5@5: Competition heats up in dairy alternatives | Investors haven't given up on meal kits

Cows vs. nuts: Who gets to be called milk, and are they climate friendly?

We know about the dairy industry’s attacks on plant-based alternatives, which are eating into its market share. But now, even among those alternatives, competition is ramping up, and to get ahead, some brands are leveraging an environmental angle. One of those is Milkadamia, a brand that’s set to appear in coolers in Walmart stores this month. It’s positioning itself as a more climate-friendly alternative to milk, and one that uses regenerative and holistic farming techniques. Pea protein maker Ripple also touts a smaller environmental footprint and has funded research on greenhouse gas emissions associated with different kinds of dairy alternatives. Read more at Inside Climate News…

Vegan jerky! Cashew cheese! Plant-based foods are big at the Fancy Food Show

In addition to trends like banana snacks and Middle Eastern cuisine, plant-based offerings were abundant at the Winter Fancy Food Show this week. New products included a plant-based butter made from aquafaba and vegan jerky make with textured vegetable protein. Read more at San Francisco Chronicle…

Organic meal kits draw investors despite Blue Apron’s troubles

Sun Basket, which is already backed by Unilever, has raised $57.8 million from Silicon Valley firm August Capital. The meal kit maker says it saw revenue nearly quadruple in 2017 but is not yet profitable. Meal kits are a tough business rife with operational challenges, high marketing costs and low customer retention, but they’re still drawing attention in the changing world of grocery. Read more at Bloomberg Technology…

Increasingly complex retail and foodservice marketplace opens opportunities for seafood

U.S. per capita consumption of seafood has been stagnant for nearly two decades, but given shifting consumer preferences, that could change. The NPD Group says restaurants and foodservice could be a big opportunity for seafood, as consumers increase their spending on food away from home and show a willingness to spend more on premium products. Read more at Seafood Source…

Tesco responds to demand, launches robust vegan initiative

British grocer Tesco—one of the largest retailers in the world—has dropped a new line of vegan products with help from Whole Foods Market’s former senior global executive chef, Derek Sarno. Wicked Kitchen encompasses ready-to-eat meals, sandwiches and wraps, and salads. Read more at Forbes…