one green planet
one green planet

Vegan cheese has often struggled to match the taste and texture of traditional dairy-based cheeses. However, Dreamfarm, a startup based in Parma, Italy, is on a mission to change this. They have developed a plant-based mozzarella that closely mimics the qualities of genuine mozzarella while prioritizing health and ingredient quality. This innovative product has garnered attention from consumers, influencers, and even pizza restaurants.

Dreamfarm’s journey began with a commitment to create a superior product in the plant-based cheese category. Co-founders Maddalena Zanoni and Mattia Sandei noticed that the vegan cheese market was limited due to the poor quality of existing alternatives. These products often contained numerous ingredients, were not nutritionally sound, and lacked an authentic taste. The founders sought to replicate the success of the alternative meat industry by focusing on simplicity, taste, and nutritional value.

Dreamfarm’s plant-based mozzarella is made from a base of fermented almonds and a few other high-quality ingredients, including vegetable fiber, salt, agar-agar, natural aroma, and ferments. Notably, the product contains no saturated fats, making it a healthier choice compared to some other vegan cheeses that rely on ingredients like coconut oil. Dreamfarm’s vegan mozzarella boasts an ‘A’ Nutri-Score, indicating lower levels of fat, saturated fat, and salt in comparison to dairy-based mozzarella. While it is lower in protein, its clean ingredient list and healthy profile are clear differentiators.

In terms of pricing, Dreamfarm’s vegan mozzarella is competitive with high-quality buffalo mozzarella. Priced at €3.60 for a 125g ball in Italy, it offers an attractive option for consumers who seek a healthier and ethically conscious alternative. The product has garnered significant interest, with some online influencers raving about it, and several pizza restaurant chains adding it to their menus. The startup has achieved this level of recognition without investing heavily in marketing, relying on the enthusiasm of consumers and influencers to spread the word.

Dreamfarm recently closed a €5 million pre-seed funding round, with investments from local business angels with food industry expertise. This funding will Support market expansion within Europe, with the product already available in Spain and Belgium. The startup is also focused on continuing research and development, with plans to create vegan versions of classic Italian cheeses such as Stracciatella and burrata. In the future, they may explore plant-based yogurts. However, their primary focus remains on soft, mozzarella-style cheeses.

Creating a vegan mozzarella that closely replicates the texture and melting properties of traditional mozzarella was a significant challenge for Dreamfarm. The startup spent considerable time perfecting the product’s texture, conducting numerous trials to achieve the desired consistency.

Dreamfarm’s plant-based mozzarella is redefining the vegan cheese market by offering a healthier, tastier, and simpler alternative. The startup’s commitment to quality and clean ingredients has made its product a standout choice for consumers looking to reduce their consumption of animal-derived foods.

Check out Dream Farm here!

Related Content:

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

  • Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
  • Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
  • Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
  • Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
  • Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
  • Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!

Help keep One Green Planet free and independent! Together we can ensure our platform remains a hub for empowering ideas committed to fighting for a sustainable, healthy, and compassionate world. Please support us in keeping our mission strong.