This week brings exciting news in the world of food:
- Vegetable company Green Giant is expanding its horizons into more categories, including veggie ramen.
- Pasta giant Barilla just launched its first vegan pesto, a perfect match for its pasta products.
- Daiya Foods has officially released the reformulated versions of its pizzas topped with new oat cream-based dairy-free cheese.
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Savory food news
For pasta lovers, soup sippers, and dairy-free cheese connoisseurs, this week brings some juicy food news.
Barilla
Barilla’s first vegan pesto
Barilla, the world’s largest pasta maker, is introducing its first vegan pesto, available exclusively at Kroger stores this month with broader distribution expected in 2025. The new dairy-free pesto is made from 35.6 percent basil, olive oil, and cashews—which act as a stand-in for dairy typically found in pesto.
“This Barilla expansion meets consumers’ growing appetite for genuine Italian flavor with a range that offers creamy, spicy, and sweet notes to satisfy diverse preferences,” Matt Michaels, Barilla’s Pesto Brand Manager, said in a statement.
Part of Barilla’s broader sauce expansion, the vegan pesto is priced at $3.99 per jar and is ready to use without heating.
“We believe these pesto sauces will inspire new culinary creations and become a cherished staple in kitchens across the country,” Michaels said.
Green Giant
Green Giant gets into veggie ramen
Green Giant, a B&G Foods, Inc. brand, is expanding its footprint in the ramen category with its latest product line, introducing a vegan-friendly Garlic Soy vegetable ramen. This option combines ramen noodles, vegetables, and a savory garlic soy broth, perfect for those seeking convenient, flavorful vegan meals.
This frozen plant-based ramen is part of a 12-product expansion and provides an easy meal solution, whether enjoyed on its own or paired with additional vegetables or plant-based proteins.
“Crispy smashed potatoes, corn cob bites, and veggie ramen offer fun twists to classic favorites, while remaining a convenient, and affordable option,” Kristen Thompson, president of frozen and vegetables and senior vice president of B&G Foods, said in a statement.
Green Giant also offers a vegan-friendly Fresh Asian Inspired Seasoning & Roasted Edamame Ramen Soup Bowl in the refrigerated section of grocery stores such as Kroger.
Daiya Foods
Stretchier dairy-free cheese
Are you one of the 74 percent of Americans who enjoy pizza three times per month? Then plant-based brand Daiya Foods has some good news for you. The company has just unveiled its newly reformulated pizza line, perfectly timed for National Pizza Month.
Available now at major retailers across North America, Daiya’s revamped pizzas feature an upgraded gluten-free crust that is lighter, fluffier, and crispier than before. Additionally, the pizzas are topped with an enhanced rich tomato sauce and Daiya’s latest dairy-free cheese, made with its Oat Cream blend. This new cheese, which debuted earlier this year, offers a creamier, meltier texture and is crafted using proprietary plant-based cultures, delivering a richer indulgence without dairy.
The refreshed line of pizzas includes a variety of options catering to different tastes, from classic cheese to veggie-topped pies to meatless varieties packed with Beyond Meat sausage.
“At Daiya, we’ve made it our mission to ensure there’s a dairy-free and gluten-free option that doesn’t sacrifice on taste and truly stands out on supermarket shelves,” Daiya’s Chief Commercial Officer, Melanie Domer, said in a statement.
This transformation follows a multi-million-dollar investment into the company’s bakery facility at its LEED-certified manufacturing space in British Columbia, where the pizzas are now produced entirely in-house. This significant upgrade has allowed Daiya to double its production capacity while enhancing nearly every aspect of its pizza line.
“By investing millions into our bakery facility, we’ve been able to completely overhaul nearly every aspect of our pizzas, delivering an enhanced taste that meets the high standards of pizza lovers everywhere,” Domer said.
With prices ranging from $9.99 to $12.99, the new pizzas are available at retailers such as Whole Foods, Kroger, and Walmart in the US, and Loblaws, Metro, and Save on Foods in Canada.
Those Vegan Cowboys
In more dairy-free cheese news, Belgian biotech company Those Vegan Cowboys has announced a significant breakthrough in its pursuit of sustainable cheese production. The company was founded in 2019 by Jaap Korteweg (founder of The Vegetarian Butcher) and Niko Koffeman (a Dutch politician) for the purpose of vastly improving the global dairy industry.
Using microbial casein created through precision fermentation—a process it symbolizes with a steel cow which it named after Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher—the company revealed that its animal-free casein can outperform traditional cow-derived casein in key aspects of cheese production.
Under specific conditions, the microbial casein offers superior stretch, particularly in mozzarella, and melts more efficiently. This means cheesemakers can use less casein while achieving better results, reducing costs and boosting sustainability.
This week, Those Vegan Cowboys showcased its innovations at the Future Food-Tech summit in London as the company gears up to enter the US market by mid-2025.
Those Vegan Cowboys
“The casein we produce with our stainless steel cow can give, for example, a melted stretch up to five times better if desired by the cheesemaker,” Will van den Tweel, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, said in a statement.
“Margaret can also deliver casein with a lower melting point,” van den Tweel said. “And this is just the beginning.”
The microbial casein has already shown promise in producing cheeses such as mozzarella, brie, camembert, and gouda—all without a single cow.
Sweet food news
We’re excited to report that sweet new dairy-free options are popping up in stores this week.
Pitaya Foods
Smoothie popsicles
Pitaya Foods, a fast-growing brand in the frozen fruit category, has launched its new line of Smoothie Pops, now available nationwide at Walmart and through the company’s website. Known for its focus on organic and sustainable farming, the brand’s new pops are made with five ingredients, offering a half serving of fruit without any added sugar, water, or juice concentrates.
These pops come in three flavors: Organic Acai & Blueberry, Organic Dragon Fruit & Mango, and Organic Passion Fruit & Peach.
“This new line addition of the Smoothie Pops is a natural extension of our core products as we want to ensure consumers can enjoy healthy, delicious, and convenient products made from only premium ingredients for themselves and their kids at all times of the day, without any guilt of not making food from scratch or compromising on quality or nutrition,” Chuck Casano, CEO and co-founder of Pitaya Foods, said in a statement.
“These bold and bright fruit flavor combinations are home runs and the paper tubes make for fun eating—with secret nutrition hidden within,” Casano said.
Pitaya Foods is also recognized for its environmental and social efforts, having protected more than 600 hectares from deforestation, supported more than 1,000 farms in becoming USDA Certified Organic, and created more than 300 jobs for single mothers in Nicaragua.
Silk
Dairy-free cold foam
Move over Starbucks, there’s a new dairy-free cold foam in town and it’s perfect for making iced lattes at home. Danone-owned brand Silk has introduced two new varieties of its oat milk-based cold foam creamers. The new flavors, Cinnamon Caramel and White Chocolate Macadamia, are designed for iced coffee lovers looking to enhance their morning brews.
The new Silk Oat Cold Foam Creamers can also be located using the brand’s product locator tool and are currently available at Kroger stores for $5.79 per 26-serving can.
Target
Pumpkin spice oat whipped cream
Target’s own brand Favorite Day has been a go-to for plant-based products and this holiday season, the retailer has an exciting addition to the line. Its new Pumpkin Spice Whipped Oat topping is dairy-free and made with a base of oat milk.
Available in an 6.5-ounce spray can for $3.29, this new plant-based whipped cream is perfect for topping pies, lattes, pancakes, and just spraying into your mouth full-tilt all holiday season long.
Restaurant news
Restaurants are getting into the Halloween spirit this week with spooky offerings. Plus, Tripadvisor users have voted on their top veg restaurants in the world.
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches
Phantom Dutch Crunch
San Francisco Bay Area-based chain Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is getting into the spooky spirit with a new purple-infused twist on its popular Dutch Crunch bread. Dubbed “Phantom Dutch,” this limited-edition bread will be available from October 7 through November 16 at all Ike’s locations. The vibrant purple bread adds a festive touch to any sandwich, providing a unique option for Halloween enthusiasts looking to elevate their sandwich game.
“When I started Ike’s, it was all about doing something different,” Founder Ike Shehadeh said in a statement. “Here we are, 17 years later, and I thought, ‘Why not mix it up with a little purple for my anniversary?’ Purple is my favorite color, and it gives our classic Dutch a fun twist.”
“Phantom Dutch is more than just a new look—it’s a celebration of all the unexpected sandwiches I’ve made along the way,” Shehadeh said.
Ike’s offers a large selection of plant-based sandwich options such as the Meatless Mike, featuring vegan meatballs and marinara, which can be ordered on the Phantom Dutch bread. Additionally, in celebration of Ike’s 17th anniversary, the chain will feature two select sandwiches every Thursday during the spooky season at the special price of $10.17. Guests can also take home Phantom Dutch in six-packs for $9.89, perfect for creating plant-based sandwiches and spooky snacks at home.
Cinnaholic
Monster cinnamon rolls
Today, Cinnaholic is celebrating National Cinnamon Roll Day with an exciting offer for all sweet treat lovers. Known for its customizable vegan cinnamon rolls, Cinnaholic will be offering a Buy One, Get One Free deal on its Signature Rolls all day long at participating locations.
Some of the mouthwatering Signature Rolls available include the Cookie Monster, featuring dairy-free cream cheese frosting, homemade chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce; the Very Berry, topped with cake batter frosting, fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberry jam, and powdered sugar; and the Shake, Rattle, & Roll, which combines peanut butter frosting, homemade peanut butter cups, fresh bananas, and pretzels for a unique twist.
Dapur Usada
Tripadvisor’s best veg restaurants
The 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards by Tripadvisor have recognized the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants globally, showcasing the rising popularity of plant-based dining. Out of the platform’s eight million listings, fewer than one percent achieve the prestigious Best of the Best title, highlighting these restaurants’ excellence based on a high volume of glowing reviews from travelers.
Among the global highlights is Chia Vegan Kitchen in Cusco, Peru, where diners rave about the fresh flavors of jackfruit tacos and the relaxed ambiance. Over in Barcelona, Spain, Vrutal draws visitors with its stunning views and popular dishes such as Chick’N with fried tofu wings, paired with innovative cocktails. In Ubud, Indonesia, Dapur Usada takes inspiration from Indo-Vedic cuisine, crafting healthy bowls with fresh, sustainable ingredients, creating a unique and nourishing dining experience.
P.S. Kitchen
In the US, some standout plant-based spots have made their mark. P.S. Kitchen in New York City is lauded not only for its plant-based menu—where truffle mac and cheese is a guest favorite—but also for its mission, as profits go toward social causes.
Miami Beach’s Full Bloom Vegan offers a laid-back atmosphere, with tropical outdoor seating and creative dishes perfect for a relaxing meal. On the West Coast, Los Angeles’ The Butcher’s Daughter is a trendy destination for plant-based favorites such as avocado toast and breakfast burritos.
For those seeking a high-end experience, Eleven Madison Park in NYC is a top pick for its luxurious tasting menu that showcases the vast potential of plant-based fine dining.
VegNews readers also voted for the best 28 vegan restaurants in the country. Did your favorite eatery make the cut?
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
