HEC Advisors Blog

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Faux meat and dairy start-ups are seeing a surge in funding.

Financial Times, 18/03/2021 - Investors place bets on 170 alternative protein start-ups in 2020, with funding totalling $3.1bn. Plant-based meat, egg and dairy companies attracted the bulk of the capital. In Europe, the sector raised a record $527m, more than quadrupling its 2019 tally. Alternative proteins aim to offer food produced in clean, antibiotic-free ways, using far less land and water than livestock, amid rising concerns about climate change, biodiversity and the food supply chain.
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An outlook on 2021 food trends

Puris, 02/02/2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic developed an unparalleled awareness amongst consumers for alternative proteins, food waste, animal health and, in the end, our nutrition (“what do you feed yourself with?”). Having passed 1/12th of 2021, we can already see again: consumers and investors are voting with their investment & consumption dollars to support plant-based food companies fighting climate change through the transformation of the food value chain. #futurefood #plantbased #alternativeprotein #climatechange
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Vegan Venture Capital Fund Targets Post-Pandemic Food Dilemmas

Bloomberg, 19/01/2021 - Blue Horizon Ventures, the Zurich-based venture capital firm of Blue Horizon Corporation focusing on changing the largest market globally – food and its value chain, has closed its fund with a raise of 183 million Euro. The classic VC investment focus sits with start-ups from alternative proteins all the way to smart packaging. The fund has attracted more than 100 investors and exceeded its initial target of raising 100 million euros by a mile. Well done – another step towards a healthy & planet preserving future of food. Find out more in the article below.
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Vivera, a plant-based food company, is up for sale, and JBS is leading the bidding.

Bloomberg, 16/04/2021 - JBS, the second-largest protein company in the world and the second-largest food producer, has agreed to acquire for an enterprise value of €341 million Vivera, Europe's third-largest plant-based food business. With its relevant market share in the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany, Vivera produces and makes a wide variety of novel plant meat alternatives for major retailers in more than 25 countries across Europe. The acquisition comprises three manufacturing facilities and a Netherlands research and development centre.
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Vegan restaurant becomes first in France to get Michelin star

BBC News, 19/01/2021 - In all honesty, promoting plant-based food is actually all about helping the mass consumption of animal proteins transform towards plant-based proteins. That’s how the proper impact is generated! However, to get a touch of glamour & excellence into plant-based eating, as ONA has done, is a great treat at times, and awareness on all levels doesn’t hurt at all - well done! 🌱”
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