The US vegan dairy sales boom in the local grocery sector’s recent success
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“Innovation is a big part of our work”
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August 01, 2021 • 10 hours ago • 3 minutes read • 14 comments 
Leigh Cookson (left), director of quality assurance at Nuts For Cheese, keeps vegan unsalted butter and business development manager Candace Campbell keeps vegan cheese. (Derek Ruttan / The London Free Press)
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A London food company continues to thrive in the tough U.S. market as it prepares to launch its line of vegan cheeses in Whole Foods stores across America
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Nuts For Cheese, the dairy-free cheese product that has grown massively in recent years, is now sold in 18 American states and will soon add to that total as it has lined up more merchants south of the border, said Candace Campbell, its director of business development .
“In the last few months we have taken the largest national sales partners in the US on board,” said Campbell of the entry into the large US market. “That means we have the option to go national and open warehouses in the US.”
In a matter of weeks, Nuts For Cheese will be launching its products in new regions in the US including Colorado and Florida, as well as additional stores in the Midwest and East, she added. Within two years, Nuts for Cheese products can be found in all 50 US states.
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“The largest national distributors of natural food products picked us up,” she said. “We are now having good conversations with major players.”
Sales of Nuts For Cheese have increased more than 40 percent year over year as it meets the growing vegan and vegetarian trend, added Campbell. “The vegan market is exploding and dairy-free cheese is one of the fastest growing sectors. We are lucky to be in a place that is growing. “
Part of its growth is not just appealing to those who prefer a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Cheese lovers with lactose intolerance or milk allergy also take advantage of this.
Nuts For Cheese makes its dairy-free cheese from fermented cashew nuts, coconut oil and sunflower oil among its ingredients. It also makes a dairy-free butter that can be used as a one-to-one substitute for real butter in cooking and baking.
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Nuts For Cheese is the latest success story in a fast growing London food sector with more than 60 companies, said Kapil Lakhotia, CEO of London Economic Development Corp.
“Our food cluster is developing rapidly. We get a lot of inquiries about food companies. We have become a leading hub, ”said Lakhotia. “Nuss For Cheese is a boutique product that is in high demand in the market. It is an alternative to dairy products and meat.
“There’s a real movement all over North America and they’re benefiting.”
In January, the federal government announced more than $ 7 million to support the growth of The Grove, a food incubation center in the Western Fair District that was created to support the growth of entry-level small food businesses.
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“It’s not just about big food industries like Maple Leaf Foods, we’re developing and growing small food companies as well. The Grove will be a hub for the next Nuts For Cheese, ”said Lakhotia.
Nuts for Cheese has approximately 30 employees and recently expanded its Pacific Court facility to 25,000 square feet (2,250 square meters) and expanded it by approximately 15,000 square feet (1,350 square meters) over two years.
It’s about to launch a new type of cheese this fall, Cranberry Pink Peppercorn, which will pair with brie, artichoke and herbs, black garlic, chipotle cheddar, blue cheese, and smoked gouda, formerly known as red rind .
It’s also in the process of adding a third Nuts For Butter flavor, with Unsalted Original, which blends salted Original and herbs and garlic. A cream cheese product is also planned for 2022.
“Innovation is a big part of our work. If you don’t innovate in selling to the US, you won’t be successful, ”said Campbell. “It’s so exciting to be part of this culture, to do work that has value. It’s worth seeing this growth. “
According to the website Statista.com, sales of meat substitutes in Canada rose from $ 120 million in 2015 to $ 226 million in 2022. This page also states that there are 2.3 million vegetarians and 850,000 vegans in Canada.
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