Vegan NIBs: 27 January 2025

💚 Beyond Meat Faces Challenges in the US but Sees Potential in Europe While Beyond Meat experiences declining sales in the US, Europe presents growth opportunities due to expanding distribution and supportive supermarket initiatives. Source: Wired 💚 Launch of Fully Funded PhD Programs in Alternative Protein Research The UK’s National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), based at the University of Leeds, has announced the opening of applications for five fully funded PhD positions. These programs aim to advance research in alternative proteins, reflecting the growing academic interest in sustainable and plant-based food sources. Read more here 💚 Lush Introduces Vegan, Recyclable Floating Speaker British cosmetics company Lush has ventured into bathroom technology with the release of the Bath Bot, a vegan, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker that floats and features color-changing LEDs. Emphasizing ethical manufacturing in the UK and recyclable components, the Bath Bot represents Lush’s commitment to sustainability, despite challenges in sourcing materials and navigating electronics certification processes. Source: Wired 💚 Financial Setback for ‘Vegan Gas’ Project Dale Vince’s Green Britain Group reported a £7 million loss after a £12 million writedown on its “vegan gas” initiative. The downturn is attributed to challenges in the project and a decline in global energy prices, highlighting the financial risks associated with innovative energy solutions. Source: The Telegraph 💚 Oato Launches as Sainsbury’s First Fresh Oat Milk, Redefining Dairy-Free Alternatives in the UK Oato, a fresh oat milk brand known for its cow’s milk-style packaging, is now available in Sainsbury’s, offering British-made, non-UHT milk in litre and pint cartons at 375 shops. Positioned in the chilled aisle, Oato is unique for using locally sourced British oats to provide a fresh, affordable, and convenient dairy-free alternative, aiming to redefine the category in the UK. Founder Carl Hopwood celebrates this milestone, highlighting Oato’s commitment to becoming a leading brand in the dairy alternative market. Source: Plant Based News