Dairy Processing - January/February 2023 - 71

Investment to support
New Culture's
animal-free mozzarella
Bel adds more alternative dairy
products to portfolio
The Bel Group and Bel Brands USA announced the launch
of two new alternative dairy options: Nurishh animal-free
cream cheese spread and The Laughing Cow Plant-Based.
Bel created its Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free
Cream Cheese Spread Alternative in collaboration with
Perfect Day, Berkeley, Calif., which developed a precisionfermented
protein for use in animal-free dairy products.
Nurishh is Bel's first alternative dairy brand. Its new
animal-free cream cheese contains real dairy proteins and
is made without using any cows. The lactose-free product
comes in three flavors: Original, Strawberry and Chive &
Onion. Nurishh cream cheeses will be available at Kroger
stores throughout the United States for $4.99.
" At Bel, we are determined to conquer new territories,
to create the innovations that will shape the food of
tomorrow for the benefit of our consumers, " said Cécile
Béliot, chief executive officer of the Bel Group. " This is our
role and our responsibility as a major player in the food
industry. I am personally convinced that to meet the triple
challenge of more sustainable, healthy and accessible
food for all, innovation and bringing together talents
are key. This partnership with Perfect Day is the perfect
embodiment of our co-innovation approach: the meeting
of Perfect Day's unique technology and Bel's historic and
pioneering know-how. "
The Laughing Cow Plant-Based cheeses are certified
vegan and were developed to duplicate the " spreadability "
associated with the brand's original dairy-based product.
Bel shared that the plant-based versions will soon arrive
at select US retailers in both Original and Garlic & Herb
flavors for $5.49.
The company previously launched Babybel PlantBased
and Boursin Dairy-Free as dairy alternative cheeses.
Per Bel, it works closely with consumers to develop
alternatives that live up to " cheese lovers' expectations " in
terms of taste, texture and richness.
Animal-free dairy maker New Culture
announced a new investment from Koreabased
food and bioengineering company CJ
CheilJedang will bolster product development
and further scale up the production of New
Culture's animal-free mozzarella.
New Culture combines traditional cheesemaking
methods with food science and is
scheduled to launch its animal-free mozzarella
in pizzerias in 2024. The company says its
process creates an animal-free cheese with
the melting, stretching and bubbling qualities
people expect when they eat pizza.
" CJ CheilJedang has invaluable experience
and connections in the food and pizza industries
that will provide New Culture pivotal scale-up
momentum as we push forward our go-tomarket
strategy, " said Matt Gibson, co-founder
and chief executive officer at New Culture.
A $23 billion Korean conglomerate,
CJ CheilJedang is a global supplier of
fermentation based bio-products, as well as
a 25% market-share holder in the US frozen
pizza market. It acquired in 2019 Minnesotabased
frozen food maker Schwan's Company,
which operates brands such as Red Baron.
" Our partnership with New Culture
reinforces CJ CheilJedang's alternative
protein investment strategy, and underscores
the overwhelming demand for animal-free
ingredients, " said Yunil Hwang, CEO for the
bio business unit of CJ CheilJedang.
New Culture's investors also include Kraft
Heinz (Evolv Ventures) and ADM (ADM
Ventures), venture capital firms Mayfield,
Future Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital and
SOSV, and food tech VCs S2G, CPT Capital
and Be8 Ventures.
DAIRYPROCESSING.COM | JAN-FEB 2023 71
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
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