Australian manufacturing venture with vegan food

Cale & Daughters — the parent company of vegan FMCG brands Made With Plants, PlantAsia and Get Plant’d — has announced that it will begin manufacturing plant-based cheese and meat products in Australia, as part of a joint venture with Israel’s agricultural co-operative, Vgarden (a subsidiary of Gan Shmuel Health Industries).

The two parties have joined forces to establish a new entity known as Vgarden Australia Pty Ltd, which will operate a dedicated manufacturing facility based in Darra, Brisbane.

The Brisbane facility will initially produce vegan mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan, along with vegan deli meats such as pepperoni and chicken. Cale & Daughters will also use the site to manufacture its own IP products, including dairy-free thickened cream and sour cream. Full-scale production is expected by the end of 2023 and the facility will employ over 50 staff.

“The joint venture between Cale & Daughters and Vgarden will bring together the innovative capabilities of our two companies, by enabling the rapid exchange of resources and IP. This partnership will enable us to minimise international supply chain disruptions and have greater control over internal and external variables,” said Cale & Daughters co-founder Cale Drouin.

Vgarden and Cale & Daughters already share a record of success, having worked together to supply Woolworths nationally with vegan mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan since 2020.

The joint venture also offers greater capacity to cater to Food Service customers — including restaurants, caterers, hospitals, educational institutions and other organisations that must cater to Australia’s growing demand for plant-based food.

Australia is touted as the third-fastest-growing vegan market in the world. Globally, the market for plant-based meat alternatives is valued at $9.9 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast at 41% until 2030. Meantime, the global market for plant-based cheese alternatives sits at 2.4% billion, with a projected CAGR of 13% until 2030.

“We are extremely proud of the partnership we have forged with Cale & Daughters, as we share the same values and vision for the future. It’s extremely rewarding to see this collaboration come to fruition, and we believe it will have a real impact on Australia’s high-growth vegan market,” said Vgarden CEO Ilan Adut.