TPC Network Event: Sharing is Caring, May 29

April 18, 2024

TPC Network Meeting: Sharing is Caring

Sign up now and discover how you can benefit from Shared Facilities, meet other TPC-partners & join the tour at NIZO’s new facility!

Date & Time: 29 May 2024, 14.45 – 17.30

Location: NIZO (Ede)


Programme:

  • Strategic investments in shared facilities for scaling alternative proteins in The Netherlands: Join us to discover key findings from our study on scaling alternative proteins in The Netherlands. Engage in a stakeholder feedback session and explore opportunities for implementing your recommendations. Your involvement is vital in driving industry progress!
  • Get to know our newest TPC-partners among which are FoodHelden and Eurofins
  • A follow-up and engaging discussion on the buzzing topic of Hybrid Products
  • Product Pitches: Present your new product/application/ingredient/technology. Let us know when registering for this event. 
  • Join a tour at NIZO’s SPRINT Facility (TPC-partner): a unique combination of expertise and food-grade scaling up facilities for dairy and meat analogues without compromise (14.15 p.m.)
  • Networking drinks & bites (17.00 – 18.00 p.m.)

TPC-partners can register via Foodleap. This meeting is only for partners of The Protein Community. Not a partner yet? Send us an email.

Register on Foodleap

TPC at PLANT FWD 2024

April 3, 2024

TPC at PLANT FWD 2024

Plant Forward    |    23-24 April    |    2024 Amsterdam

Join us at Plant Forward 2024! PLANT FWD is a two-day event that brings together startups, brands, retailers, food service professionals, policymakers, investors, future talents, and other change-makers from across Europe. PLANT FWD aims to accelerate the shift towards plant-based proteins and collectively build a future that prioritizes plant-forward solutions.

Join us at Plant Forward 2024! Plant FWD is a two-day event that brings together startups, brands, retailers, food service professionals, policymakers, investors, future talents, and other change-makers from across Europe. Plant FWD aims to accelerate the shift towards plant-based proteins and collectively build a future that prioritizes plant-forward solutions.

Founding Partner
The Protein Community is proud to be a founding partner and is offering a substantial discount for all its partners. Secure your ticket for just €295 (discounted from €795). This exclusive offer is available until April 21st. Find it on Foodleap.

What to Expect?
Jeroen Willemsen, lead of protein transition at Foodvalley, returns as a keynote speaker, joining a dynamic lineup of thought leaders and experts in the field. Additionally, TPC will host its booth at the market, where the Protein Transition Map NL will be unveiled to an international audience. Join us in shaping the future of food at Plant FWD 2024. See you there!

Click here for the TPC-discount!

Recap: TPC session on Hybrid Products

March 25, 2024

Recap: TPC Acceleration Session on Hybrid Products

During a recent event organized by The Protein Community, specialists in the field delved into hybrid products, addressing both obstacles and opportunities. 

Key insights:

  1. Innovation through Collaboration: The session commenced with Kees Pieters from the Provincie of Gelderland emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts in fostering innovation within the hybrid products sector. The Protein Community acknowledges Kees’ contributions to advancing the protein transition, and Leo Koning, TPC manager, honored him with a Golden Bean award!


  2. Communication is key: Throughout the discussions, the importance of effective communication was underscored. Jeroen Willemsen (Foodvalley) presented various examples of hybrid products and their communication strategies. Some brands opt not to label their products as hybrid, while others highlight the ratio of plant-based to animal-based ingredients or emphasize reduced CO2 emissions compared to fully animal-based alternatives.
    Alice Pilkington (Mintel) suggests clearly communicating the advantages of hybrid products, focusing on aspects such as enhanced taste, health benefits, and environmental sustainability, rather than using percentages. She advises avoiding the term “hybrid” to position such products as less extreme while still emphasizing their meaningful environmental contributions.
  3. Market ready: Production of many hybrid products have stopped quickly. Was this due to ineffective communication or an unprepared market? Likely, it’s a mix of both factors. Alice Pilkington remains optimistic, suggesting that positioning hybrid products as a bridge between animal-based and plant-based diets could resonate with the increasing flexitarian demographic. She notes, “Ongoing media coverage on plant-based eating is continuing to fuel interest in plant-based eating and drinking long term.”

    During the session, a debate arose regarding whether hybrid products should have their own category in supermarkets or undergo a silent transition. Henk Schouten highlighted the challenge, as many consumers adhere to the mindset of “don’t mess with my meat,” potentially making hybrid products less appealing.

  4.  Innovate in action: Despite facing challenges, speakers emphasized several opportunities for hybrid products. Jan Vreugdenhil and Angelique Peterse (Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods) provided insights into their companies’ strategies for hybrid product development. These strategies range from co-manufacturing plant-based ingredients to re-imagining traditional recipes by incorporating plant-based alternatives.
  5. Many strategies possible: During the panel, participants explored obstacles impeding the acceptance of hybrid products, such as consumer resistance and misunderstandings regarding processing. To overcome these challenges and boost consumer acceptance, strategies like silent transitions, improved product labeling, and strategic placement in supermarkets were suggested. Rem van den Bosch (Seaburger) emphasized the significance of storytelling within the hybrid category, noting, “People purchase a brand, not just a specific product.”

 
Looking ahead

With the increasing demand for alternative protein products, the hybrid product market presents opportunities for innovation and collaboration. However, stakeholders encounter the challenge of fully realizing the potential of hybrid products. The session offered insights, fostered partnerships, and generated ideas to expedite time to market.

Jeroen concluded on an optimistic note, highlighting that Dutch caterers are targeting a 60/40 plant/animal protein ratio by 2030. This underscores the imperative of embracing hybrid solutions to meet these ambitious goals.

 
 
Watch the full recording on Foodleap

Insights from the Innovation Mission to Denmark

March 22, 2024

Insights from the Innovation Mission to Denmark

On March 17 – 20, 2024, Jeroen Willemsen (Innovation Lead Protein Transition at Foodvalley) and several TPC-partners went on an innovation mission to Denmark. This visit was planned with the goal to network and get inspired in the field of protein transition and was organized by the Province of Noord-Holland, Amsterdam Trade & Innovate and OostNL. This mission offered a chance to explore Denmark’s advancements in protein transition. This collaborative initiative, involving public and private entities, focuses on sharing knowledge and business opportunities within the protein ecosystem.

Some of our insights:

#ShorteningTimeToMarket

  • 43 Dutch participants joined, among which 18 TPC partners;
  • Round table with Dutch & Danish experts: ‘creating long term partnerships is key’. E.g. between producer and retailer, between the Netherlands and Denmark;
  • Product innovations at the Food Expo Herling:
    • Tempty: hybrid product combining Marlow-Ingredients’ Mycoprotein and Quinoa
    • PerfectSeason: vegetable burger with Danish roots

#PlantifyingTheFoodIndustry

  • Agro Food Park Aarhus:
    • PlanetDairy: hybrid dairy – nondairy cheeses branded as Audu
    • Arla showcasing JÖRD (‘earth’), oat-based drinks and yoghurt
  • Danish Ministery for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries: round table on the Danish Action Plan on Plant Based Foods, including a multi-million Plant Based Food Grant.

#MoreProteinSelfSufficient

#GoldenBean
Seven Danish Protein Transition-experts received a Golden Bean-pin as a token of appreciation for their protein transition work and the bond between the Netherlands and Denmark.

Next Innovation Mission: France
April 16-18, an trip to France is organised by RVO, exploring plant-based proteins for meat and dairy alternatives. 

Five new TPC-Partners Introduced

February 12, 2024

Five new TPC-Partners Introduced

At yesterday’s online session, we introduced five new companies to our community: Bodec, Traitomic, MUCHgroup, Alfa Laval, and Jamael. If you could not attend this session, watch our partners introduce themselves below! 

The session began with Jeroen Willemsen providing a brief overview of the CO-FRESH project, which involved 9 TPC-Partners.

Subsequently, each of the new partners delivered engaging presentations, offering insights into their backgrounds and company missions. They shared their aspirations for the community and outlined their specific needs. The session was very interactive, with the audience asking a lot of questions, fostering a valuable exchange of knowledge.

It was great to see TPC-partners connecting, with two partners having already scheduled a meeting together a few hours later!

Our next Meet The New TPC-Partner session will take place on May 8th. More information will follow.

For now, sign up for our next event: the TPC Acceleration Session where we will delve into the world of Hybrid Products. Spots to join on-site are limited, so make sure to sign up here!

Online New Year Meeting, Jan 10th 16.00 – 17.30 CET

January 12, 2024

Highlights: TPC New Year Event
January 10 2024, 16.00 - 17.30 CET

Thank you all for attending the TPC New Year Event! It was an engaging, interactive afternoon with many great guests and speakers. If you were not able to attend this event, you can watch the recording here. TPC-partners can find a file with slides in the Knowledge Base here.

Key Takeaways:

Upcoming TPC Events
Save the dates for our upcoming events:

  • Meet The New TPC-Partners on February 7 from 12.00-13.00 CET. Make sure to sign up here.

  • TPC Acceleration session: Hybrid Products: Gamechanger in Plant-Based? on March 22 from 09.00-13.00 CET at Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods in Nijkerk. This is a hybrid event and you can sign up here.

TPC-partner discount for Plant FWD and Eiwittransitiedag

  • Plant FWD: 23 & 24 April in Amsterdam. We are able to offer our TPC-partners a discount for this event co-founded by TPC! Get your ticket for just €295 (discounted from €495-795. Get the discount code here.

  • Eiwittransitiecongres: March 14 in Kamerik.  TPC-partners will receive a 100 euro discount for this event! Get the discount code here.

New partner introductions
A warm welcome to our three new TPC-partners who introduced themselves – Studio Fava, Grassa and Hain Celestial, each contributing uniquely to the alternative protein value chain.

Theme 2024: France

  • This year, TPC will focus on the theme France! Antoine Peeters  delivered a great presentation on the French Alternative protein market and the newly released report on this. To receive the report, please send an email to par-lnv@minbuza.nl.

  • A perfect example of a Dutch-French collaboration was elaborated on by Willem Spigt (Rival Foods) and Bruno Gehin (Roquette).

  • Additionally, Bert van der Heide revealed an exciting mission to France scheduled for April. If you are interested in joining this mission, you can register here.

Thank you all for such a great afternoon and stay tuned for more updates!

Register on Foodleap

Protein Transition: Visit to Denmark 2024

January 2, 2024

Networking and Inspiration Visit to Denmark

We invite our TPC-partners to join us on March 17-20 (2024) on a visit to Denmark. This visit is planned with the goal to network and get inspired in the field of protein transition. This visit is organized by the Province of Noord-Holland, Amsterdam Trade & Innovate and OostNL. 

This mission offers a chance to explore Denmark’s advancements in protein transition. This collaborative initiative, involving public and private entities, focuses on sharing knowledge and business opportunities within the protein ecosystem.

The mission involves visits to key locations like the Food Expo in Herning, the Agro Food Park in Aarhus, and engagements with Danish government bodies, fostering valuable insights and networking opportunities.

TPC-partners can sign up and find more information here.

If you are not a TPC-partner but interested in joining, please send a message to Leo Koning.

 

Register on Foodleap

Recognising Leaders in the Protein Transition

December 21, 2023

The Golden Bean Award

The Golden Bean celebrates those shaping the protein transition. Recently, Paul van Zanten was honoured for his impactful contributions at Inveja’s dry-processing factory. Alongside him, nine others received a Golden Bean in 2023, thanking them for their significant efforts in the Protein Transition!

Established in 2022 by The Protein Community, The Golden Bean recognizes people making great strides in accelerating the Protein Transition. The Protein Transition experts at Foodvalley NL select winners based on criteria like impact, collaboration, personal engagement, and innovation.

The symbolic Golden Bean pin serves as a catalyst for innovation and raises awareness, fostering collaboration within the protein industry. By linking the Golden Bean with positive change, it motivates individuals and organizations to explore inventive approaches. The award spotlights the significance of the Protein Transition and the achievements of those driving change.

The Golden Bean awardees excel in key aspects of the Protein Transition:

  • Becoming protein self-sufficient: establishing sustainable protein systems in specific regions, making locally produced goods desirable and accessible, and fortifying self-reliant ecosystems.
  • Shortening the time to market: introducing novel alternative protein products in evolving markets, positioning companies as innovators, and meeting the growing demand for sustainability.
  • Redefining the protein industry: embracing alternative protein choices, diversifying sources, and reshaping mindsets and operations from animal-based to plant-based in meat, dairy, and fish production.

In 2024, additional frontrunners in the protein transition will be honoured with The Golden Bean, further acknowledging remarkable contributions.

Take a look below at some of our Golden Bean Awardees! 

Paul van Zanten
Henk Schouten
Janny van der Heijden
Jans Hoekman
Leo Koning
Marieke Lameris
Marjolein Brasz
Ruben Bringsken
Fred van de Velde
Elies Lemkes
Henk Janknegt
Verena Wiederkehr
Wouter Staal
Brad Vanstone
Joël Broekaert
Marc Arts

Presenting: our TPC video!

November 24, 2023

The Protein Community proudly presents its own video!

We are thrilled to share our own promotional video, which captures exactly what TPC stands for. Within it, the narrative of TPC unfolds, highlighting our three focal points: shorten time to market, redefining the protein industry, and becoming protein self-sufficient. For each theme, a TPC-partner was asked to define what it means for them, and how their company relates to it. A big thank you to our partners Jan Klawer of 1-2-Taste,  Floor Buitelaar from Bright Green Partners, and Marc Arts of GreenFood50, for contributing to our video and perfectly displaying the diversity our our community. 

This video was created by Misset Uitgeverij. 

Enjoy!

Booth Offer for TPC-partners at Free From Food Amsterdam (21-22 Nov)

October 26, 2023

Booth Offer for TPC-partners at Free From Food Amsterdam (21-22 Nov)

Join us at the 11th edition of the Free From Food Expo at booth F43, taking place on November 21-22, 2023, at RAI Amsterdam. This annual European event promises to be the most focused and dynamic Free From Food edition yet, serving as a platform for highlighting food lifestyle trends and forecasting what will be on our shelves in the next five years. Expect hundreds of international food and beverage manufacturers and brands and their latest product innovations.

TPC in the Vegan & Plant-based theatre
The expo features three main theaters: Free From Retail, Vegan & Plant-based, and Supplier & Insights: all offering a strong lineup of speakers, providing inspiration and insights on the fast-paced developments. On November 21, Leo Koning (TPC Community Manager) will share insights into the ever-evolving landscape of plant-based foods. The conversation continues on November 22 with Minke Burgers (Project Manager Protein Transition).

Special offer
Following the successful TPC participation in the 2022 Free From Food event, we’re excited to offer our partners another exceptional opportunity. TPC is offering a special package for its partners to participate at the Free From Food Expo at the TPC pavilion. The package includes booth construction, online registration, matchmaking, visibility in event communications, and more, all for 1750 euro. TPC-partners have received a personal email with more information and a link to register, you can also find this on Foodleap. Deadline: November 1st.

Join the TPC pavilion
We are delighted to announce that we already have two TPC-partners who will be present at the TPC pavilion: Time Travelling Milkman, Alver, and Agua Foods.

Don’t miss the Free From Food Expo – your window into the future of food!

Register on Foodleap
Free from food booths