Austria's Revo Foods unveils the first plant-based octopus alternative

The Austrian food-tech startup, Revo Foods, has today announced the launch of the 'THE KRAKEN - Inspired by Octopus', which the company suggests is the world's first plant-based alternative to octopus tentacles, made from fungi-protein (mycoprotein).

The startup decided to launch a first limited edition of 'THE KRAKEN – Inspired by Octopus' following its first crowd investment campaign, which has already raised more than €1.1 million.

In addition to its appealing appearance and its authentic smell, taste and texture, the nutritional profile is very attractive: THE KRAKEN has a Nutriscore 'A', a high protein content, high omega-3 fatty acid content, and a high amount of fiber.

"Octopus tentacles, with their intense color and distinct suckers, are a very special product with an exciting look," said Niccolo Galizzi, Head of FoodTech of Revo Foods. "So far, there has been no realistic alternative on the market. THE KRAKEN has the potential to be a real enrichment for octopus fans!”

The new Revo creation is ready to eat but can also be heated (grilled, fried, baked). THE KRAKEN is suitable for recreating traditional octopus dishes but plant-based. This allows some classics of Mediterranean cuisine to be prepared, such as a plant-based version of the Spanish Pulpo a la Gallega or a Greek octopus salad.

Up to 200,000 tons of octopus are consumed each year in the European Union. Documentaries such as My Octopus Teacher (Netflix) have created more understanding, interest, and empathy for these social animals with three hearts and nine brains. Today, many octopus fans avoid consuming these fascinating animals. With THE KRAKEN, there is a plant-based alternative now to the delicious tentacles. Given the ecological crisis and ocean pollution, the demand for more sustainable alternatives – without toxin contamination – is increasing.

Mycoprotein, the sustainable and nutrient-rich main ingredient, requires significantly less processing compared to common raw ingredients in plant-based alternative products, preserving more micronutrients and vitamins. Because of the natural 'fibrousness' of mycoprotein it takes less processing to create textures and mouthfeel. Ideal for environmentally and health-conscious fish lovers. Although there are already alternatives for some animal products, there has been a lack of realistic alternatives for 'whole-cut' products. With THE KRAKEN, Revo Foods demonstrates the creative potential of new technologies for diverse and high-quality food production.

'THE KRAKEN' is available from 15 March exclusively in the Revo online shop, delivering to most European countries: Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

"With a little bit of creativity and technological know-how – and an obsession for seafood –anything is possible. If we continue like this, we can soon offer an entire plant-based seafood paella!“ commented Dr Robin Simsa, CEO of Revo Foods.