In fact, if you've ever had a Rebel Whopper at Hungry Jack's, you've eaten a v2food burger patty. So, how can ASX investors get their hands on a piece of v2food?

Unfortunately, I don't have good news…

How to buy v2food on the ASX?

I hate to break the bad news, but v2food likely won't be anyone's next investment. That's because it's a privately owned company.

That's not to say it doesn't have any investors. Competitive Foods Australia, which operates Hungry Jack's, is a v2food investor.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported v2food received investments from numerous Asian investment vehicles when it stretched its legs into Asia.

Today, The Australian reported v2food is valued at more than $500 million. It would be a particularly exciting day if an ASX inititial public offering (IPO) was announced for v2food.

The next best thing?

Luckily, there are numerous options for investors interested in companies like v2foods.

The most obvious is, of course, the NASDAQ-listed Beyond Meat Inc (NASDAQ: BYND). Beyond Meat reported its results for the 3 months ended 3 July yesterday.

Within them, it reported net revenue of US$149.4 million – 31.8% more than the prior corresponding period. However, it reported earnings before, interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) reached a loss of US$2.2 million.

The loss was due to higher overheads, transport costs, and depreciation and amortisation expenses.

ASX-listed plant-based protein makers

On the ASX there are a few options for those hoping to capitalise on plant-based meat. Those interested in buying shares of v2food might like the look of these ASX shares.

The first plant-based meat focused company is Wide Open Agriculture Ltd (ASX: WOA). The company isn't wholly plant based – it has interests in beef, lamb, and poultry.

However, it's working with the CSIRO and Curtin University to create plant-based proteins from lupin. It also produces the world's first carbon neutral oat milk, OatUP.

Another ASX-listed company is coming at the plant-based movement from a slightly different direction.

Pure Foods Tasmania Ltd (ASX: PFT) acquired its second plant-based cheese business in March.

The post Can you buy shares in plant-based meat company v2food on the ASX? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After reaching an intraday high of 72 cents in mid-afternoon trade, the Pure Foods share price lost its beans and has since retreated to 65 cents apiece, up 3.17%.

Let's see why the smoked salmon and trout producer is performing so well today.

Pure Foods' new distribution deal

Pure Foods advised its subsidiary Woodbridge Smokehouse has just signed a new distribution deal with international food distribution company Monde Nissin Australia. 

The distribution deal makes Woodbridge the sole supplier of trout and salmon products for Monde Nissin, which sells its foodstuffs to independent grocers in 45 countries.

Pure Foods reports that the deal is expected to increase Woodbridge's total revenue by 50% in FY22 against the previous year, and increase Pure Foods' total group revenue by 15%. 

The deal will include four new Woodbridge products the company recently brought to market. Monde Nissin is currently also in the process of expanding its market into Queensland, which has the potential to further increase revenue from the deal.

Management comments

Pure Foods managing director Michael Cooper said:

We are very excited to be further strengthening our relationship with Monde Nissin Australia. MNA has strong customer relationships covering the Australian FMCG network. The position of PFT as the sole supplier of Atlantic Salmon and Trout products to the Monde Nissan distribution network will provide significant growth opportunities for our Woodbridge Smokehouse brand.

The agreement with MNA further supports the large growth that WBSH has been able to deliver over recent quarters. With forecasted growth for WBSH of over 50% versus last year, it is great to see continued demand and increased availability of our premium brands nationally.

Pure Foods share price snapshot

The Pure Foods share price rose significantly in 2020 – up 220% for the past 12 months – but hasn't performed nearly as well this year-to-date, down 32%.

It has, however, been bolstered with its diversifying news of plant-based food brand acquisitions, such as its buyout of Cashew Creamery in March.

The post Pure Foods (ASX:PFT) share price surges on major revenue deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company stated in this morning's announcement its strategy is to grow into the plant-based market through acquisitions.

The Pure Foods share price is up after today's news. At the time of writing, shares are trading for 83 cents, up 4.4% marking an intraday high.

Let's look further into Pure Foods' plant-based approach.

Growing through acquisitions

Pure Foods announced it has acquired Cashew Creamery this morning.

The latest acquisition is another step for the company's growth into the plant-based food market, which it states is set to be worth $3.9 billion by 2024.

According to Pure Foods, the cashew-based ice cream brand has grown its year to date sales by more than 50% over the year ending on 8 March 2021.

The acquisition is estimated to cost Pure Foods around $420,000, with approximately 52% to be paid in cash and 48% in shares.

On 2 February, Pure Foods announced it had acquired Lauds Plant-Based Foods.

It stated that doing so would grow the brand significantly in the short term due to Pure Foods' extensive distribution channels. Additionally, it also said that it hoped its ownership of Lauds gives it access to its niche market network.

Pure Foods' CEO Michael Cooper commented on the company's plant-based focus when announcing its acquisition of Lauds:

We believe we can build an amazing business that can bring more and more plant-based food and beverages to Australia and distributed to our core export customers, principally in Hong Kong and Singapore.

While it's only early days for Pure Food's vegan approach, its future may be interesting.

Pure Food's share price snapshot  

The Pure Foods share price hasn't necessarily shown the same optimism in the plant-based food sector as the company. It is currently down by 20% year to date. Though, it is up 220% over the last 12 months.

The company has a market capitalisation of around $38 million, with approximately 53 million shares outstanding.

The post Is the future vegan? The Pure Foods (ASX:PFT) share price might say so appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While the Pure Foods share price has fallen over 11% during the past month, the company has rocketed up over 300% since its April 2020 initial public offering (IPO).

So what's sending the share price higher today?

Expansion of Woodbridge Smokehouse distribution

Earlier this morning, Pure Foods announced that food manufacturer Monde Nissin Australia (MNA) will be adding the Pure Foods brand Woodbridge Smokehouse (WBSH) to its national portfolio of products. 

The strategic partnership will see WBSH products available to an additional 1,400 independent stores across Victoria, New South Wales, ACT and Western Australia. The four products that will be initially offered by MNA are cold smoked salmon and ocean trout in 100g and 200g packs.

Based on the distribution expansion, Pure Foods expects WBSH revenue to increase by at least 50% during the 2021 financial year compared to the 2020 financial year. Pure Foods further expects revenue to increase across the company as a whole by 15% during financial year 2021 compared to financial year 2020. 

Speaking about the deal with MNA and looking ahead to future plans, Pure Foods Managing Director Michael Cooper commented:

With this extended distribution network PFT now services all major retail and majority of the IGA/ Independent channels in Australia. Along with our e-commerce platform, we are providing all Australian consumers access to our brands. We look forward to continuing to grow in FY21 as we develop and acquire 'Better for You' food & beverage brands.

A growth strategy to acquire new business and advance organically

In the company's latest investor presentation, Pure Foods cited the company's intention 'to acquire, grow and develop premium food businesses in Tasmania'. Achievements during the 2021 financial year included acquiring Daly Potato Co., launching the plant-based New Pastures product range as well as launching the company's premium Homestead Pate into 850 Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) stores nationally.  

Pure Foods has also shared an ambitious e-commerce strategy and expressed its interest to tap into the Singapore market. 

At the time of writing, the Pure Foods share price is sitting at 98 cents per share, giving the company a market capitalisation of $50.96 million.

The post Why the Pure Foods (ASX:PFT) share price popped today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What does Pure Foods do?

Pure Foods Tasmania was formed in 2015 and began trading on the ASX in April 2020.

The company's business strategy is to acquire and develop premium Tasmanian food businesses. Today Pure Foods has acquired two businesses, held through separate wholly owned subsidiaries. Tasmanian Pate, which supplies numerous big brand chains such as Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Aldi and Costco. And Woodbridge, which produces premium Tasmanian smoked salmon and trout.

Why is Pure Foods share price trouncing the ASX returns?

The Tasmanian based seafood and pate specialist has had a stellar 2 months, with the share price up 320% since 24 July.

Pure Food's share price really took off at the beginning of August following the release of its quarterly performance report on July 30. The company showed that it had managed to maintain robust export sales despite facing disruptions from COVID-19 and simmering trade frictions between Australia and China.

In a forward looking statement, Pure Foods forecast it would deliver full year revenue growth of 22% compared to FY19.

Shareholders were again rewarded on 6 August, when Pure Foods announced the launch of 3 of its premium pates into 850 Woolworths stores.

And the good news has kept on coming.

On 9 September, Pure Foods announced it was acquiring the Daly Potato Company for $1.8 million in a mixture of cash and shares. The company grows potatoes in Tasmania and distributes its potato salads to supermarket chains across Australia.

Pure Foods managing director Michael Cooper called it a great opportunity for the company's shareholders saying, it cemented the company strategy of "moving into new categories".

He added: "Meal solutions is a $1 billion market in Australia alone and we also see a large opportunity to support our Asian customers with unique 100% Tasmanian-based meal solutions."

At the current price of 96 cents per share, Pure Foods has a market cap of $46.8 million.

The post Pure Foods (ASX:PFT) share price lifts, bucking the falling market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

2 ASX shares with huge growth potential

1. Pure Foods Tasmania Ltd (ASX: PFT) 

Pure Foods Tasmania was formed in 2015 with the aim to acquire, grow and develop premium food businesses in Tasmania. The company has a market capitalisation of $42 million with two acquired businesses and a third acquisition in progress. 

The two already acquired businesses are Tasmania Pâté and Woodbridge. Tasmania Pâté is one of Australia's largest pâté businesses and a supplier to large retail outlets including Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), Aldi and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). Woodbridge is a boutique producer of ultra-premium Tasmania smoked salmon and trout with over 60% of its products exported to Asian markets and sold to high-end food service retailers throughout Australia. Finally, earlier this month, Pure Foods announced it is acquiring Daly Potato Company, a producer of premium potato salads which are sold to major supermarket chains. 

In FY20, the company delivered a 13% increase in revenue to $4.27 million, a net loss of $196,500 and $4.13 million in cash as at 30 June. The company plans to target the plant-based cheese market which is forecasted to reach $3.9 billion by 2024. It will launch new, Tasmanian plant-based dairy products into national, independent, direct-to-consumer and export retail channels. Furthermore, the company recently launched its new online store which aims to provide a hub for consumers around Australia looking for premium products from Tasmanian producers. The Pure Foods share price has surged 268% in year-to-date trading. Interestingly, some of the original shareholders of Bellamy's are also the founders of Pure Foods. Its experienced founders could see this ASX share continue to outperform.  

2. Wide Open Agriculture Ltd (ASX: WOA) 

Wide Open Agriculture offers regeneratively grown animal and plant-based products to Australian and Asian markets. This means that it grows plants and raises animals on farms that regenerate the land – bringing new life to soil health, plants, wildlife and waterways. Its products are therefore free of chemicals and pesticides, high quality and locally sourced with a short, transparent supply chain. The company currently has a market capitalisation of $89 million.

In FY20, the company generated $2.2 million in revenue and a loss of $1.85 million. Its products are currently only sold in Western Australia with limited marketing and a large opportunity to penetrate new domestic territories and launch globally. Wide Open Agriculture believes it has a first mover advantage in the production of lupin-based protein that can be used to create alternative meat, dairy, beverage and convenience food products. 

Moving forward, the company is looking to increase its revenue by penetrating into new domestic markets, expanding its product offering online and exporting to Asian markets. Furthermore, it aims to launch its own new products in lupin protein and build a manufacturing capability to produce oat milk. I believe the company is in its early days with a significant revenue opportunity at hand. The Wide Open Agriculture share price has increased more than 700% year to date but the company's ability to operationally execute and grow revenues could see its share price run continue well into the future.

The post Could these microcap ASX shares be the next A2 Milk (ASX:A2M)?  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By comparison, the All Ordinaries (INDEXASX: XAO) has gained 3.5% in August and 12% since April 30.

Pure Food's remarkable August share price surge comes despite Thursday's 12% fall, likely driven by some profit taking.

At the current share price of 64 cents per share, the company has a market cap of $36 million.

What does Pure Foods do?

Pure Foods Tasmania was formed in 2015 and began trading on the ASX in April 2020.

The company's business strategy is to acquire and develop premium Tasmanian food businesses. Today Pure Foods has acquired two businesses, held through separate wholly owned subsidiaries. Tasmanian Pate, which supplies numerous big brand chains such as Aldi, Woolworths and Costco. And Woodbridge, which produces premium Tasmanian smoked salmon and trout.

Why has the Pure Foods share price leaped 144% in August

Pure Foods shares began trending strongly higher on the first trading day of August. That followed on the release of its quarterly performance report for the quarter ending June 30, released to the market on 30 July.

The report noted that Pure Foods was on track to deliver annual revenue growth of 22% compared to the 2019 financial year. The company also noted that export sales remained firm, despite disruptions from COVID-19 and trade frictions with China. The company also announced the pending launch of its online store.

The Pure Foods share price really took off following an ASX announcement released on 6 August. That stated that Pure Foods was going to launch a new range of 3 Tasmanian Pates into 850 Woolworths stores across Australia. Those will be available from mid-October. Pure Foods estimated the addition of these 3 products would increase its sales by 35%.

Managing Director, Michael Cooper said:

This is a great credit to the team at PFT working with Woolworths to develop a first for the pate category. We believe these new products are unique and aligns with our strategy to produce great tasting premium food using 100% Tasmanian ingredients where possible.

Pure Foods' share price has gained 72% since the announcement on 6 August.

The post Why has the Pure Foods share price soared 144% in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

1. The S&P/ ASX 200(Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has opened 0.4% lower, as US markets drop for the fifth consecutive day.Overnight, the Dow Jones dropped 0.6%, the broader S&P 500 fell 0.9%, while the NASDAQ was crushed, falling 1.5%.

   Earnings from two of the US's largest banks dropped while electronics retailer Best Buy Co fell after warning of pricing pressure and sluggish demand this year. It didn't help that Switzerland's central bank scrapped its minimum exchange rate on Swiss francs, which saw the currency soar more than 14% against the US dollar the Euro. That seems to have freaked investors out.

   The Australian dollar is up slightly, buying 82.2 US cents.

2. Coal producer Cockatoo Coal Limited (ASX: COK) could be in trouble after a proposed financing deal to help fund the expansion of its Bowen Basin project is reportedly in doubt.That has more ramifications, with the Wiggins Island coal export terminal (WICET), owned by some of Australia's biggest coal producers already on unsteady ground. Bandanna Energy, one of the 8 miners involved in WICET collapsed in September last year.

   Shares in Cockatoo Coal have been suspended for two months, pending its "funding and financial position". Oh Oh.

3. Online payments company eWay has released data that showed Australians spent a whopping $2.95 billion online in the past two months. That's up around 22%, compared to the previous year, and well ahead of expectations of around 3-4%.
   eWay serves more than 17,000 Australian online stores and processes an estimated 25% of all local online purchases.
   That should bode well for retailers, particularly those with growing online sales, such as consumer electronics retailers JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), Dick Smith Holdings Ltd (ASX: DSH).
4. Tweet of the Day
   

   Has Twitter finally cracked how to wring more money from its users? Its latest plans: https://t.co/XPIleHmEMe $TWTR pic.twitter.com/7H7tD01nVm

   — The Motley Fool (@themotleyfool) January 15, 2015

    

5. Stock of the Day– brought to you by Tim McArthur – Transurban Group (ASX: TCL). The toll-road owner just announced a 37% increase in its share of revenues from toll roads and has a solid outlook. Take to take a peek? You can read more here.

The post 5 things you need to know about the Australian sharemarket today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As you can see from the chart below, companies that rely on buoyant demand for thermal coal have been rightly punished by the market over the last 12 months.

Asides from Bandanna Energy, the chart above depicts the share price history of a variety of coal-exposed ASX companies. Let's take a look at each of them.

New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) is perhaps the most conservatively run coal company in Australia, with piles of cash and the expertise of majority shareholder Washington H Soul Pattinson Limited (ASX: SOL) to draw on. It is focussed on cost reduction and is sensibly not expanding its operations in the current climate.

Whitehaven Coal Limited (ASX: WHC) is perhaps the least conservatively run coal company in Australia, with net debt of over $650 million and an expansion program timed perfectly to coincide with falling prices. Furthermore, the company's Maules Creek project has drawn the ire (and opposition) of farmers, activists and others who consider the project too marginal to justify the destruction of endangered habitat. The company is also the target of the divestment movement, but counts Sydney University as a shareholder, despite the fact that many staff and students oppose the investment.

Delta SBD Limited (ASX: DSB) is an indebted mining services company focussed on coal mining and it wins my prize for being the most obvious value trap of the past year. Its enormous share price decline over the last year was partly due to the fact that one of its important contracts was with Whitehaven Coal, as well as the industry-wide reduction in mining capital expenditure and the company's uncomfortable levels of debt.

Cockatoo Coal Limited (ASX: COK) is a small Australian coal miner hoping to expand its operations – using debt, of course, in order "to take
advantage of the expected upswing in the [metallurgical] coal demand and price." While metallurgical coal is higher value than thermal coal, the market is sensitive to Chinese demand for steel, and the spot price is sitting near four-year lows. I prefer not to speculate on commodity price movements, although I'm sure shareholders are pleased that the company "expects" improved prices.

In any event I expect each of these companies to perform poorly in the coming years. Thermal coal is an 18th-century technology that is losing relevance this century. Indeed, China has implemented new coal quality standards that the Bureau of Resource Economics expects will affect over 20 million tonnes of Australian export coal.

Furthermore, Tim Buckley from the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis argues that greater renewable energy penetration, the re-initiation of suspended nuclear programs, less energy-intensive growth and increased efficiency at existing coal power plants support "a forecast made in mid 2013 by Bernstein Research that from a position as the world's largest importer of thermal coal in 2013… China could return to being an opportunistic net exporter of thermal coal this decade." Even if Chinese demand for coal demand stays stronger for longer than expected, coal-exposed companies are looking like a poor investment in the long run.

The post Another one bites the dust: Are coal investors facing trouble? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Mincor Resources NL (ASX: MCR)

Despite the company's share price falling from $5.19 a share in 2007 to $0.65 cents today, I believe this is one of better managed small-caps. The fall in the share price has been a direct result of the fall in the nickel price, which is the primary commodity the business mines.

So why do I believe this is one of the best managed small-cap miners?

• Market capitalisation of $120 million.
• Regular and long term dividend payer despite tough operating conditions
• Total dividends paid to date of $128 million
• Once-only equity raising of $5 million
• No debt and cash of $57 million
• Total profit to date of $212 million

The above set of figures confirms that management cares for and looks after shareholders like boards should but rarely do. The missing ingredient to date has been an upswing in the depressed price of nickel. The good news is that nickel is showing signs of recovery, if this recent uptrend continues this would be a stock to have in your portfolio.

Cockatoo Coal Limited  (ASX: COK)

Investors in the company have had a tough time since 2011 when a major shareholder's (SK Networks) deal to fund the business fell through. This left the business on the brink of collapse despite having a significant coal resource.

The coal price remains at historically low levels and the outlook for the commodity is mixed amongst brokers. Coal is not the environmentally preferred energy option, but it is one of the few cost effective energy solutions that exist to power the growing population. If no alternative energy options eventuate than the coal price will go up.

The company's flagship Baralaba coal mine appears to be undervalued by investors when compared to competitors' mines. The company is in the process of expanding production from 0.75 million tonnes per annum to 3.5 million tonnes per annum. This significant increase in production will lower the overall cost of production and any upswing in coal prices could result in significant appreciation in the company's dwindling share price.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

I remain a believer in the merits of uranium energy. Whether the industry can overcome the fear and misunderstandings of the general public remains a key challenge to the world taking up this cost effective and environmentally friendly energy alternative.

The Paladin share price has shown some recent signs of a rally, however any real appreciation in share price will only occur if the uranium spot price finally begins to rise to viable levels for uranium explorers and producers.

The Japan and China outlook is positive with a number of reactors coming back on-line and more new reactors planned than ever before. The fears of the Fukushima disaster are finally starting to disappear which was the catalyst for the uranium spot price falling so low. At current levels no uranium mines would be able to sustain operations, therefore I expect the spot price to steadily climb for the next few years.

If the uranium spot price does climb higher, Paladin shareholders would be in the best position to benefit.

Foolish takeaway

Many investors stay away from mining stocks due to the volatility in the underlying commodity prices. However volatility is what provides investors with an opportunity to make strong returns over and above what can be achieved through most other investments. The above three stocks are not without further risks, however much of the likely downside has taken place and for that reason this Foolish investor has them all on his watchlist.

The post 3 cheap mining stocks with significant upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.