EVERY Company Appoints Mario Patino as First CRO

Why the second wave of plant-based growth belongs to own-label. 🛒 While brands led the initial plant-based surge, the next frontier for UK retailers is Private Label. New data from our report with Systemiq Ltd. reveals a significant ‘own-label gap’ in the protein market: 🌱 Private-label currently accounts for only 15% of plant-based meat sales. 🥩 On the other hand, own-label accounts for 82% of sales in conventional processed meat categories. Closing this gap represents a primary lever for retailers to drive Scope 3 acceleration and secure margin stability. By integrating plant-forward options into the heart of their own-label strategies, retailers can move beyond niche positioning and capture the structural growth of the protein transition. The roadmap to 2040: With structural price parity projected by 2028, the retailers who invest in high-quality, own-label diversification today will be the ones leading the £5.5 billion market of tomorrow. 🔗 Summary: https://lnkd.in/exYehM2R 📩 To request a private briefing on the findings, contact our team at corporate@proveg.org. #RetailInsight #PrivateLabel #CategoryManagement #ProteinDiversification #SupplyChainStrategy #ProVeg Julian Cottee The Grocer FoodNavigator

Heura reached positive EBITDA in the first quarter of 2026, "marking a turning point not just for the company, but for the European plant-based sector," claims the firm, which has taken a disciplined approach over the past couple of years to prioritize profitability, scaling back in northern Europe and focusing efforts on faster-growing markets in southern Europe. “Our strategic focus [for Heura branded products] continues to be Southern Europe," says cofounder Bernat Ananos Martinez. "That is also one of the reasons why we are opening our manufacturing capabilities and technology platform [through licensing opportunities] to partners in other geographies, including Northern Europe." #foodtech #plantbased #altmeat #altprotein Heura Foods AgFunder

Please check our recent Consumer Report on Pet Food Manufacturing, with a highlight on AI-implications on operations, R&D and optimization. Reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss further!

Q1 2026 CONSUMER INDUSTRY & MARKET UPDATE – PET FOOD MANUFACTURING: The U.S. pet food manufacturing sector isn't just resilient — it's at an inflection point. Humanization is accelerating. Human-grade nutrition is reshaping demand. AI is moving into formulation, R&D, and operations. And after a quiet stretch, the M&A window is reopening in 2026 — even as tariffs and margin pressure keep operators on their toes. The result: real opportunity, and real complexity for the operators and investors navigating it. Discover the trends, valuation benchmarks, and M&A activity defining the sector right now, https://lnkd.in/gvQkTFHU #PetFood #ConsumerIndustry #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestmentBanking

Food innovation does not become commercially relevant by itself. It needs structure, channel logic and a clear route to market. At MediTaste, we work on the gap between product potential and buyer adoption: from R&D outcome to commercial proposition. from innovation to international B2B activation. #MediTaste, #FoodInnovation, #FoodTech, #RouteToMarket, #GoToMarketStrategy, #MarketActivation, #B2BFood, #ExportStrategy, #FoodIndustry, #InternationalTrade https://lnkd.in/dw3TmZ9r

Food innovation does not fail only because of the product. It often fails because there is no clear route to market. Many companies invest in R&D, recipes, packaging, claims and certifications. But when the product reaches international B2B buyers, the questions change: • Who is the right buyer? • Which channel makes sense? • Does the pricing work? • Are the claims commercially credible? • Why should the buyer take the risk? Innovation becomes valuable only when it can be translated into market adoption. At MediTaste, we work exactly on this gap: from innovative food product to commercial proposition. from R&D outcome to international market activation. Food innovation is not judged only in the lab. It is judged when it can stand in a real market channel. #MediTaste, #FoodInnovation, #FoodTech, #RouteToMarket, #GoToMarketStrategy, #MarketActivation, #B2BFood, #ExportStrategy, #FoodIndustry, #InternationalTrade

Heura Foods hits positive EBITDA in Q1: ‘a turning point for the European plant-based sector’ “While the category declined overall in Spain in 2025, we are gaining momentum in the market," says cofounder Bernat Añaños. https://lnkd.in/dYQBaJZM

Heura Foods reached positive EBITDA in Q1 2026 after investing in its proprietary Good Rebel Tech platform and supply chain optimization, and the company is now offering its manufacturing and formulation capabilities to retailers and brands developing private label plant-based products. #plantbasedbusiness #foodtech #veganbusiness https://lnkd.in/eBbNnt2V

🐾Petfood Forum Events Day 1 is already highlighting a clear shift in the market, one that’s reshaping how facilities need to operate. New entrants are moving quickly, often relying on co-manufacturing models built around flexibility and speed-to-market. At the same time, consumers are choosing greater variety and higher quality pet foods and supplements, accelerating the move away from traditional bulk offerings. The result is a growing need for adaptable operations. Facilities must support smaller batch runs, faster changeovers, and a broader product mix, while maintaining efficiency and quality. For co-manufacturers, that flexibility is becoming a true competitive advantage. At Gray, we’re helping customers align their facilities with where the market is heading, focused on performance, flexibility, and long-term value. Let’s connect at booth #813 or learn more: https://lnkd.in/gM_AmWUR #PetfoodForum #FoodAndBeverage #Manufacturing #Innovation #TeamGray

From Local Pilot to State-Certified Supply Chain: The Evolution of Beautynblingxoxo LLC. Last summer, we launched a pilot for our Nourish & Glow line at the local business fairs in Liberty, Missouri. The goal was simple: test the market, gather consumer data, and prove the viability of a high-protein, Heartland-sourced snack utility. Today, I am proud to announce that BeautynBlingxoxo LLC has achieved a critical institutional milestone. 📑🥓 We have officially cleared the nutritional and food safety audit at the Kansas State University Value Added Foods Lab (KVAFL). With a certified macro-profile of 8g Protein and 3g Fiber, our Maple Bacon Bliss is officially shelf-ready and transitioning into the SAP Ariba grid for retail distribution. The Strategy: Sovereign Manufacturing: Produced at the Mid-Continent Public Library Culinary Center. Institutional Validation: Verified by K-State Co-Director Karen Blakeslee. Supply Chain Integration: Moving from direct-to-consumer fairs to a regional retail partnership model. A massive thank you to the #GlowFam and the community at Hy-Vee, Inc. Liberty for providing the early-stage grit that funded this expansion. We are proving that boutique, minority-owned enterprises can compete at scale when built on a foundation of scientific audit and creative necessity. The National Era is here. See you on the shelf. 🏙️🛡️ #SupplyChain #FoodInnovation #KCMOSmallBusiness #KStateCertified #RetailDistribution #AuraSounds #NourishAndGlow #FounderLife