UK-headquartered Quorn Foods has withdrawn from retail in the Netherlands and Belgium, the company confirms today.
The mycoprotein products have not been listed in Dutch and Belgian supermarkets since February, though they will remain in foodservice channels. The global brand states that the difficult decision was made following losses in distribution as well as challenging market conditions such as inflation and the rising cost of living crisis universally affecting the consumer and competitors across the board.
“We will continue to build category growth plans with all foodservice and QSR customers”
A statement sent to vegconomist reads as follows. “Following significant retail distribution losses, along with high inflation and a consumer cost of living crisis, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw our Quorn chilled range from retail customers in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“The Quorn Foodservice business in Benelux continues to grow and is strategically important to the business. We will continue to build category growth plans with all foodservice and QSR customers, existing and new, and will continue to invest in trade marketing and in-market resources to build long-term brand relevance and growth.”
Future focus on foodservice
In November 2023, the CEO of Quorn’s parent company Monde Nissim, Henry Soesanto, stated he was to provide financial support for Quorn via family business MNSG Holdings, and that he would agree to backing Quorn with his family’s fortune for the next decade, confident that growth will return. Soesanto added at the time that his company was optimistic about Quorn’s foodservice business as well as the new food ingredients segment, Marlow Foods, launched in April last year.
In interview with vegconomist this Veganuary, Quorn CEO Marco Bertacca reiterated the same sentiment as well as his confidence for category regrowth.
“Now is the time to start talking about the solutions we can achieve together as an industry, rather than focusing on the challenges. Yes, the category, like many others, has seen a slow-down, but we must not forget that this comes against the backdrop of many consecutive years of incredible growth,” he said.
“The reasons people buy meat-free are still there and as prevalent as ever. Consumers are still passionate about their health, the planet, and animal welfare. This is why we believe the category will return to growth again, as economic pressures ease and the market continues to restabilise. The most important thing is what we do next, as a brand and an industry.”
He added, “I believe fungi and fermentation are some of the key solutions to many of the health and sustainability issues humanity is facing, and one of the best ways we can make a positive impact is together.”
