What do Oatly, Tofurky, Hippeas, and Tabitha Brown have in common? For starters, they’re all vegan. But they’re also all winners in our 2026 Veggie Awards. Cue the applause.
This year, the Veggie Awards honor more than 100 of the very best plant-based products, people, and places. Want to know who else scored big? Check out the full rundown of the top three in each category here.
But before you go, we’ve got an exciting roundup of vegan food news for you—covering everything from a major new Impossible Foods deal to a new Boston bakery to vegan cheese innovation.
Impossible Foods
Impossible Foods bags huge Madison Square Gardens deal
In case you missed it, we recently covered the news that Impossible Foods has entered an exclusive, multiyear partnership with Madison Square Garden. As part of the partnership, the brand’s burgers will be available throughout the arena, and it will also open its own Impossible Grille concession stand, featuring bespoke dishes like Impossible Chopped Cheese Fries and the Impossible Bánh Mì Hot Dog. What’s more, it has officially been named the Official Plant-Based Burger Partner of Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks, and New York Rangers.
“Madison Square Garden is one of the most iconic venues in the world, and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” said Meredith Madden, Chief Demand Officer of Impossible Foods. “Millions of fans show up to The Garden expecting the best of the best, and that includes what’s on the menu. We’re proud to bring the Impossible Burger to one of the greatest stages in sports and entertainment for fans to enjoy.”
MorningStar Farms
MorningStar Farms launches vegan Thai curry patties for restaurants
Popular plant-based meat brand MorningStar Farms has revealed a new foodservice product: Royal Thai Curry Patties. According to the brand, the new patties—flavored with Thai curry spices and made with nine vegetables—were developed to meet demand from foodservice and away-from-home operators for “plant-based solutions that taste outstanding while delivering operational ease.”
Eliza Coteng, director of innovation marketing for Mars Snacking Away From Home explained: “MorningStar Farms Royal Thai Curry Patties bring actual vegetables and vibrant Thai curry flavor together in a format that helps our partners meet guests’ cravings and exceed their expectations for how mouthwatering a plant-forward meal can truly be.”
Bettergoods
Vegan Brownie Batter Cold Brew Coffee now on Walmart shelves
Walmart is continuing to add new plant-based products to its Bettergoods line, and the latest is a perfect addition for the warmer months: Brownie Batter Medium Roast Cold Brew Coffee. According to the company, the new unsweetened cold brew is “flavored with brownie batter–inspired natural flavors” and made with 100 percent Arabica beans.
Boundless Bakery
An entirely vegan bakery has opened outside of Boston
We’ve been reporting on a lot of restaurant closures lately (RIP, Millennium), so it’s always a breath of fresh air when news of an exciting new vegan business comes across our desk. That’s exactly what has happened this week.
In Hopkinton, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, baker Mike Glatfelter has opened a new plant-based bakery called Boundless Bakery. Customers are already enjoying a selection of vegan muffins, cookies, and fruit bars, but the biggest draw is its vegan whoopie pies, which come in a range of flavors.
“All the local people that have been driving by a lot and have seen the ‘Coming Soon’ sign have all been really eager to come inside,” Glatfelter told MetroWest Daily News. “We’ve had a lot of repeat customers and a lot of people coming in buying stuff and not necessarily realizing it was vegan and finding that out.”
Create Wellness
Vegan creatine gummy company raises $20 million
Create Wellness, one of the leading creatine gummy brands, has raised $20 million in growth capital. The brand, which makes its vegan gummies with pectin instead of gelatin, will use the funding for everything from increased retail distribution to product innovation.
“This investment is a validation of where creatine is headed, and of Create’s position as the category leader,” said Sienna McCormick, co-CEO of Create Wellness, in a statement. “We’ve built the most trusted creatine brand in the market. With ACG, Impact Capital, and Unilever Ventures behind us, we’re well-positioned to take this brand to every consumer who should be taking creatine, which in our view is essentially everyone.”
Intrigued about creatine? Find out whether you should jump on the bandwagon here.
Pexels
Scottish scientists have made an oozy new vegan cheese with home-grown vegetable oils
Vegan cheese innovation is having a moment right now. In March, we reported that scientists from the University of Arkansas were using rice proteins to create meltable, protein-rich cheese with a superior mouthfeel compared to other products on the market.
They’re not alone in working to improve vegan cheese. In Scotland, scientists at Heriot-Watt University say they have developed a new “oozier” vegan cheese by using sustainable, homegrown vegetable oils instead of palm oil. The result is a product that is lower in saturated fat, highly meltable, and better for the planet.
“Meltability is one of the biggest complaints about vegan cheese—it’s not very oozy—so improving that feature is an unintended bonus,” Stephen Euston, PhD, who led the research, told the Independent. “We’ve proved that our recipe, which reduces the saturated fat content of the cheese to as low as 3 percent, works theoretically and in our lab.”
He added that the researchers hope to present the cheese to a tasting panel within 10 months.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
