Food Packaging: Nestlé’s Israel food unit Tivall has formed a partnership with Tel Aviv-based vegan meat analogues manufacturer More Foods. The collaboration aims to develop a range of innovative, pumpkin seed-based meat substitutes for main meals. The details of the partnership have not been disclosed at this time. The companies are focused on meeting the growing demand for healthy and sustainable food options. More Foods’ expertise in plant-based technology combined with Nestlé’s extensive market reach will drive the development and accessibility of nutritious plant-based products.
Tivall, under the Nestlé brand, currently offers chilled and frozen meat substitutes in Israel. More Foods primarily caters to the foodservice market, with its products available in over 100 restaurants. However, it remains uncertain if the partnership with Nestlé will expand its reach into the retail channel.
Leonardo Marcovitz, the founder of More Foods, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating that it is a significant milestone in their mission to provide consumers worldwide with nutritious, meaty, plant-based products. More Foods has already expanded internationally, with its products being distributed in France, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Nestlé, known for its meat-free products under the Garden Gourmet brand in Europe, recently decided to remove the Garden Gourmet meat-free and Wunda alt-dairy brands from retail in the UK and Ireland. Mezeast, a Middle Eastern brand owned by Nestlé, will also be discontinued in these countries.
This partnership between Nestlé and More Foods follows similar investments made by Danone in the Israeli alternative-protein industry. Earlier this year, Danone invested in Wilk Technologies, which specializes in cell-based dairy and infant-formula production. Additionally, Danone supported Imagindairy, an Israeli animal-free dairy business that uses precision fermentation to create its products.
In the US, regulatory approval has been granted for the availability of cultivated chicken from Upside Foods and Good Meat. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cleared the cell-based chicken products from both companies, following a stringent regulatory process that also involved the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
