Page 46 - AMEFT Journal 2021-2

INGREDIENTS
AAK’s ingredient solutions for cell-based meat
and dairy products
(Source: Pixabay)
Catering to the trending ways of life, more and more companies are keen on adding healthy and guilt- free food products to their product list. There is flexitarians who follow a diet that is both healthy and harm- less for the planet. To support to the new and emerging start-up compa- nies developing alternative meat and
Flexitarianism... it’s a way of life.
A trending one where people follow a diet that is both healthier and harmless for the planet.
dairy products and to create further collaboration opportunities with some of the most recognized players in the food industry, AAK AB (publ.) will in- vest in Big Idea Ventures’ (BIV) New Protein Fund I.
This niche fund is focusing on early- stage ventures within plant-based and cell-based meat, seafood, and dairy products, as well as ingredients and technologies that facilitate the growth of these categories.
“By combining capital and partner- ship, New Protein Fund I is targeting to build and accelerate future global companies in the plant-based, cell- based, and alternative protein eco- system. With this investment, AAK gets closer to prospering early-stage businesses that are active within one of our key growth segments. We will also be able to collaborate with other fund partners and investors, including
46 AMEFT 2 2021
some of the most important indus- try front-runners in the world,” said Johan Westman, President and CEO, AAK Group.
Meanwhile,
Founder and Ge-
neral Managing
Partner of Big Idea
Ventures, Andrew
D. Ive says, “We’re
pleased AAK has
joined our world-
class corporate part-
ners as an investor
in the New Protein
Fund as it will allow
us to strengthen our
reach in both Euro-
pe and Asia. AAK’s
partnership will pro-
vide expertise for
ingredients that are
vitally important to
the production of
plant- and cell-based foods being develo- ped by the world’s most promising en- trepreneurs.”
Partnering with BIV will give AAK an additional platform to support the fast-growing categories of meat and
(Source: AAK)
dairy alternatives. At the end of last year, AAK joined the MISTA innovati- on platform in San Francisco, USA. In addition, AAK recently announced its establishment of a Plant-based Foods Global Center of Excellence in the Ne- therlands, set to be operational later this year.
“Driven by an increased focus on health, well-being, sustainability and climate concerns among many consu- mers, the long-term outlook for meat and dairy alternatives is very strong. By investing in BIV’s New Protein Fund I, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to future food innovati- on,” said Niall Sands, President Plant- based Foods at AAK.
The investment in the fund has no material impact on AAK’s earnings. BIV has a global footprint with offices and accelerator programs in New York and Singapore, soon also in Paris.
Johan Westman, President and CEO, AAK
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