TM Editors' Note: This article discusses some penny stocks and such stocks are readily manipulated so do your own due diligence.

The Pure-Play Plant-Based Food Stocks Index* tracks the 11 stocks in the fledgling plant-based fake meat, dairy, eggs, and seafood sector.

According to a 2020 study by Ipsos Retail Performance, about 9.7 million Americans now follow a plant-based diet up from just 290,000 in 2004 and this may just be the start. According to the Plant-Based Foods Association and the Good Foods Institute, we should see continued major growth in the plant-based sector with year-over-year sales growth of 11.4% and, according to Meticulous Research, will be worth $74.2 billion in the next seven years. The plant-based meat market, specifically, will be worth $35.4 billion by 2027 , according to Polaris Market Research. 

Stock Performance Comparisons

The Index is divided into two groups – those seven (7) trading for less than US$10/share and those four (4) trading at much higher prices –  to provide more meaningful comparisons and conclusions as to the performance of the sector.

Below are their stock performances so far in April, in ascending order, and YTD, in brackets, with the most recent news on every company.

1. Plant&Co. Brands (VGANF): -38.5% (-61.0% YTD) to $0.16/share
   • Announced that it intends to spin out the company's cannabis-related technology assets and other cannabis-related assets into a public company.
   • Announced it has entered into an agreement with Grande Cheese, a privately-owned grocery chain and artisanal cheese manufacturer based in Toronto, Ontario, to collaborate and create a tasty line of plant-based vegan cheeses, dough, bread, and other specialty food products.
   • Announced that it has applied to list 21,613,250 share purchase warrants of the Company on the Canadian Securities Exchange to commence trading on or about April 16, 2021, under the trading symbol VEGN.WT. The warrants will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company upon payment of the exercise price of $0.25/warrant prior to December 10, 2022.
2. Sire Biosciences (BLLXF): -30.0% (+300%) to $0.28/share
   • No news of note
3. Modern Meat Inc. (SUVRF): -24.2% (-47.2% YTD) to $1.69/share
   • No news
4. Tofutti Brands (TOFB): -9.4% (+53.6% YTD) to $2.81/share
   • No news of note
5. Eat Beyond Inc. (EATBF): -8.7% (-27.1% YTD) to $1.37/share
   • Announced that its portfolio company SingCell Tx Pte Ltd. has entered into a technology development agreement with the National University of Singapore to evaluate and license its plant-based edible microcarriers technology.
   • Announced that its portfolio company Nabati Foods Global Inc. has forged a corporate partnership with Mucho Burrito.
6. Else Nutrition (BABYF): -4.6%  (-28.2% YTD) to $2.27/share
   • Announced that it will begin its Northeast rollout by mid-April 2021, through "Big Y" World Class Markets, out of Springfield Massachusetts. 
   • Announced that it will expand distribution of it Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers into 159 Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stores across 20 states as of May 2021.
7. The Very Good Food Company Inc. (VRYYF): -2.5% (-21.1% YTD) to $3.85/share
   • Announced that it has commissioned its first production line - by butchering its very first bean - at the newly renovated Rupert production facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia.
   • Announced a new partnership with Boulder, Colorado-based natural food and beverage brokerage, Green Spoon Sales to accelerate the plant-based food technology company's reach into grocery and retail across the U.S.
   • Announced that it has received it's first U.S. sales order from the California-based online vegan grocery store, GTFO It's Vegan; marking the first in its relationship with the sustainable grocer.

Average Sub-Total Performance: -10.1%  (-19.1% YTD)

1. Tattooed Chef Inc. (TTCF): -5.6% (-19.8%YTD) to $18.36/share
   • Announced it has expanded its pizza offering to 10 with the launch of 5 new plant-based pizzas.
2. Laird Superfood Inc. (LSF): +2.3% (-20.4% YTD) to $38.53/share
   • Announced the launch of its customized bundles of Laird Superfood products through their personalized Daily Ritual program.
3. Beyond Meat Inc. (BYND): +2.5% (-3.4% YTD) to $135.18/share
   • Announced plans to significantly expand product distribution to thousands of European retail locations this spring to supplement its current 122,000 retail and foodservice outlets in over 80 countries worldwide.
   • Announced several major product expansions within its existing footprint of approximately 28,000 retail outlets across the U.S.
4. Guru Organic Energy (GUROF): +3.1% (-17.1% YTD) to $13.00/share
   • No news of note.

Average Sub-Total Performance: +2.0% (-21.4%)

The Pure-Play Plant-Based Food Stocks Index has gone down, in total, by -8.1% so far in April and is down -11.5% YTD.  

*Please note: The 11 pure-play stocks in the munKNEE Pure-Play Plant-Based Food Stocks Index are just that, pure, and focused almost exclusively on the research, development, sales, distribution, and marketing of vegan food products and, as such, the Index reflects the true health of the plant-based food sector in the U.S. and Canada.