The first factory in Latin America to produce 100% plant-based cheeses began operating in the Cortínez industrial park, after an investment of $30 million, and in the first stage it will produce 40,000 cheeses per month with a growth projection of 70% in the first year.
It is Villa Flandria Vegan Foods dedicated to the production of cheeses of the type spreadable, seasoned, fermented, camembert, brie and stick cheeses that are made 100% plant-based, lactose-free, TACC-free and Aptos APLV.
The plant whose construction required an investment of $30 million is the first plant to develop this type of cheese, with the aim of offering a alternative to the existing food production systemas a healthy, sustainable and conscious alternative.
In this first stage of Villa Flandria Vegan Foods, cheese production is committed to two brands of vegan products that will go on the market soon, while the second stage will seek to produce private labels for hypermarkets, as well as the development of production plants in other countries of the region.
In Argentina, 12% of those over the age of 18 are currently vegetarian or veganMeanwhile, another 12% of the population defined themselves as “flexitarians”, as those who seek to reduce the consumption of animal protein but without completely eliminating it are known.
This index represents an increase of 3% between 2019 and 2020, while in the last five years, the number of vegetarian or vegan businesses has doubled.
It is estimated that by 2023 the global business of food substitutes for animal proteins (meat, milk and eggs) will exceed $7 billion and in Europe alone the demand for vegetable proteins will increase 57% in just two years.
Meanwhile, although at a lower rate, Latin America is expected to imitate this trend, reaching guaranteed double-digit growth, because projections indicate that By 2030, 13% of global meat consumption will be substitute products..