The Week In Food Tech: CHKN Not Chicken Raises $4.5M, MILKLAB Launches Oat Milk

Just a few short years ago, it was unusual to get more than a handful of stories each week about meat analogues, dairy alternatives, and other alt foods. Nowadays, the opposite is true. In fact, there are so many developments in the alt-protein and food tech space we decided to create a weekly column that gathers all the various bits of news out there into one single place for easy reading. This week, a new plant-based player raises Series A funding, Australia’s MILKLAB releases its own oat milk, and a fully vegan tradeshow comes to the UK.

CHKN Not Chicken raises $4.5 million

The Series A funding round will help the new plant-based chicken brand debut its product through e-commerce channels and eventually at grocery stores and restaurants.

Wagamama addresses climate crisis through plant-based campaign

The UK-based restaurant chain is encouraging diners to remove some animal products from their diet. Those who sign up get a voucher for a free vegan side on their next Wagamama order.

Veggie Grill releases new Beyond Meat menu item

The US-based restaurant chain’s Steakhouse Burger includes a Beyond Burger topped with caramelized onion sauce, blue cheese crumbles, iceberg lettuce and horseradish aioli served on a brioche bun.

Plant-based seafood company Novish prepping US debut

The Netherlands-based plant-based seafood company, which sells alt-fish fillets, sticks, and other products, will make its US debut this September at the Natural Products Expo East.

Eat Just expands to Korean bakery chain, holds exclusive pop-up

The plant-based egg maker has launched at South Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette. The company recently wrapped its Pioneers Club fine-dining series in Seoul, featuring the Eat Just plant-based egg.

UPSIDE Foods appoints Kyle Vogt to its Board of Directors 

Vogt, co-founder of self-driving car company Cruise, will bring experience scaling technologies as UPSIDE prepares to bring its first cultured meat product to market (pending regulatory approval).

MILKLAB launches oat milk

The Australian plant-based milk company has launched its oat milk product, which has been two years in the making and received the input of some of the world’s finest coffee professionals and baristas.

Costa Coffee will release new vegan items this month

The UK coffee chain’s autumn menu, launching in September, will include a Vegan Bac’n Breakfast Bap and a new cookie in addition to existing vegan items already on the Costa menu.

Guzman y Gomez has a new vegan protein filling

The Shredded Shiitake Mushroom filling took the Australia-based Mexican food chain three years to develop in partnership with Fable Food Co., and is now available at locations across the country. 

The Vegan Society brings vegan tradeshow to the UK

Vegan and plant-based businesses in the retail and foodservice sectors will be able to gather, learn, and network at the Plant Based World Conference & Expo, which follows a successful sister event in the US from 2019.

Oatly and KFC partner for plant-based ice cream

KFC locations in China are now serving Oatly latte-flavored plant-based soft-serve ice cream. KFC China is also testing out chocolate and strawberry-flavored Oatly ice cream cups.

Swedish groceries get their first plant-based tuna

Hooked Foods has launched its Toonish Tomat at Coop Sverige, City Gross, and Mathem stores. This is the first 100% plant-based tuna to hit Swedish grocery stores. 

Lead image courtesy of CHKN Not Chicken.