Rival Foods officeel deelnemer aan Food Pioneers Accelerator

Rival Foods wins SIAL Innovation Award 2026

for plant-based steak

Only Dutch winner honoured for high-protein steak with a meat-like texture

Amersfoort, 26 October 2026 - Dutch food tech company Rival Foods has won the SIAL Innovation Award in the Alternative Food Products category. The jury of SIAL Paris, the world’s largest international food trade fair, honoured the Plant Based Steak, which launched in British supermarkets and at Dutch wholesalers in April. The jury chose the steak from more than 2,750 entries from around the world for its high protein content, fibrous structure and short ingredient list.

Since 1996, an international jury at the biennial SIAL Paris food fair has honoured the most innovative products in each category. The Alternative Food Products category focuses on alternatives to animal products. “It’s easier to convince people to eat plant-based more often with products that can genuinely compete with meat,” says Karin Löwik, CEO of Rival Foods. “Thanks to our technology, our steak comes close to meat in taste and texture, but has a more favourable nutritional profile. The fact that our innovation was the one honoured out of thousands of entries, and that Dutch ambassador Thijs van der Plas added that our plant-based steak is almost indistinguishable from the traditional one, confirms that we are taking an important step in the development of better meat alternatives.”

Wageningen technology

Rival Foods makes its products using patented shear cell technology, developed at Wageningen University & Research. In the process, heat and a rotating motion align plant proteins. This creates a fibrous structure similar to that of a piece of meat. Löwik: “With shear cell technology, we mimic the fibres of a piece of meat rather than pressing proteins into a mould. That allows us to make great whole cuts that match the texture and bite of meat.”

Few ingredients

The jury praised the Plant Based Steak for its fibre structure, high protein content (30 grams per 100 grams of steak) and short ingredient list. The plant-based steak consists of just six ingredients, including plant protein, natural flavourings, herbs and spices, salt and water. Löwik: “Consumers and chefs are increasingly conscious of what they eat and are reading the labels on meat substitutes ever more critically. A short list of recognisable ingredients builds trust, both for the chef in the kitchen and for the guest at the table.”

About Rival Foods

Rival Foods is a Dutch food tech scale-up that develops and markets plant-based whole cuts. The company was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research and is based in the Netherlands. Rival Foods uses its patented production technology to turn plant proteins into fibre-rich structures that match animal meat in texture and mouthfeel. Its products are fully plant-based and contain no artificial colourings or flavourings. Rival Foods works with foodservice providers, retailers and food brands in Europe. The management team consists of Karin Löwik (CEO), Birgit Dekkers (COO) and Allison Woolcott (CFO). Rival Foods’ investors are ABP (via APG), PeakBridge, PYMWYMIC and ROM Utrecht Region.

Rival Foods Launches Plant-Based Steak in the UK in collaboration with leading British plant-based brand THIS™

Plant-based steak from Dutch food-tech scale-up features a fibrous texture comparable to beef

Amersfoort, April 14, 2026 - Rival Foods and THIS™ have joined forces to introduce a plant-based steak to British supermarkets. The steak is crafted from plant-based fibers using Rival Foods' patented 'shear-cell' technology, creating a texture that closely mimics that of traditional beef.

The joint launch of this plant-based steak marks a significant milestone for Rival Foods and the global protein transition. “The plant-based market in the United Kingdom is twice the size of the Dutch market,” says Karin Löwik, CEO of Rival Foods. “The British food market also leads Europe in terms of trends and product variety. The adoption of our technology in this key market, in collaboration with one of the UK’s largest plant-based brands, is a major achievement. This represents a significant step not only for Rival Foods but for innovation across the entire industry.”

A Flavorful Protein Source

The new steak contains 30 grams of protein per 100 grams, significantly higher than conventional beef. Löwik adds: “This makes the plant-based steak a healthy option. Furthermore, the consumption of red meat is associated with health risks such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer. This plant-based steak offers a compelling alternative and, unlike many other substitutes, contains no artificial additives and binding agents.”

Market Launch

The Rival Foods and THIS™ plant-based steak will be available starting April 13th in major UK retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado. For THIS™, the partnership marks one of their most important launches of the year, supported by a multi-media campaign across the UK. “We expect this product to be a major success in the British market thanks to its superior texture, taste, nutritional value, and competitive price,” adds Debbie Epstein, Marketing Director at THIS™. In the Netherlands, the product will be available for the B2B market and foodservice. Löwik adds: “Due to its similarities in taste and texture and its excellent nutritional profile, this product is attractive to multiple markets. Following this milestone, Rival Foods aims to scale up to further markets with other partners, joining forces to achieve maximum impact.”

About Rival Foods

Rival Foods is a Dutch food-tech scale-up that develops and markets plant-based 'whole-cuts'. Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, the company is based in the Netherlands. Rival Foods utilizes its patented production technology to transform plant-based proteins into fiber-rich structures that match the texture and mouthfeel of animal meat. The products are entirely plant-based and free from artificial colors or flavors. Rival Foods collaborates with foodservice providers, retailers, and food brands across Europe. The management team consists of Karin Löwik (CEO), Birgit Dekkers (COO), Allison Woolcott (CFO), and Willem Spigt (CCO). Investors in Rival Foods include ABP (via APG), PeakBridge, PYMWYMIC, and ROM Utrecht Region.

Rival Foods officieel deelnemer aan Food Pioneers Accelerator

Geldrop, April 29, 2026 - Rival Foods is geselecteerd als één van de 15 innovatieve bedrijven binnen de Food Pioneers Accelerator (FPA), een grensoverschrijdend programma dat voedingsbedrijven in Vlaanderen en Zuid-Nederland helpt bij het opschalen van hun product of productieproces.

Het programma ondersteunt bedrijven bij technische opschaling, onder meer door samenwerking met productiepartners over de grens en cofinanciering van opschalingsvraagstukken. Met onze deelname zetten we een mooie stap vooruit: samen met FPA werken we de komende periode aan onze innovatie post processing automatisering met partner Hupico, om zo bij te dragen aan een duurzamere en toekomstbestendige voedingssector.

Geldrop, April 29, 2026 - Rival Foods has been selected as one of 15 innovative companies in the Food Pioneers Accelerator (FPA), a cross-border program supporting food businesses in Flanders and the southern Netherlands in scaling up their products or production processes.

The program provides technical support, facilitates partnerships with cross-border production partners, and co-finances scaling challenges. Our participation marks an important step forward: together with FPA, we will work on our innovative post processing system with partner Hupico in the coming period, contributing to a more sustainable and future-proof food sector.

Rival Foods officieel deelnemer aan Food Pioneers Accelerator