Willicroft, Amsterdam's Alt-Dairy Pioneer, Ceases Operations

Failure to Secure Funding

Willicroft, the Amsterdam-based alternative dairy manufacturer, has ceased trading operations after failing to meet its fundraising goals, co-founder Brad Vanstone announced on LinkedIn. The company has been officially liquidated and sold.

Company Liquidation

After an inquiry by Just Food, an email reply confirmed that Willicroft was liquidated on January 20. "We came close to creating a self-sufficient business that balanced profitability with a positive impact but ultimately fell short," stated Vanstone in his announcement.

Environmental Commitment

Founded in 2018, Willicroft focused on creating plant-based dairy alternatives with an emphasis on environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques. The company launched its first non-dairy cheese products in 2019, and distributed these products in three countries, including major Dutch supermarkets like Albert Heijn and Jumbo.

New Ownership

Vanstone mentioned that the company's products were sold to two new owners, whose identities will be publicly revealed in the coming months.

A Reflection on Industry Transition

In reflecting on the company's challenges, Vanstone commented, "Last year was a sobering reality check on the pace at which our food industry is transitioning." He compared the lifetime output of a single Holstein Friesian cow to Willicroft's total of approximately 100 tonnes over a span of six years, illustrating the complexity of scaling in the plant-based sector.

Despite the cessation, Vanstone emphasized the continued difficulty for companies aiming to instigate positive change within the food industry.

In 2021, the company further advanced its sustainability ambitions by transitioning its recipes from nuts to beans.