StartupTalky

Tag: Vegan Industry

  • Plant-Based Protein Gaining Traction in India

    Vegetarian and vegan alternatives have increased in Indian restaurants since the new year started. The recent introduction of vegan burger patties and nuggets by ITC demonstrates the growth of this sector. Various forms of food production may now give greater consideration to vegan options. As per the analysis by CNBC, the plant-based protein market in India was valued at 11,250 metric tonnes in 2020, and it is projected to increase at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2021 to 2024. Based on these results, it’s possible that vegan protein, mostly in the form of supplements, could account for about 16,000 metric tonnes consumed by Indians in the following year. Things appear to be going swimmingly on the surface, but there are still major roadblocks that must be cleared immediately.

    Everyone should make sure to consume protein on a regular basis. For example, 46 grams of protein are needed by an adult female. On a daily basis, men typically consume around 56 grammes. This amount of protein is usually more than enough for vegans, though bodybuilders may have greater demands. This is when vegan protein powder comes in handy. All of these changes point to the fact that the Indian market is quite receptive to dietary supplements made from plants. The first is that vegetarians and vegans will find heaven in India as a result of these developments, and the second is that demand for vegetarian and vegan products has skyrocketed since the outbreak.

    “The Nutra Industry in India is at $11 billion in 2023,” said Shivam Hingorani, Founder of Ace Blend, when asked to elaborate on the present situation of the plant-based protein market. As a subset of this, the 9–10% plant-based supplement sector in India is ripe for revolution and expansion. More conscientious and integrative methods for supplementing seem to be the current trend. To be clear, I’m not saying that the primary goal of Ace Blend’s ecosystem of products—which consists mostly of plant-based supplements—is to athletically adhere to the vegan trend. Rather, it’s about providing cleaner products that are useful in the long run, derived from nature, supplied responsibly, and follow a completely transparent supply chain.

    People are more health conscious now than they were before the outbreak, which is a big reason for the increase. People from all walks of life and income levels understand what ‘immunity’ means now that the term has entered the vernacular. Nowadays, people are looking for solutions that are clean, sustainable, and packed with nutrients. Modern superfoods and supplements are necessary for nutrient absorption regardless of meal planning. Everything boils down to how ‘effective’ the supplement you pick is.

    “I see a bright future for the plant-based supplement market in India,” Yash P Kotak, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of BOHECO, said, continuing along these lines. We will see enormous expansion when health and sustainability become more people’s top priorities. Our top priorities are providing eco-friendly, high-quality solutions and spreading the word about plant-based diets. We are hopeful about the industry’s potential influence in India, and we believe that overcoming pricing discrepancies is vital for widespread adoption.

    Pandemic Drives Surge in Plant-Based Protein Market
    Considering the Cost as a Barrier to Expansion
    Additional Issues That Need Off-Tastes to be Resolved Promptly
    Fitness Enthusiasts Removing Real Meat from Their Platter

    Top 7 Sources of Plant Protein

    Pandemic Drives Surge in Plant-Based Protein Market

    The COVID-19 pandemic threw the entire planet for a loop, changing everyone’s lives as they knew them. Many businesses went out of business, and others started working remotely, which caused a major change in the way things were done. But it did set the stage for the finding of things and systems that weren’t there before. Similarly, once people discovered the benefits of plant-based proteins, their demand for them soared. For instance, gym rats are shifting away from protein powders made of milk and beef due to the nutritional benefits of plant-based alternatives.

    “Indeed, the pandemic has highlighted the significance of health and wellbeing,” Kotak said. Because of this, people are taking a second look at their eating habits and other aspects of their lifestyle. People are looking for ways to improve their immune systems and overall health, and plant-based supplements have become popular due to their potential health benefits. This fad has only entered the Indian market, but it has already gone global.

    Supplement selection has grown more complex since the epidemic has highlighted the importance of health, as Hingorani put it. But now that we’ve partnered with one of the biggest and most important natural food extract companies in India, Ace Blend can provide more people with the best, most distinctive supplements.

    Considering the Cost as a Barrier to Expansion

    Despite rising interest, the market for plant-based protein sources is still tiny in comparison to animal-based protein sources (meat and supplements). Fipola maintains that plant-based meat accounts for a negligible percentage of total sales despite the fact that it has been available on the website for more than two years.

    Several variables influence the cost of plant-based supplements, including the cost of sourcing high-quality plant-based ingredients and the cost of supplement manufacturing. In light of the increasing demand for these supplements, it may become necessary to prioritise quality and ethical sources, which could impact the price. Companies like ours are always exploring new, cost-effective and efficient ways to increase the availability of plant-based supplements. To simplify price without compromising quality, we are working hard on solutions, but it’s a complex problem, according to Kotak.

    The rule of trade is that as adoption increases, prices decrease. This is the explanation behind this. Anything that is low in sugar and high in “Active Natural Ingredients” sounds pricey since the nutrition market has been dominated by sugar and chemically produced ingredients for a long time. The desire for improved items is growing solely due to people’s wants. According to Hingorani, the company is “working to fuel that awareness” and “growing the demand for higher quality supplements,” which will lead to a rise in demand and, eventually, a decrease in price.

    Plant Protein Market Value Worldwide
    Plant Protein Market Value Worldwide

    Additional Issues That Need Off-Tastes to be Resolved Promptly

    Creating awareness about the benefits of plant-based supplements, assuring consistent quality and purity, and managing the developing regulatory framework are some important obstacles in the field, aside from pricing. It is still very important to inform people about the health benefits and environmental benefits of plant-based supplements. There are also persistent attempts to improve the product’s efficacy and flavour through research and development. Addressing these difficulties jointly with regulatory and industry cooperation is vital as the sector continues to grow.

    Gaining widespread awareness is the main obstacle. Big food and supplement companies often sign famous people, and we just don’t have the budget to compete with their advertising budgets. However, we view this as an authentic challenge that motivates us to work harder each day. “To address this, we are implementing more creative strategies to connect with our audience,” Hingorani stated. Using plant-based proteins instead of animal-based ones isn’t a panacea. The plant proteins ought to satisfy the customers’ expectations in terms of taste, consistency, and presentation.

    Plants are an excellent source of protein. These compounds, which are naturally occurring and are by-products of other foods, can easily provide sustenance for everyone on Earth. Plant proteins can help with a variety of health issues, including building muscle, improving digestion, and managing weight optimally.
    Despite these advantages, plant protein makers are finding it harder to meet consumer demand. People are searching for meat substitutes made of plants that are just as nutritious, if not healthier, and look and taste just like the real thing. Customer satisfaction is thus the biggest challenge for plant protein manufacturers. They are not insurmountable, though, if we are aware of every answer that has ever been proposed in the scientific community.

    Why can proteins display such a diverse array of properties? The solution lies in processing and synthesis methods. When cooking with plant proteins, we typically don’t give much thought to their off-tastes or reduced solubility. If there are any other inconsistencies, they can all be attributed to these procedures. How can we address this issue? Finding the offending steps in production will allow us to bring back authentic tastes and textures. The best methods to mimic the characteristics of animal proteins include enhancing processes and eliminating activities that could lead to degradation. “Does that mean we need state-of-the-art tools and techniques?” Das asked.

    “Oh no! Using the same tried-and-true methods with upgraded components, we can make plant-based protein. While it is possible to verify all health-related metrics and meet consumer expectations, the procedure can be fine-tuned to produce plant proteins with fewer deviations. In the past, there have been multiple instances where consumers who were looking to transition to vegan protein sources discovered that plant protein mimicked the texture and flavour of meat,” he elaborated.

    Is India Rightly Poised to Adopt Veganism
    Discover whether India is poised to embrace a plant-based lifestyle, examining the rising awareness and growing interest in veganism for a sustainable and healthier future.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

    Fitness Enthusiasts Removing Real Meat from Their Platter

    Health club attendees are increasingly drawn to plant-based supplements due to their natural and eco-friendly nature. However, one’s training goals and dietary habits determine its value as a substitute for typical gym supplements. Compared to animal-based protein supplements, plant-based ones are gentler on the digestive system and less prone to bloating and gas. The essential minerals, high-quality protein, and other nutrients in these supplements are great for your overall health and for repairing damaged muscles. However, each person’s specific circumstances and objectives should be considered when deciding between conventional and plant-based supplements.

    The kind of folks who are always looking for new ways to better their health tend to be the ones who go to the gym on a regular basis. There are no standard blends available for proteins from Ace Blend. Nutritional PhDs carefully choose each of our proteins according to each customer’s unique tastes and dietary requirements. This is for the typical person of any age who wishes to enhance their overall health on a daily basis. The Daily blend is composed of eleven carefully chosen superfoods, including twenty grams of A-grade protein, green extracts, antioxidants, fibres, and probiotics extreme for progressive muscle growth and rapid recovery. According to Hingorani, this combination is ideal for athletes since it contains 30 grammes of high-quality protein, 6 grams of naturally occurring BCAAs, fruit enzymes to ensure complete absorption, fibres, and probiotics. It also helps to reduce inflammation.

    According to Kotak, the company’s top-selling products for health-conscious individuals are hemp hearts and Himalayan hemp protein powder. Because of their high dietary fibre content and remarkable protein concentration of 37%, HEMP PROTEIN POWDER is in great demand among health and fitness enthusiasts. Customers also love the HEMP HEARTS because of how versatile they are and how many nutrients they contain. There will be a sea change in India when we introduce our revolutionary hemp protein isolates and concentrates. We acquire these items from Uttarakhand, where we prioritise farmer education projects, and they are known for their natural and wholesome properties. As a result, they have achieved tremendous popularity. Hemp is an environmentally benign and drought-tolerant crop, and these projects give farmers the tools they need to grow it using native seeds and sustainable farming methods. This is in line with our mission to provide high-quality, health-conscious products while also supporting local communities and advocating for sustainable, ethical farming practices.

    Future of Plant-based Nutrition in India
    Health & wellness have come sharply into focus in recent years. Here is a perception and a look at the Future of Plant-Based Nutrition in India.
    StartupTalkyPreeti Karna

    FAQs

    Popular options include hemp protein powder, pea protein, and brown rice protein. Companies are also offering blends with other superfoods for added health benefits.

    Why is the plant-based protein market growing in India?

    The market is driven by increased health consciousness, interest in sustainable food sources, and the growing vegan and vegetarian population.

    What are the biggest challenges facing the plant-based protein market?

    Cost remains a significant hurdle, as plant-based supplements are often pricier than animal-based ones. Additionally, taste and texture can be inconsistent, and creating consumer awareness about the benefits is crucial.

  • Is India Rightly Poised to Adopt Veganism

    Vegetarians and vegans will find nirvana in India, among other places. Right now, the country is setting itself up to be the ideal vegan diet market. The countrymen are paving the way for future vegan explorations by switching from a meat-based diet to a plant-based one. Vegan options, such as almond milk, plant-based paneer, plant-based meat substitutes, and more, are flooding the market. The majority of Indians support a plant-based diet, according to a recent national survey on national sentiment. Inspiring millions to give veganism a go, Veganuary India, a worldwide charity, organized the survey.

    As per the recent poll conducted by the YouGov India panel, which drew replies from 2033 people (throughout India), 59% of Indians said they are seriously contemplating going vegan in the near future, showing that veganism has the support of the majority in the country. Nearly 60% of Indians are interested in giving veganism a go, therefore it’s safe to say that this is the majority.

    In addition, 74% of people think a vegan diet is beneficial for their health in general, 73% think it helps put an end to animal cruelty, 72% think it’s good for the environment, and 62% think it’s easy to stick to.

    Even though veganism is relatively new in India, it’s expected to have a big impact. In little over a decade, the market for plant-based proteins has witnessed significant investment and advancements in technology. The many environmental and health benefits of veganism have propelled the Go-Vegan Movement to prominence in Western nations. On the other hand, the vegan food industry in India has been growing rapidly as of late, with a predicted 11.32% CAGR for the Asian nation between 2022 and 2027.

    Replacing Meat and Dairy With Plant-Based Products
    Technology Assisting the Change
    The Decision to Become a Vegan Is a Costly One

    Replacing Meat and Dairy With Plant-Based Products

    Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains are the main components of plant-based foods. Plant-based foods are those that are free of any animal-derived components, either in the production process or in the final product. These foods are utilized as alternatives to those that would normally contain these ingredients.

    There are significant ecological consequences associated with the production of foodstuffs derived from animals, including meat, dairy, and eggs. Land conversion for feed crops and grazing is another resource- and water-intensive consequence of the meat demand. Local communities and ecosystems are negatively impacted by this. Ethical farming, animal cruelty, and unsustainable agriculture are just a few of the issues plaguing modern agriculture that a plant-based diet might help alleviate.

    The vegan industry in India is booming, thanks to the increasing demand for vegan sweets and snacks. Potentially worth US$ 162 billion by 2030, the vegan food industry might make up 7.7 percent of the world’s protein market. It is projected that by 2030, the worldwide demand for dairy and animal protein will exceed US$ 1.2 trillion. With a projected CAGR of 20.7%, the plant-based dairy industry is expected to grow from $21 million to $63.9 million.

    Vegan options for dogs and cats, as well as plant-based substitutes for meat, poultry, shellfish, dairy, and eggs, are available in India’s plant-based food market, which is seeing a lot of entry from SMEs and FMCGs. With more than fifty startups already making waves in the industry, it’s clear that things are looking up. Farmers face multiple concerns, including food poverty, climate change, hunger, and public health issues; yet, there is a tremendous chance to increase their revenue through the growth of the plant-based foods industry. The advanced food and beverage industry, research institutes, diverse agricultural output, remarkable R&D successes, and increasing private equity sector in India all contribute to the country’s expansion potential.

    Technology Assisting the Change

    Extrusion, high-pressure homogenization, and heating/cooling are some of the food processing techniques used to make plant-based meats. The process of homogenization or mixing is typically used to make plant-based milk substitutes. After soaking and crushing the nuts and seeds, they are mixed with water to create a uniform consistency. A smooth liquid is then obtained by filtering the mixture.

    To achieve a texture similar to that of meat, high-pressure homogenization is used. To further improve the texture, it is possible to use heating and chilling to mimic the cooking behavior of real meat. Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) extrusion technology is constantly improving and adapting to meet the growing demand for plant-based meat alternatives.

    A more effective way to mix and homogenize the components, the dual-screw extrusion process uses two interlocking screws to achieve better texture and homogeneity.

    Similarly, compared to single-screw extrusion, the output from co-rotating twin-screw extrusion is more constant and uniform because it uses two interlocking screws that spin in the same direction.

    Market Size of Plant-Based Food in India From 2020 to 2023, With Estimates Until 2030
    Market Size of Plant-Based Food in India From 2020 to 2023, With Estimates Until 2030

    The Decision to Become a Vegan Is a Costly One

    As the adage goes, “To reap benefits, one needs to pay for it.” While going vegan may improve one’s health, it can also lead to paying extra. It may seem like a simple effort to find alternatives to meat, dairy, and other products containing animal products, but sticking to such alternatives over the long term is far more challenging.

    In India, dairy products like paneer (cottage cheese), yogurt, and milk are widely available across the nation, making it challenging to find plant-based alternatives. For starters, you won’t find many plant-based alternatives, and secondly, they’re a lot pricier than the real thing.

    Since most Indian families are on a limited budget, the idea of making a dietary change—which would involve additional money—does not appeal to the middle class, which makes up the bulk of the country’s population. Take, for example, the price of 1 liter of buffalo milk. If it were to be substituted with soy milk, the client would have to shell out nearly twice as much money, which is not a good deal. The same holds for milk’s byproducts such as paneer, yogurt, butter, cheese, etc.

    Companies still need to figure out how to lower prices, even as the nation is getting ready to embrace veganism. In addition, to stay ahead of the competition, these organizations must put in additional work to establish and maintain a seamless supply chain. Additionally, to reach a large audience, the players should expand their presence in the country’s market to include smaller cities.

    The Rise of Plant-Based Food: Past, Present & Future of Veganism
    The vegan industry is growing at a fast pace, as many people are shifting to plant-based food. Here’s a detailed look at veganism and its future.
    StartupTalkyAnamika Mahapatra

  • List of 7 Best Plant-Based Meat Startups in India

    Startups have now become a viable option in the world, people are willing to indulge themselves in this so that they can achieve their dream to be an entrepreneur. Starting something innovative takes a lot of courage, one can be on top of the world, and on the very next day, you might see them at the bottom. Everything depends on the execution of the plan and the customer.

    With over 1.3 billion people living in this country, eradicating malnutrition and hunger is not an easy job and in the future, it is only going to be more challenging. As per reports, 71% of Indians consume meat and it is a primary source of protein. Climate change is one of the most problematic factors now, it is being an obstacle to produce meat in a sustainable way.

    Thanks to innovative technology and creation, people are finding ways to put food on everybody’s plate without harming nature and its creatures and by tackling climate change. Plant-based food items are on rising to provide a sustainable food system to everyone and by being slaughter-free. Just like the rest of the world, India also took partake in this industry and decided to make slaughter-free food products for its citizens.

    “What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone. Know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.” – Dave Thomas

    What is Plant-Based Meat?

    To be specific plant-based meat are nothing but food items that are made by plants and look, feel and taste like meat. Nowadays plant-based meats’ popularity has increased given the positive factor that they are environment friendly and healthy as well.

    They have enough amounts of proteins; calories and fiber needed for a healthy human body and cut off fat content that is harmful to the body. Plant-based meats are mostly made of soy, mushroom, wheat gluten, and beans.

    Some of the most popular plant-based meat startups that are able to entice people who prefer slaughter-free products are listed below.

    This article will list down the popular startups that have decided to accept the process of making cruelty-free and slaughter-free food items that are plant-based.

    Plant-Based Meat Startups in India

    1. Good Dot
    2. Evo Foods
    3. Mister Veg
    4. Greenest
    5. Vezlay
    6. Wakao
    7. Imagine Meats

    Good Dot

    Good dot Website | plant based meat companies in india
    Good dot Website

    This food tech startup was founded in 2016 with only one aim and that is to provide plant-based products that serve the taste of real meat to anyone and anywhere. It was founded by Abhishek Sinha, Deepak Parihar, Shruti Sonali, Stephanie Downs, and Taranum Bhatia and the headquarters is situated in Udaipur, India.

    The products come at affordable prices and provide its customer with a healthier option for protein. The food items that are consumed are created by soya, pea, and wheat protein.

    Some of the popular items are, ‘Veg Bytz’ that looked and taste like chicken strips. There we also have ready to cook ‘Vegicken’ and not to forget, chunks of mocked chicken ‘Proteiz’.

    Evo Foods

    Evo Website | Plant based meat companies in India
    Evo Website

    This startup founded in the year 2019 by Shraddha Bhansali and Kartik Dixit is making headlines since the very first day. The main reason is being, although all the items are plant-based liquid eggs, they do taste, smell, and look like normal eggs that we consume. The liquid eggs are created by mung beans.

    The startup is based in Mumbai, India, and claims that these vegan eggs make omelet fluffier than normal chicken eggs. Plus they are healthy to consume as they are cholesterol-free and fat-free. Omelets and scrambled eggs made by these vegan eggs taste really good.

    Whitecub – Founders | Products | Logo | USP | Business Model
    Whitecub is a D2C vegan, dairy free brand. Know the success story of Whitecub, founders, business model, products they offers, USP, and more.
    StartupTalkyPreeti Karna

    Mister Veg

    Mister Veg | Plant based meat companies in India
    Mister Veg Website

    This startup not only provides plant-based meat but also provides seafood as well. It was founded in the year 2018 by Rupinder Singh and Simarjeet Singh, its aim is to save the environment by providing meat and seafood in a cruelty-free manner to its customer and at an affordable price.

    Apart from all these, the Faridabad, India-based startup sells ready-to-eat meals that contain no preservatives and are consumed by the customer. The shelf life of these products is more than a year and can be kept at room temperature without any problem. The main attraction is the plant-based seafood and meat products for the customers.

    Greenest

    Greenest - Plant based meat companies in India
    Greenest Website

    Like its name, it food item made up of green and healthy plants. It was founded in the year 2017 by Gaurav Sharma, Kannan Krishnamoorthy, and Dinesh Jain the main goal is to give nutritious tasty, and healthy food to the consumers in Asia without harming the environment.

    Based in New Delhi, India the customer’s favorite food items are kebabs, meatballs, patties for burgers, and keema all of them are plant-based but taste exactly like real meat. Free from preservatives, this company takes care of its customer’s health as well as the planet.

    Vezlay

    Vezlay - Plant based meat companies in India
    Vezlay Website

    This 2011 based startup founded by Amit Bajaj gives out vegan food items to its customers that are nutritious, delicious, and healthy for them. Based in New Delhi, India the food products looked and tasted like real meat but are actually made up of soy and wheat products.

    Their famous food items are Seekh kebabs, Shami kebabs, Rogan josh and not to forget their Soya Vegget an exact replica in texture and taste of chicken nuggets. These ready-to-eat food products are cost-friendly for the customers and are environment friendly as well.

    Wakao

    Wakao is a plant-based meat startup promising to provide juicy and delicious food. The startup was founded by Sairaj Dhond in the year 2020. The company is situated in Goa, India. The company’s main aim is to serve food that is good for its customers as well as the environment.

    The company also takes care of the food soldiers through their Friend’s of Farmers initiative. Whenever someone purchases their product, the company donates 1% of that sale to local farmers. The target audience of this brand is people with high incomes.

    Imagine Meats

    Imagine Meats is a plant-based meat startup founded by popular Bollywood couple Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza. The startup was founded in the year 2021, to provide delicious food according to Indian taste buds.

    The brand is created to provide people with healthy, tasty and guilt-free plant-based meat products to the customers. The wide range of kebabs, nuggets, burgers and biryani main aim is to keep the planet safe without harming it by killing animals.

    How to Start a Home-Based Cooking Business?
    Thinking about starting a home-based cooking business? Check out the steps that are needed to be followed to start a Home-based food business.s
    StartupTalkySouvik Dey

    Conclusion

    We live in a time where climate change has become one of the biggest challenges of our time. With an increasing population, it is not possible to provide food without increasing carbon footprints and harming the environment.

    India is the second most populated country in the world; plant-based food items will not only contribute in saving the planet but will also help its consumers living a healthy life by having tasty and nutritious food.

    FAQs

    Is Plant-Based Meat Available in India?

    Yes, plant-based meat is a fast-growing item in the food industry and is available in India.

    How Big is the Plant-Based Meat Industry?

    As of 2020, the market size of the plant-based meat industry was $5.6 billion. It is projected to reach USD 8.3 billion by 2025.

    Is Plant-Based Meat Healthier than Regular Meat?

    Plant-based meat is considered healthier as they are lower in saturated fat and calories.

    What are the plant-based meat companies in India?

    Some of the plant based meat companies in India are:

    • Good Dot
    • Evo Foods
    • Mister Veg
    • Greenest
    • Vezlay

  • WhiteCub – D2C Vegan Brand for Dairy Free Food Products

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by WhiteCub.

    Veganism is the way of living with a practice of declining the use of animal products in diet. It focusses on loving and saving animals and species. Veganism also has the potential to save natural resources like water, forests, grains, and more.

    Practicing veganism, one can show love to nature and stay equally healthy as plant-based food items can provide all the required nutrients. Whitecub is a startup in FMCG industry to provide dairy free products. Their intention is to create a harmonious environment where people, animals and nature co-exists.

    Read to know about Whitecub, founder, business model, products, and its startup story.

    WhiteCub – Company Highlights

    Startup Name WhiteCub
    Headquarters Gurugram
    Industry FMCG
    Founder Ms Sonal
    Founded 2013
    Website whitecub.in

    WhiteCub – About
    WhiteCub – Industry
    WhiteCub – Founder
    WhiteCub – Startup Story
    WhiteCub – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    WhiteCub – Products
    WhiteCub – USP
    WhiteCub – Business and Revenue Model
    WhiteCub – Customer Acquisition
    WhiteCub – Challenges Faced
    WhiteCub – Competitors
    WhiteCub – Recognition and Achievements
    WhiteCub – Future Plans

    About Whitecub

    WhiteCub – About

    Whitecub is a D2C vegan brand with an Omni channel presence. It is a vegan, dairy free brand and our product offerings includes vegan ice cream, butter, curd, fruit yogurt, cookies, and Hazelnut-Cashew Spread.

    Our mission is to make dairy free products accessible across India and take it to the masses. Whitecub want to be the brand of choice for people looking for a dairy free products. Our mission is to make dairy free, plant based products affordable and accessible in India so that everybody can enjoy it. We started with vegan ice-cream back in 2013 and we operate in a niche category currently and want to expand our offering and products to serve all consumers in India. We want to be the vegan brand people trust and opt for. We are also looking at expanding our footprint globally in different markets apart from India. We hope very soon we will be present in other countries via export of our products.

    Our long term vision is to create a planet where people, animals and nature co-exists harmoniously. We want to contribute our bit to create a world devoid of exploitation of animals for food. Animal derived food are not only high on carbon footprint but are also often the cause of health complications as well. We are in the middle of a climate crisis and environmentalist are making us aware that we need to act now.  White Cub by promoting and making plant based foods accessible to the masses is doing its bit to reduce carbon footprint and contribute towards a better environment. Our vision is to create a future where eating healthy, plant based foods becomes a norm in India and a future where we give animals the respect they deserve and their own space of freedom.

    WhiteCub – Industry

    We are a D2C brand in the vegan, dairy alternatives industry. We cater to all people who are looking for dairy free or dairy alternative, plant based, healthy products.

    Since our inception back in 2013, we have come a long way. In next 5 years we want to be the leader in the vegan, dairy alternatives market by expanding our product portfolio and coming up with more dairy free products like milk, cheese etc. We also plan to expand our offline presence and increase our parlours in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and other metropolitan cities. We want to take our products to every corner of India through retail chains and parlours. We are also planning to expand our footprints in other markets globally via exports.

    WhiteCub – Founder

    Sonal - WhiteCub Founder
    Sonal – WhiteCub Founder

    A health enthusiast, a dedicated vegan, a fierce activist, and an entrepreneur at heart, Sonal is the founder and CEO of WhiteCub – an up-and-coming brand in the F&B industry dedicated to serving vegan alternatives for dairy products.

    She holds an MSc in Anthropology and has been working in the vegan industry for more than 10 years. She enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, and reading classics in her free time. She also enjoys gardening and interacting with people. She is an expert cook and possesses wizard-like marketing skills, that have contributed to the growth of her brainchild – WhiteCub.

    Sonal and her twins became vegans while they were living in London. She had observed the presence of several dairy and meat alternatives in London’s supermarkets and correspondingly a higher number of vegans there. She could infer that the presence of vegan products encouraged the Londoners to go vegan.

    They often used to indulge in the Swedish Glace brand of vegan ice creams while they lived there. On her return to India, though, she found the complete absence of vegan products quite glaring. After all, it was India – a land bathed in dairy milk. As destiny would have it, she took it upon herself to take up the cause of veganism in India by starting a vegan ice cream parlor.

    Two factors contributed to it. Firstly, she started indulging in vegan activism in the form of lectures at colleges, presentation of the concept of ‘veganism ‘ at different forums and even volunteering as a vegan coach to assist the few doctors back then who had already started incorporating plant-based diets in the prescription that they gave to their patients.

    During this phase, she observed a certain degree of willingness on the part of the masses to adopt a plant-based diet. She noticed that they were willing to give up dairy and meat but only under the conditions of being offered dairy and meat alternatives. The addiction to the taste is biochemical in nature after all and so can’t go away easily.

    At this juncture, she started brainstorming with some fellow vegans to start some type of vegan food business. They were willing to donate money to vegetarianism or veganism spreading Not for profit or to an animal shelter but did not consider it wise to invest in a business based on these principles.

    Indians were too obsessed with dairy to consider switching to compassionate mylk choices. While Sonal accepted their stance, she remained uncomfortable in this acceptance. She knew she would have to address this issue of a total absence of vegan yummies in the market herself. But ‘how‘ remained a question mark until she got that moment of inspiration.

    The family was in Goa on a vacation. They were able to have some vegan ice creams there locally made at a café. They did not have the typical dairy replacements. They were great at a local level but couldn’t have got taken up as a brand. However, this certainly didn’t stop the family from fully enjoying the experience. While they stepped out of the café, Sonal’s eight-year-old son asked whether they can get it in Delhi. This proved to be the spark of sorts for Sonal. What had already been brewing in the background couldn’t be contained any longer. Already, she had encountered hundreds of Indians by then willing to make a switch in the presence of suitable alternatives and now her own little son was questioning her on similar lines.

    Before long, she started a vegan ice cream parlor in her city. Ingredient procurements, recipe trials, smaller machines, and then bigger plant purchase – everything followed over a period of a year or so. Then the first parlor opened in 2013.

    WhiteCub – Startup Story

    Sonal - Founder of WhiteCub
    Sonal – Founder of WhiteCub

    The inspiration for this company has always been the compassion for animals and the care for the environment. Sonal was already a vegan at that point and did some vegan advocacy in terms of lectures, seminars and my association with various organisation.

    Her first exposure to vegan products in the form of ice-creams came in my visit to London. Back in India, when she was travelling to Goa with her kids, her son tried vegan ice-cream for the first time and loved it. Her son loved it so much that he asked why can’t they get it in Delhi? It was then that it hit me that India doesn’t’ have a vegan ice-cream brand and she decided to do something about it and decided to start a vegan ice-cream brand.

    Sonal did some research on market trends, the ingredients required to make the products and different methods and recipes to make the products. Sonal got her idea validated from her friends and fellow vegans and people who are into healthy eating who became my first customers too. She came up with her own recipe, started experimenting with ingredients at home until she came up with a product that people were delighted with.

    Initially, she opened her own parlour with minimal packaging and started delivering to customers directly. Her friends and fellow vegans and neighbours became the first customers and they loved the product. Ingredient procurements, recipe trials, smaller machines, and then bigger plant purchase – everything followed over a period of a year.

    Whitecub Logo
    Whitecub Logo

    Whitcub is named for the love and protection of White Lions and their Cubs, as an extension of support for the initiative of Linda Tucker. She has been involved in the protection of white cubs and their families, from the cruel practices of ‘canned hunting’, in East Africa. Thus, all the products carry an emblem of White Cub on Whitecub’s logo.

    Whitecub’s Tagline is: ‘Proud to be Dairy Free’ which communicates our USP effectively and how we are proudly marking our footsteps in the industry.

    WhiteCub – Products

    Whitecub Products
    Whitecub Products

    Whitecub products are a vegan, dairy alternatives brand. Its products are completely dairy free. Their products are healthier option for people who are looking for a vegan, dairy alternative products in the market.

    WhiteCub – USP

    Whitecub Products
    Whitecub Products

    All the Whitecub products are dairy Free, Vegan, Trans Fats Free, Palm Oil Free and a healthier choice for people. They started when veganism and plant based products were still relatively a new concept in India. Thus over a period of almost a decade they grew, and today we understand the vegan market in India like no other.

    WhiteCub – Business and Revenue Model

    We are a D2C brand with an Omni channel presence. We operate through both E-Commerce and Retail chains. We receive the bulk of our order through our official website and have our own delivery network for delivery across Delhi NCR. We are present across major e-commerce channels like Big Basket, Godrej Nature Basket and our retail products are available in major metropolitan cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and other metropolitan cities. We also have Zomato and Swiggy as our delivery partner.  We also cater for institutional needs like in hotels, marriages, birthday celebration and events.

    WhiteCub – Customer Acquisition

    We faced a lot of hurdles and challenges in the beginning and it taught us a lot. Initially, I reached out to my friends, community and fellow vegans during potlucks and other activism events. We used to talk about our shared passion for plant based foods, recipes and I used to share samples of our products with them. Once they loved the product, they talked about it to their friend and before long through word of mouth, the demand of our products grew.

    Since I was already active in the community, advocating for veganism, White Cub became an extension of that association and helped me to spread the message of the brand through my various association in the initial phase.

    WhiteCub – Challenges Faced

    Their initial challenge when they were starting the brand was to make people aware and shift to dairy free ice-creams and products. India being a milk loving nation, the idea of dairy free ice-cream or products was relatively new in the Indian market.

    With time, the Whitecub team overcame that road block. The biggest challenge was to differentiate themselves in the market:, to find their footing and differentiate their brand from others emerging players and keep the products unique, healthy and delightful that would be loved by the customers.

    Another challenge that they faced while developing their Ice Cream was to give it a similar texture and feel in the mouth just as the dairy based products. Instead of dairy we use coconut, soy, and almond milk and so it was initially difficult to give it the same feel as dairy.

    Whitecub’s motto is to delight the customer with delicious and healthy vegan offering. So they didn’t use any unhealthy ingredients in their products to give the same feel as dairy which was a challenge. It raised the cost of manufacturing but they didn’t want to compromise on their ethics.

    The team conducted local survey in Delhi NCR and Gurgaon and with their customers to rate the products which worked for them. It helped the startup to gather feedback and a lot of data points which eventually helped them to improve the product offerings.

    WhiteCub – Competitors

    Some of our competitors includes:

    • Nomou
    • Vegan Heart
    • The Vegan Bowl
    • Papacream

    WhiteCub – Recognition and Achievements

    Some of the Whitecub achievements are:

    • White Cub has been awarded with the PETA Vegan Food Awards in 2013 and 2014, two years in a row.
    • They have been by awarded by the Government of India’s Department of Science & Tech’s Award of excellence.
    • As a business, they are a proud alumni of Nexus, an Innovation Hub and Business Incubator powered by the US Embassy, ACIR.
    • They have also appeared in news channels like ‘India Ahead News’ and in various webinars on the topic of entrepreneurship in the vegan foods industry.
    • Whitecub was featured in ‘Conde Nast’, a French Magazine.

    WhiteCub – Future Plans

    We plan to keep our present momentum of growth, keep increasing our reach and sales every month and expand our footprints to new markets. Our future plan is to expand our product portfolio to fill the void in the market of dairy-free products. We are working to come up with a dairy free cheese. We are working to come up with dairy free milk that we are confident will revolutionize the market. We are already experimenting with new flavours and will launch soon. The launch of sprinkler parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese and milk are on the anvil.

    We also working to open our delivery operations in major metro cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata soon. In the future, we want to expand our presence globally and export our products to international markets as well.  Our vision is to spread awareness about veganism so that increasingly more number of people opt for vegan dairy alternatives.

    FAQs

    When was Whitecub founded?

    Whitecub was founded in 2013 at Gurugram.

    Who is the founder of Whitecub?

    Sonal is the founder and CEO of Whitecub.

    Are WhiteCub Ice Cream dairy free?

    Yes, Whitecub is a dairy free brand. Whitecub ice cream are dairy free.

    What are the products offered by Whitecub?

    Whitecub product offerings includes:

    • Vegan ice cream
    • Vegan butter
    • Vegan curd
    • Fruit yogurt
    • Cookies
    • Hazelnut-Cashew Spread

  • What these Entrepreneurs are targetting to achieve in 2022?

    This article is contributed by the multiple entrepreneurs from different fields.

    While starting a business, your prime goal is to make it a success and reach the top, no matter what. Amidst this, there are other aims as well that entrepreneurs set and plan to achieve, they can be long-term as well as short-term but they are the stepping stones that help in reaching your prime goal. These aims can literally change the direction of your business and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that, one must be very careful while setting them.

    In this article, some of the entrepreneurs shared their goals for 2022. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

    Rohit Sahni | CEO & Founder, WK Life

    Rohit Sahni | CEO & Founder, WK Life

    In 2022, we all are set to expand aggressively by opening new stores and our target is to open 50 more outlets this year. To achieve the same we have started to manufacture our own products and about 30% of our products are made in India. With the help of the franchise partners, we are also trying to set up our own factories in India. First, we will start with North India and then we will go towards the south in the later stage of the year. We are continuously working on maintaining and improving the quality of the products so that we can make our customers happy and satisfied.

    Shyatto Raha | CEO & Founder, MyHealthcare

    Shyatto Raha | CEO & Founder, MyHealthcare

    Our main motive is to democratise healthcare and make it available for everyone. Our partner network of healthcare providers is scheduled to cross over 100 speciality hospitals by March 2022. We have a clear motive this year and that is to expand our service and provider network across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of India. We are also looking forward to plans to continue our expansion into Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

    Abhinav Mital | Founder, The WorldGrad

    Abhinav Mital | Founder, The WorldGrad

    2021 laid the groundwork for growing the category of online or hybrid study abroad programs. As a pioneer and leader in this space, we want to put this category of programs on the consideration set of overseas education aspirants.
    This would require demonstrating success stories of our current students and spreading awareness amongst school students, admissions counselors, and the larger study abroad eco-system.
    The WorldGrad has already built a team of 50 people to support this mission and will scale this to over 150 people throughout 2022. With significant investments in student experience, admissions, and support. In 2022, The WorldGrad will also become the first provider of virtual internships to our students that will allow them to get work experience in a country of choice while they study online with us.

    Ankur Singh | CEO & Founder, Witzeal Technologies Pvt. Ltd

    Ankur Singh | CEO & Founder, Witzeal Technologies Pvt. Ltd

    While gaming technology advances, I believe that innovation and personalization of experiences are the game-changers. We, at Witzeal, intend to incorporate them into our platform such that our gamers can have a richer gaming experience and connect with billions of players across the world who speak the most popular gaming language.

    Himanshu Arya | CEO & Founder, Grapes

    Himanshu Arya | CEO & Founder, Grapes

    The Pandemic is the reason why the digital growth in the advertising and marketing industry has accelerated. In the last one and a half years, marketers are backing on creativity, digital, and data- all with the help of technology. The A&M industry is on a trajectory of growth. Our motto for 2022 will be to expand into newer markets and acquire new clientele. We can achieve this when we continue to deliver remarkable work to our clients. It is the uncompromising quality of work that will echo our expertise among the leading brands, convincing them to initiate a collaboration with Grapes. Hence, satisfaction plays an inordinate role in the functioning, abiding by our ideology to achieve recognition through our work.

    Apu Pavithran | CEO & Founder, Mitsogo

    Apu Pavithran | CEO & Founder, Mitsogo

    Mitsogo recently launched its partnership with reputed companies like Cloudflare and Traced App. We are now aiming to expand the partner network: which means establishing new partnerships with many more technologies as well as adding new channel partners. Multiple new partnerships are currently next in line and are expected to be launched soon. In terms of company growth, we are expecting to double the employee workforce and for that, we are aggressively hiring from the reputed colleges across India. Moreover, the company is all set to launch the next product, Hexnode Do, a SaaS app management platform that will provide a unified platform to manage and secure different SaaS applications.

    Vatsal Agarwal | Founder, The Baklava Box

    Vatsal Agarwal - Founder, The Baklava-Box
    Vatsal Agarwal – Founder, The Baklava-Box

    Our main goal for 2022 would be to adopt an omnichannel model. Currently, we have one retail outlet and three counters in Nature’s basket outlets. We plan to expand this to five retail outlets and 15 counters across Nature’s basket stores. We have been trying to get to experiment with their holiday gifting with our gift hampers and that has been a great impetus for people to try our products. We are trying to come up with more innovative ways to try our products plus making more people aware of Mediterranean sweets is also a goal, for this year.

    Nishant Behl | CEO & Founder, Expand My Business

    Nishant Behl | CEO & Founder, Expand My Business

    2022 is going to be a very important year for us. In terms of strategic values, we are looking to expand our operations in the GCC region and establish our firm presence in its market. The Middle East has several opportunities for providing digital services and can help us achieve our goal of increasing our revenues by 200% and having an overall 3X growth. We also plan to onboard many more vendors from tier-3 and tier-4 cities to create more opportunities and generate more business for the Indian digital service providers.

    We are planning to undertake a massive hiring spree for the same. This can help us achieve our targets for 2022 and increase our sales manifold. With Blockchain and Cryptocurrency gaining impetus in the market, we have also included blockchain development and NFT in our service domains and have made considerable progress in providing web hosting services to several businesses across India as well.

    Varun Vashisthaa | Founder, HairVeda

    Varun Vashistha | Founder, HairVeda

    We, at HairVeda planning to be present in all eCommerce marketplaces by the end of this year and expand our business by partnering with other startups as well. Also, we are preparing to foray into the skincare Ayurvedic product range. Apart from this, we intend to hire the right talents for our brand in multiple positions to strengthen the team capacity.

    Shriyans Bhandari | CEO & Co-Founder, Greensole

    Shriyans Bhandari | CEO & Co-Founder, Greensole

    In 2022, we aspire to work towards making a mainstream retail brand. Retail is overall a tough market to crack because it’s highly competitive. A lot of different elements go into it like specialized skills, marketing, and coordinating. We believe that in 2022, we will pull it off and come up as a strong, sustainable, and vegan brand with a large customer base. We hope people resonate with our social work.

    Kunal Patil | CEO & Co-Founder, WorkIndia

    Kunal Patil | CEO & Co-Founder, WorkIndia

    WorkIndia plans to reach out to the next billion Indians and change the way they hire and get hired fundamentally. The goal gains are much more important in light of job losses because of covid. We are committed to scaling up while improving the user experience and introducing technology in the day-to-day hiring operations. WorkIndia is committed to providing a meaningful livelihood to the entire Blue-Collar workforce in India through technology.  In terms of business, we are expecting better growth this year to reach our goal of becoming a $20mn Annual Revenue Run Rate company.

    Akshay Puljal | CEO, Quikish

    Akshay Puljal | CEO, Quikish

    We, of course, want to increase our market share. We can only achieve this by giving something to our consumers. And what we want to give them is time. Simplifying, putting sumptuous and healthy meals on the table in a fraction of the time it conventionally takes, is how we can achieve that. We also want to cater to consumers with dietary restrictions due to health reasons or by choice. Not every brand takes them into account as it’s a very small percentage but Quikish sees no reason to not deliver the promise of quick meals to them too. We have a couple of vegan dishes now and we aim to expand the range significantly this year. While we do have 65+ products currently on our menu, we do want to explore new horizons and cuisines with our dishes. We are aiming to have 120+ products on our catalogue by the end of 2022.

    Shilpa Rathi | Founder, I Am Love

    Shilpa Rathi | Founder, I AM Love

    2022 is a very exciting year for our brand. We are now trying to get our sales up. Our consumers are believing in our product and are sharing their feedback about their success and progress with us. we are looking forward to 2022 so that we can establish our brand better as a skincare brand where you take care of the problem from within. We don’t only want to reach out to consumers of general skincare like ‘Get a glowing skin’ or ‘Get better skin’ but specific skincare concerns like ‘Could you give me a solution for this new spot that I’ve developed?’. We want to become the one-stop-shop for all specific skincare concerns that you might have – I Am Love will be the destination. We are looking at developing and formulating products that target specific healthcare concerns which haven’t been paid head to in the market.

    Farooq Adam | Co-Founder, Fynd

    Farooq Adam | Co-Founder, Fynd

    We have big things planned for 2022 and we have already started rolling out new products & processes to make our plans a successful reality.

    Here is a look at what we plan to do in 2022:

    • Entering the electronic industry with more marketplace integration on Fynd Omnichannel – Flipkart, Tata Cliq, and Amazon in 2021
    • Fynd Store enabled the “order online & pick up at store” feature.
    • A new level of personalization – the Fynd store will allow brands to view an individual customer’s past purchases and interests. A brilliant chance for stores to personalize the customer experience and suggest relevant products that the customer loves.
    • Hyperlocal deliveries, to get products to the customer within hours.
    • Adding trell and Magicpin to Fyndl’s omnichannel marketplace integrations.
    • International shipment support with DHL & Aramex.
    • Fynd marketplace is gearing up to list 100+ brands & thrice the inventory in the coming months.
    • Launch of a scalable image enhancement & editing tool, upscale.media.
    • Launch of Boltic, our no-code big data processing tool to connect, build and automate workflows. Easy to start, easier to use with no dependency on technical expertise.

    Abhishek Nehru & Santosh Dabke | Co-founders, Ripplr

    Abhishek Nehru & Santosh Dabke | Co-founders, Ripplr
    Abhishek Nehru & Santosh Dabke | Co-founders, Ripplr

    Our target is to expand our distribution network to 100 cities/towns in 2022. The entire blue print is already ready for execution and we have started on a very positive note in January, 2022. We are in the process of strengthening out platform which will be offering to a the sub-distributors across these 100 cities. Our platform Ripplr will be 1st of its kind UBER experience for the distribution fraternity easing out the complexities of managing the day to day operations.

    Rasesh Seth | Founder, Nextyn

    Rasesh Seth | Founder, Nextyn
    Rasesh Seth | Founder, Nextyn

    At Nextyn, we’ve been successful at building a world class team based out of India, servicing clients in over 20 countries. Having breached the $1 Mn revenue mark being completely bootstrapped, we aim to expand our geographical presence to the UK, USA and Singapore in 2022.

    We would launch subsidiaries in these countries, acting as our sales and client management offices, with the core operations still being based out of India.

    We also aim to strengthen our technological foothold, making our currently ML algorithm more accurate and increase our panel of experts to give our clients a more diverse, global knowledge base.

    Conclusion

    A business is all about achieving the goals that it has set. The above entrepreneurs have already set the targets and with their immense hard work and patience, hopefully, they’ll be able to achieve all of them.

  • Top 6 Popular D2C Food Startups in India

    The startups today are revolutionizing the entire world’s marketplace. The technology used by startups not only brings profit to the company but also eases up various activities for people.

    Startups can be of various kinds. For example- lifestyle, food, small and large businesses, social, etc. One of the most popular and lucrative startups is a food startup. Food is something, the need of which will always remain in the market. So, taking advantage of this need is always a good idea for a startup.

    Nowadays another concept is gaining great popularity. These are D2C (Direct to Consumer) startups. In this, the brands sell directly to the customers. Many food startups are now indulging in this model.

    In India, we have now various food D2C startups. For example- Dotshot, NatureBox, Evo Foods etc.

    What is D2C?
    What is a D2C Food Startup?
    Top D2C Food Startups in India
    The Pandemic and the Rise of D2C Food Brands in the Industry
    FAQ

    What is D2C?

    D2C stands for Direct-to-Consumer. In simple words, D2C is a type of business model. So, a startup that follows this model is a D2C startup. There are various business models. These include B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), C2C (Consumer To Consumer), C2B (Consumer to Business).

    The D2C startups are gaining huge popularity in the present times. In this, a company or brand produces its product and also sells it itself. This creates a direct connection with the consumers. In short, it cuts the role of middlemen.

    D2C model can work in almost every industry. The days when businesses were completely dependent on the distributors are gone. Now, the businesses depend on the producers as well. With various technologies and digitalization, the producers can also be their own distributors. Thus, a D2C model of business is super lucrative for startups. All this has helped the model to gain huge popularity in recent times.

    What is a D2C Food Startup?

    A food D2C startup produces products and sells them to consumers without middlemen. These startups don’t rely on other platforms for their distribution.

    They establish their website or application for this purpose. Food D2C startups cut the role of middlemen or middle platforms. This enables a food brand to have a direct connection with the customers. Also, this makes for a lucrative model for a food startup.

    Best Food Business Ideas You Can Start Now
    These Food Business Ideas can be started by anyone. It also include Food Business Ideas with very low capital.
    StartupTalkyAshwini

    Top D2C Food Startups in India

    The D2C food startups are becoming a trend these days. Keeping up with the trend, various D2C food startups have come up in India. These are:

    Nature’s Box

    Nature's Box Homepage
    Nature’s Box Homepage

    Nature’s Box is a food-tech startup. The founders are Gautam Gupta, Dilpreet Singh, and Kenneth Chen. They started this with the D2C model. The company delivers natural snack foods to the customers on monthly basis.

    With this startup, Gautam aimed to bring healthy changes in people’s life. Nature’s Box is a great place for people to find themselves a healthy snack.

    Nature’s Box is a great example of a D2C food startup that has constantly evolved itself with the changing times. It started with the mere D2C model. Later it indulged in corporate subscriptions. Following the pandemic, it provided automated solutions for delivering personalized snack packs to corporate employees.

    Dotshot

    Dot Shot Homepage
    Dot Shot Homepage

    Dotshot is a startup that deals in anti-hangover drinks. Founded by Viraj Patel in the year 2016. Dotshot is a drink made with herbs with a zest of lemon.

    Dotshot is the ultimate solution for people who take regular drinks. This prevents them from getting any hangover effects the next morning. These drinks are anti-ageing, anti-oxidant.

    This is another startup that works with the D2C model. It is the producer as well as the distributor of its products.

    The Whole Truth Foods

    The Whole Truth Foods Homepage
    The Whole Truth Foods Homepage

    The Whole Truth startup came into existence in 2019. Shashank Mehta is the founder of the startup. The company produces protein bars. These bars are free from sugar, preservative, artificial flavoring, or colouring agents.

    The main idea behind the startup was to promote healthy eating with easy-to-eat bars. This health food startup delivers its products directly to the customers.

    In the future, the food-tech D2C startup plans to expand its food areas. They will be launching new food categories soon with ensured taste and quality.

    True Elements

    True Elements Homepage
    True Elements Homepage

    The food startup manufactures plant-based healthy food items. The startup was founded in the year 2014 by Puru Gupta and Sreejith Moolayil. The company works with a Direct-to-Consumer model.

    The company offers a variety of breakfast cereals, grains, raw and roasted seeds, snacks, and others. Their products are made with hundred percent whole grains.

    This D2C food startup has gained huge popularity for its variety of healthy and tasty snacks.

    Evo Foods

    Evo Foods Homepage
    Evo Foods Homepage

    This Indian food startup produces a vegan substitute for eggs. It was found by Kartik Dixit and Shraddha Bhansali in 2019.

    The startup aims to give the optimum egg proteins through green proteins. They follow the D2C business model. More people now want to turn vegan. Evo Foods bring the egg proteins to the greens. This concept has gained the startup great popularity in the Indian market.

    Gourmet Garden

    Gourmet Garden Homepage
    Gourmet Garden Homepage

    This Indian food startup was founded in the year 2019. The founders are Arjun Balaji and Vishal Narayanaswamy. The startup offers fresh and pure fruits and vegetables. These are grown with great care without any contamination or chemicals.

    Gourmet Garden is another startup that has a Direct-to-Consumer business model. One can get fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to their doorsteps. You can order them on their official website.

    Top 5 Plant-Based Meat Startups In India that are Revolutionizing the way you consume meat
    Plant-based meat industry is growing at a fast pace in India. So, Lets look at 5 plant based meat startups that are revolutionizing the way you consume meat
    StartupTalkyDamini Bhandary

    The Pandemic and the Rise of D2C Food Brands in the Industry

    The concept of D2C is not a new one. It has always existed in the market. But the pandemic gave a boost to the growth of D2C startups. Due to the pandemic, people were shifting online for their needs. Be it clothing, food, or other essentials.

    During the pandemic, the markets got disrupted. The connection between wholesalers, distributors, and retailers could not function well. This made various brands realize the importance of making direct sales to consumers.

    Many brands decided to keep the middlemen out and make direct sales to the consumers.

    Conclusion

    The entire marketplace got disrupted during the pandemic. Manufacturing companies kept on producing but the delivery issues remained. The connection and coordination between producers, middlemen, and consumers got shaken.

    This is one of the main reasons that gave rise to the Direct-to-Consumer model. D2C model has now become super popular. More businesses have started to think about its inclusion in their business model.

    The D2C model of startups removes the role of middlemen. This makes it perfect for both the brand and the customers. The customers get to have the products at a lower price. The brands on the other hand get to enjoy more profit.

    FAQ

    What is a D2C food startup?

    A D2C food startup is a startup that produces products and sells products directly to consumers without middlemen. These startups don’t rely on other platforms for their distribution.

    What are some of the top food D2C startups in India?

    Dot Shot, Evo Foods, The Whole Truth Foods, and Gourmet Garden are some of the top D2C food startups in India.

  • The Rise of Plant-Based Food: Past, Present & Future of Veganism

    World Vegan Day is November 1st, and it’s a day to honour those who do not eat animals, dairy, or anything else that originates from or involves an animal. They also don’t wear any animal-derived apparel, accessories, or objects. The vegan day started in 1994 to mark the Vegan Society’s golden jubilee. Here’s a look at a brief history of veganism, present and what the future holds for the vegan industry.

    Vegan Industry – Past: What is Veganism and who started it?
    Vegan Industry – Present: Present Scenario and Its Impact on Different Industries
    Vegan Industry – Future: What does the Future Hold for Vegan Industry?
    FAQ

    Vegan Industry – Past: What is Veganism and who started it?

    Veganism is an advanced version of vegetarianism that traces its origins to India and eastern European communities, although the name was developed in 1944. In 500 BC, the Greek thinker and statistician Pythagoras of Samos initially proposed vegetarianism. He preached compassion amongst creatures, notably humankind, in contrast to his theory about right triangles. Vegetarianism was also espoused by Buddhists, Hindus, and Jain, who believed that people mustn’t impose agony on other species.

    While it would occasionally flare up amid fitness trends and spiritual renaissance, the vegetarian diet never attracted the West. Vegetarianism and chastity were promoted by the Ephrata Cloister, a rigorous congregation founded in 1732 in Pennsylvania. Jeremy Bentham, an eighteenth-century pragmatic thinker, considered that animal slaughter was exactly as bad as mankind’s misery, and compared human supremacy to bigotry.

    In 1847, the 1st veggie group was founded in England. The American Vegetarian Society was co-founded shortly afterwards by Rev. Sylvester Graham, the originator of Graham crackers. Graham was a Presbyterian preacher, and his disciples, known as Grahamites, followed his rules for living a good life, which included veganism, sobriety, celibacy, and daily baths.

    In Nov 1944, an English carpenter named Donald Watson declared that since vegetarians consume eggs and dairy, he coined the term “vegan” to denote those that don’t. Last year, it was discovered in 40% of Britain’s dairy cattle, which Watson exploited by arguing that the vegan diet protected individuals from unsafe meals.

    He offered a precise clarification of how the name must be spoken 3 months into saying the word: “Vegan, not Veejan,” he stated in his own Vegan Society magazine that had 25 readers. There would have been 2.5 lakh, vegans, in the UK and 1.9 million in the US when Watson passed in 2005 aged 95.

    Vegan Industry – Present: Present Scenario and Its Impact on Different Industries

    Folks often say they won’t become vegan as they believe being a vegan themselves won’t matter, or that the world will not go vegan, so it’s meaningless for them to go vegan. Is it fair, though?

    Veganism has the potential to save over 1000 species, over 1 lakh tons of water, over 32,000 sq. of forests, nearly 44,000 lbs of grains, and more. Isn’t it incredible how much of an influence one can make in just 3 years as a vegan?

    People change and demand change, and when more people change, this becomes a greater trend, which can lead to social reform.

    Is the Vegan Industry growing?

    Yep. I’d want to highlight plant milk as non-dairy milk substitutes and options such as soy milk and rice milk weren’t viable two decades ago, certainly not publicly. Today, go to any supermarket and you’ll notice soy, cashew, hazelnut, and other forms of milk. The non-dairy milk aisle at these shops is the same size as the dairy milk aisle. As a result, things are changing.

    According to recent findings, as many as 6% of U.S. consumers identify as vegan, up from 1% in 2014. According to a 2018 study, about 40% of millennials identify as vegans, and economists have declared 2019 to be the year of veganism, with no signs of slowing off in 2020. Veganism is becoming trendier, and the number of vegans is rising.

    It has a significant effect on the food industry. The worldwide food sector was estimated to be valued at over 12 billion in 2018, and vegan food sales in the U.S. climbed 11% from 2018 to 2019. In 2016, the worldwide dairy segment was worth more than $8 billion, but by 2024, it is predicted to be valued at more than $11 billion. This indicates that vegan products are on the rise, while non-vegan ones are on the decline.

    Impact on the Food sector

    The worldwide vegan meat sector is also rising, with estimates that it will reach 7.5 billion dollars by 2025, driven by firms like Beyond Meat, which had the top overall public offering by a leading U.S. firm in over 2 decades when its shares went public.

    The vegan food business in the United States rose by 29% during 2017 and 2019, with a world average of $27.9 billion by 2025. Due to the recent spike in tofu sales during the pandemic, Canada issued new food rules that are more vegan forward, and the Chinese govt-issued new regulations that aimed to cut meat intake in half.

    Vegan brands such as the veggie grill and plant power fast food are also seeing progress. Vegan and veg have been top Meta keywords on services like UberEats and Grubhub recently, and this shift in expansion isn’t just happening for vegan sectors; a lot of big chains, such as Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taco Bell, and KFC, are currently adding vegan food to their menus, allowing even more change.

    This shift is so pervasive and dangerous that certain animal-based firms and organizations have begun to sue plant-based enterprises in an attempt to prevent them from using terms like “milk” or “butter” on their items.

    Impact on Fashion and Entertainment Sector

    Veganism isn’t all about diet; it’s about all forms of animal suffering, which encompasses a wide range of sectors. So, are those sectors undergoing any shifts as well? Vegan culture is gaining popularity.

    By 2025, the vegan leather business is expected to be worth $85 billion. By 2025, the global demand for vegan makeup is expected to reach $20.8 billion. Like Ringling Brothers, non-vegan theatre is losing steam and closing. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are no longer held captive for amusement in Canada.

    Vegan Industry – Future: What does the Future Hold for Vegan Industry?

    Veganism is gaining popularity in civilized countries. A major study put the plant-based diet to the trial, examining a hypothetical case in which the world becomes vegan by 2050. Greenhouse gases could be decreased by three-quarters if this occurs.

    Cows are the primary source of greenhouse gases. Methane is produced by bugs in their digestive tract, while co2 is injected by deforestation for their grazing. These gases cause global warming. Cows would be the 3rd largest producer of greenhouse gas if they were a nation.

    Animals raised on farms have a strong desire to graze on the land. Animal farming takes up more than 80% of all farmland on the planet. However, it only yields 18% of the world’s calories. To gain by one kilo, a cow needs roughly ten kilos of food, pigs six kilos, and poultry 3 to 4 kilos. A lot of food is lost as cattle feed, which we would then consume.

    More diverse vegan diets with low calories can save lives with a well-balanced vegan diet. Early death might be lowered by 20% if the world went vegan in 2050, making the world economy healthy as well.

    A lot of money is spent on treating illnesses like stroke, cancer, and diabetes that are linked to diets. In 2050, around one trillion dollars might be saved. That’d be around 3% of the total cost of healthcare.

    Since 1960, worldwide meat consumption has grown at a rate of over 3% per year. No one loves how factories treat their animals. Because meat firms don’t own the farms, shifting from chickens or pigs to vegan meat is simple. If the market and the customers want it, they’re willing to adjust. The world may potentially hit peak meat and descend another way due to a lack of economical and available options.

    If you look at historical statistics, it’s improbable that the world will be vegan by 2050. We’d have a little chance to stay below toxic levels of global warming unless we made massive diet adjustments further towards vegan diets. However, switching to a vegan diet may be beneficial.

    A vegan diet could bring us three-quarters of the way there. Authorities can play a key role by setting effective nutritional guidelines. They can implement sourcing standards that make it apparent that the baseline foods bought are plant-based, healthy, and environmentally friendly.

    Is Vegan Meat better than Regular Meat?

    We are addicted to the taste of meat, yet the only way to break this habit is to create goods that provide the exact taste minus the use of an animal. Plant-based meat employs the same machinery as meat processing factories. Only this time, there won’t be any blood all over the place. Components like soy, lupine, wheat, peas, and others can be utilized in the preparation of replica meats to provide a similar experience.

    How Does the British Royal Family Make Money?
    As per a report, the Crown Estate of England pulled a revenue of more than $700 million but how does the British Royal Family make money?. Let’s find out.
    StartupTalkyMuskaan Kapoor

    Conclusion

    Vegan meat is simply the next step on the path of agricultural advancements. In the farming sector, things are forever evolving. There were billions of horses to move and plough a century ago. They are now on the endangered list because we no longer require them. The meat will be made using automation in the future, and slaughter species will be endangered as well, leaving room for wild poultry and feral pigs. That, I hope, is destiny.

    FAQ

    Is the vegan food industry growing?

    Yes, the global vegan industry is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2019 to 2026.

    What is the vegan industry worth?

    The Vegan Food market size was valued at $14.2 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $31.4 billion by 2026.

    What percentage of the world is vegan in 2021?

    Around 79 million people are vegans in 2021.