Daiya, the company that kickstarted plant-based cheese, has made a multi-million dollar investment to create one that will challenge the real thing. The aim is for their new line of cheeses to be stretchier, tastier, and melt better than any other plant-based cheese on the market.
This investment will make Daiya a leader in revolutionising the idea and experience of plant-based cheese and its position in the marketplace, making it comparable to traditionally existing fermented cheeses.
“This is one of the largest investments in next-generation plant-based cheese since we started the company 15 years ago, and with it, Daiya is raising the bar for what consumers can expect from the category,” revealed the CEO of Daiya, Michael Watt.
The new technology will utilise traditional cheesemaking methods to create plant-based cheese which mimics the characteristics commonly known and loved of dairy-based products.
Other brands are attempting to incorporate GMO techniques to get the same results with their plant-based cheeses as consumers would enjoy from their dairy-based counterparts. However, in comparison, Daiya’s new technology focuses on using natural fermentation methods with ordinary cheese with plant-based products.
The fermentation site will sit in the company's state-of-the-art production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia – North America's most significant stand-alone plant-based facility.
Investing in plant-based cheesemaking comes off the back of the growth of the plant-based industry over the last five years. The increasing interest and consumer demand for plant-based products have propelled the industry's market value, with it expected to reach 95.52 billion U.S. dollars by 2029.
With the popularisation of plant-based milk, creams, desserts, and more, cheese is one item on the market that is still lacking for many consumers. Many choose alternatives like Nutritional Yeast to achieve a similar flavour profile.
“The future of plant-based cheese achieving parity with dairy lies in traditional fermentation techniques. I don't believe any brand has fully cracked the code on a formula cheese lovers feel entirely confident in – Daiya will change that.”
