German Cheese Company Launches Vegan Brand

After a six-month experimentation process, German cheese maker Hochland released four vegan cheese spreads this month under the new Simply V brand. The 85-year-old company has created a dedicated vegan subsidiary called EVA Gmbh to develop vegan products that mimic cheese in flavor and use. The first varieties are “fresh” and “mild” cream-cheese spreads in flavors such as hazelnut-nougat and sweet pepper. Simply V’s vegan cheeses use mostly almonds as a nut-base and are soy-free. Hochland, which has products sold in more than 30 countries, sees the vegan market as one with great growth potential, as 26 percent of German consumers currently report eating vegan meals at least once in awhile. “[Simply V’s] products show that vegan food can taste really good,” the company said. The vegan spreads are available at Veganz stores in Germany, while products such as vegan slices will be added to the company’s collection soon.