers worldwide face mounting margin pressure in early 2026 as elevated milk production outpaces demand, driving steep commodity price declines. Fat markets have fallen 40 percent, whole milk powder is down 30 percent, and protein-based products have declined 15 percent. Global milk output is forecast to grow just 0.2 percent in 2026, a sharp deceleration from 2.6 percent growth the prior year, with the United States leading expansion as herd sizes reach their highest levels since the 1990s. The USDA projects the All-Milk price at approximately $19.70 per cwt for the year, while geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pose additional risks to supply chains heading into 2027. (kscj.com)
Guardian Capital Partners enters food sector with Nügredient acquisition. Guardian Capital Partners, a Philadelphia-area private equity firm, has acquired Nügredient Solutions, a California-based manufacturer of nut- and plant-based food ingredients. The deal marks Guardian's first platform investment in the food and beverage sector under its Guardian Priority Sector program. Nügredient, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Modesto, California, supplies specialty ingredient solutions to consumer packaged goods companies and foodservice providers across North America. Co-founder and CEO Bob Farinha will retain an ownership stake and continue leading operations, with plans to expand manufacturing capabilities and customer relationships. (mychesco.com)