Thailand's first vegan cheese factory will be opened in Chang Mai by Swees Plant Based Foods Co., and is slated to be operational in 2023.
Thailand’s first vegan cheese factory will be opened in Chang Mai by Swees Plant Based Foods Co.
Swees’ founder Nicolas Frauenfelder is looking to ‘push boundaries in the food business in Thailand and APAC region’, according to a press release from the startup.
The facility is slated to open and be ready for production in early 2023.
According to Swees, which was founded in 2019 and is based in Chang Mai, it wants to meet the growing demand for vegan cheese products for people following a plant-based diet as well as the 60 to 90 per cent of the Asian population identified to be lactose intolerant.
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Vegan cheese factory
According to a statement produced by Swees, the opening of the factory in Thailand is ‘historic in all ramifications’ as it will work towards being more sustainable than traditional cheese production facilities.
It adds that studies reveal ‘plant-based cheese releases 80 per cent less CO2 emissions compared to dairy cheese’.
Swees has also announced that it has opened its first seed round to raise funds.
A statement by the brand read: “The Seed Round [was] launched on the November 1, giving members of the public an opportunity to be a part of the revolutionary movement taking the Thai food industry by storm.
“It will help the company in its pursuit of developing tasty and healthy non-diary products that are good for the environment.”
Growth of the market
The value of the global plant-based cheese market is growing, and set to exceed a staggering £6 billion in the next five years.
Researchers predict the industry will grow at an impressive CAGR of 9 percent – hitting 7.10 billion USD by 2027.
Market Data Forecast says key drivers for the growth include concerns surrounding animal welfare, as well as awareness of the health impact of consuming animal products.
“So many animals around the world suffer from being used for food, scientific advancement, medicine, and fashion,” the report states.
“[Therefore] animal-friendly products are considered healthier, more hygienic, tastier, safer, environmentally friendly, and traditional by many consumers…
“Mozzarella is the segment that held the largest market share in the vegan cheese market in 2022 and it is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period.”
Other vegan cheese products are expected to see growth in sales including Parmesan, Cheddar, and Cream Cheese.
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Featured image credit: ocphoto via Adobe Stock
