# Plant-Based Grated Cheese Alternatives New Roots Le Gratiné Works Well on Pizza, Pasta and More By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-06-03 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-roots-le-gratin References: [vegconomist](https://vegconomist.com/cheese-alternatives/swiss-vegan-creamery-new-root-launches-lupine-based-grated-cheese-alternative/)  New Roots Le Gratiné has been added to the Switzerland-based brand's portfolio of [plant-based cheese alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boursin-plantbased) that takes aim at hot dish applications to work well for elevating the taste and nutrition of any meal. The product features a sweet lupine-based recipe that gives the cheese alternative a protein-rich composition alongside additional nutritional benefits. The base is then prepared using [traditional cheese-making fermentation processes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baking-bert) and techniques to achieve a rich taste and texture profile that will work well on [pizzas, pastas, tacos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oat-milk-taco-blend-seasoned-shreds), gratins and more. Co-Founder Freddy Hunziker commented on the New Roots Le Gratiné saying, "If we want a food system that is better for animals, people, farmers and the climate, we have to start with the soil. Lupins give us a way to create high-quality plant-based food while supporting agricultural diversity here in Switzerland and nearby regions.” Image Credit: New Roots, Le Gratiné © SamHill ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 36% | Freshness: 77% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Fermentation-forward Plant Cheeses:** By applying traditional cheese-making fermentation techniques to plant bases, new products can replicate dairy-like flavors and textures, enabling substitutes that compete directly with conventional cheeses in taste-sensitive applications. - **Lupin Protein Utilization:** The adoption of lupin as a sweet, protein-rich base introduces an alternative crop that can reshape ingredient sourcing and nutrition profiles for plant-based products across regions with suitable agroecology. - **Hot-dish Focused Vegan Ingredients:** Formulations optimized for melting, browning and gratinée performance create opportunities for plant-based ingredients to displace dairy in pizzas, pastas and baked dishes where functional behavior is critical. ### Where This Applies - **Dairy Alternative Manufacturing:** Manufacturers able to integrate fermentation expertise with novel plant proteins may redefine product portfolios and pricing strategies to capture mainstream dairy consumers. - **Agritech and Crop Diversification:** Investment in lupin breeding, processing and regional supply chains could alter crop rotations and value capture for farmers while supporting sustainable agriculture claims. - **Foodservice and Restaurant Supply:** Procurement of heat-stable, flavor-forward plant cheese alternatives offers foodservice operators the potential to reformulate menus and supply chains around vegan-friendly, chef-oriented ingredients. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Future-Facing Plant Protein Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yellow-sunshine-products.md) - [Mini Plant-Based Mozzarella Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-mozzarella.md) - [Plant-Based Burrata Meal Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-burrata.md) - [Mycelium-Based Deli Meats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-deli-meats.md) - [Plant-Based Blue Cheese Crumbles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bleu-crumbles.md) - [Plant-Powered Spreadable Crèmes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brie-creme.md) - [Plant-Based Burrata Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burrella.md) - [Plant-Based Mature Cheddar Cheeses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supreme-cheddarton.md) - [Plant-Based Pizzeria Cheeses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panago-pizza.md)