The Opportunity

This debut product signifies the start of a joint venture between a cheese client (a major cheese CPG company) and an AI-powered plant-based company. The cheese client traditionally having a small footprint in the plant-based sector, demonstrates a strategic commitment by featuring one of its signature offerings in this collaboration.

Our Work

Like many others in the plant-based cheese segment, we faced significant challenges in replicating the complex taste, texture, mouthfeel, and especially the signature melt-and-stretch properties of traditional dairy cheese.

Through extensive experimentation — developing over 75 iterations — we explored various flavor combinations to mimic the richness and fattiness of cheese, its sharpness, and the distinctive dairy and buttery notes. These became critical levers we could adjust and refine.

Despite working under strict ingredient restrictions, we ultimately succeeded in creating a delicious, high-performing plant-based cheese using only water, coconut oil, modified corn starch, chickpea protein, potato protein, and natural flavors — effectively replicating the functional properties of processed dairy cheese.

The Result

Following a five-month development project, we delivered a 3.5-hour presentation to the R&D team and Director of a leading cheese company. We detailed our journey — from strategic starch selection to advanced techniques that pushed the boundaries of gums and starches — successfully replicating the melt, stretch, and taste of traditional dairy cheese. The team was genuinely impressed by the innovation and rigor of the work.

This led to the successful launch of cheese company A’s plant-based cheese slices in a limited test market in November at 30 Giant supermarkets in Cleveland, OH, as a precursor to a nationwide rollout in 2023. The vegan slices are offered in three flavors: American, Provolone, and Cheddar.