Willicroft Announces Closure After Six Years of Operations

Amsterdam-based plant-based cheese company Willicroft has announced its closure after six years of operations, citing difficulties in meeting fundraising targets in 2024. Founded by Brad Vanstone in 2018, Willicroft aimed to create sustainable alternatives to dairy inspired by traditional cheese-making techniques but could not achieve the financial viability required to continue its operations. Vanstone described the decision to sell the company as a difficult one in a public statement on Linkedin, reflecting on the company's contributions to the plant-based sector while acknowledging the challenges it faced in scaling.

Initially starting as a small operation in Vanstone's kitchen in Amsterdam, Willicroft grew to partner with major Dutch supermarkets and launch a range of plant-based cheeses. Despite being certified as a B Corp and achieving high scores in its category, the company struggled to compete with the established dairy industry. Vanstone highlighted the broader challenges in the plant-based food industry, expressing gratitude to the company's supporters and acknowledging the experience as one he will never forget, filled with energy to build upon in the future.