Two plant-based food companies Rival Foods and LIVEKINDLY Collective have entered a partnership to create plant-based chicken.

Rival Foods is a plant-based gastronomy start-up while LIVEKINDLY Collective is a collection of heritage and start-up brands offering plant-based food products.

LIVEKINDLY Collective chairman and CEO Kees Kruythoff said: “Our plant-based food platform is uniquely positioned to scale rapidly and transform the current global food system.

“Through this open innovation model with Rival Foods, we will be able to develop a new generation of innovative, delicious, and nutritious plant-based products that meet the growing global demand for animal-free food.”

Rival Foods has developed a production process to transform plant-based ingredients into protein foods using few clean-label ingredients.

Under the new partnership, the two companies aim to leverage their knowledge and resources, to provide a new model for rapid product innovation.

Rival Foods co-founder Birgit Dekkers said: “The key to persuading consumers to adapt their behaviour is creating delicious plant-based options that deliver on taste and texture and can truly replac animal-based products.

“The fibrous texture of whole-cut meat products is one of its most distinct features, and we are able to replicate that experience, ensuring a sensorial superiority within the plant-based product category.”

Last month, LIVEKINDLY Collective expanded its meat alternative brand portfolio with the acquisition of Iceland Foods’ No Meat for an undisclosed sum.

No Meat is a UK-based frozen vegan meat and meal brand, which was owned by the British supermarket chain Iceland Foods.

Its product portfolio includes No Bull burger, No Bull mince, and ‘meat’ balls, No Porkies sausages, burgers, and more.