Biztech Asia

Much of the world is trending toward plant-based eating and this global shift could be here to stay.

Sometime in the mid-2010s, many people shifted from using the word “vegan” to “plant-based,” transforming this way of eating into something more inclusive and welcoming to larger sections of society.

And now, in many areas, finding plant-based alternatives for everything from beef to eggs to dairy products (like cheese, butter, and ice cream) can be as easy as walking through mainstream grocery stores. Even many restaurants have added more plant-based items to their menus, or at least offer them as an option. Plus, plant-based foods taste better than ever — some so close to their animal-derived counterparts that it’s hard to tell the difference.

As plant-based food continues to make inroads, industry observers expect the category to become a larger part of our diet in years to come. Analysts have also predicted that the plant-based foods market could make up to 7.7 percent of the global protein market by 2030, with a value of over USD162 billion, up from USD29.4 billion in 2020, according to a new report by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Riding on the popularity of plant-based meat that is rapidly growing around the world, and specifically in China, Haofood, a foodtech startup offers an alternative to those who crave comfort food such as fried chicken and chicken products.

This Shanghai-based startup offers realistically textured and healthy plant-based chicken and is one of the first companies in the world to use peanut protein as a base, taking advantage of its potential for a strong and elastic texture and natural umami flavour.

Led by a founding team of senior professionals from the food industry, who, together, hold a well-rounded skill set ranging from entrepreneurship to food technology, Haofood uses its own proprietary extrusion technology and formulation to create affordable, delicious plant-based chicken made from sustainable, non-GMO peanuts.

We speak to Astrid Prajogo, Founder & CEO of Haofood who’s absolutely passionate about plant-based food. She shares with us her vision for the company, what differentiates its products from its competitors, including insights into this growing plant-based food industry.

Additionally, Astrid also speak about:

The technology behind Haofood’s plant based protein chicken.
Key benefits of plant based food.
Strategy and execution plan for Haofood over the last two years, including insights into the company’s growth to date.
The company’s recent USD3.5 million fund raise including how they intend to deploy this capital.
Lessons learnt from her journey as an entrepreneur.