Innovate 360 Brings Vegan-Friendly Food To BAZAAR NewGen 2022
Eight local sustainable food brands brought their goods to this year's BAZAAR NewGen runway show
This year's Harper's BAZAAR Asia NewGen Fashion Award runway show saw no shortage of fun times, fantastic fashion and even better food. Supported by Innovate 360, Singapore's first food accelerator with facilities, BAZAAR was proud to welcome eight local sustainable food brands to the event, where they served up delicious snacks to hundreds of influencers, celebrities and other esteemed guests.
Founded in 2018, Innovate 360 now supports over 86 startups across the country with the aim of creating a healthier and more sustainable future for all. The company supports startups exploring the space between tech and agriculture, helping them scale and go to market through its accelerator program, venture capital fund, network of expertise and more.
On Innovate 360's latest collaboration with BAZAAR NewGen, founder John Cheng tells BAZAAR "We were happy to part of the fashion event that showcased not just local young fashion designers but also entrepreneurs in food - a cool event where forward fashion and food got a chance to come together." Cheng further called BAZAAR NewGen a "great opportunity" to introduce Innovate 360's startups to new consumers who they had little chance of interacting with normally.
Below, read all about these local brands which are transforming Singapore's food scene.
Just like many of the world's best ideas, Kombynation Co. was founded in a dorm room by Ethan Eng and Mareen Liang during their final semester back in 2018. It's since grown rapidly to become a national brand widely available across many of Singapore's supermarkets and cafés. As Singapore's first licensed kombucha microbrewery with an in-house lab of its own, Kombynation Co. also hosts beginner brewing workshops, teaching thousands of people how to brew the perfect bottle of kombucha.
Have you ever thought about where your vegetable waste goes after throwing it out to the dumpster? After hundreds of kitchen experiments, the founders behind Confetti Snacks landed on a new answer: a brand of chips which upcycles vegetable waste and surplus that otherwise would've gone to waste. A variety of flavours are on offer, including Green Curry Mushroom Chips with notes of basil and kaffir, and Summer Truffle Veggie Chips which are made from an assortment of radish, carrot, okra, sweet potato and shiitake mushrooms. If the colourful, tasteful chips aren't enticing enough, consider the fact that the company also donates a portion of their nutrient-dense snacks to global humanitarian missions which help end world hunger by distributing food to the poorest parts of the world.
Fried chicken is a common weakness for just about everybody, but have you ever wished you could consume it guilt-free? The founders behind SHANDI certainly have, inspiring their plant-based, bite-sized popcorn chicken which aims to provide more protein, less sodium and zero cholesterol compared to traditional chicken meat. With the health and environmentally-friendly factors in mind, fried chicken has never tasted any better.
It's a well-known fact that us Singaporeans love our seafood, making it seem virtually impossible to stick to a regular vegan diet. That's where VRAB comes in - with the vision to create affordable, delicious and sustainable products adapted to an Asian diet, VRAB's plant-based crab products are designed to be customisable, allowing consumers to get creative with a variety of dishes. From VRAB sliders to VRAB balls, it's pretty clear there's a tasty vegan alternative for any seafood lover out there.
The Local Farm works to bring Singapore's consumers closer to its producers, bringing the best of local farms right to your doorstep. Under their EAT, WORK, & PLAY concept, The Local Farm operates a Bistro & Grocer, monthly TLF Packs, and specially-tailored TLF Adventures for families with kids. At BAZAAR NewGen 2022, representatives served up scoops of TLF x Papitto Gelato, made with locally grown vegetables.
ROA's Dark Chocolate Petit Mousse Cakes hide a special secret. Psyllium husk takes the place of processed sugar and eggs, while avocados are used instead of the typical butter. The company claims not to use any animal products or gluten in its desserts, cutting back on the calories and making them a great alternative for sugar lovers seeking to go on a diet.
Enjoy the taste of an egg without worrying about the hassle of cracking one open and making a mess. Hegg's plant-based Eggless Egg supposedly achieves just that, coming in powder form, with a shelf life of over one year - much longer than the 21-day average of most chicken eggs. Claiming to have 50% less calories than a chicken egg and 93% less total fat, a Hegg egg certainly seems to be the healthier alternative, as well. But that's not all - by eliminating eggshell waste and reducing the water footprint required for chicken egg production, Hegg addresses local supply chain challenges while also maintaining a sustainable profile. It's also partnered with heritage brand Killiney to show how plant-based foods can be integrated into local favourites with the launch of their Eggless Kaya.
Jewels Rock Sugar's aesthetically-pleasing, brightly-coloured candies are the perfect companion to any Friday night cocktail or Saturday afternoon tea. Creative and customisable, the rock sugar candies are branded as a healthier alternative for those with a sweet tooth. Made locally in Singapore, they're now sold in over 180 stores globally across China, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia.