As reported by Reuters, the success of California-based Beyond Meat has prompted a growing number of companies to enter the plant-based meat alternative market. With the ever-increasing demand from consumers to reduce their meat consumption due to health concerns, animal welfare, and environmental issues, these companies hope to carve out a space for their products in the competitive vegan meat aisle.
Listed below are seven alternative meat manufacturers that provide plant-based products in US grocery stores. With several companies planning to roll out new meat alternatives by the end of the year.
Beyond Meat offers burgers, sausages, ground meat and crumbles made from peas, brown rice, sunflower seeds, and mung beans. The company’s products are sold in several large chains, including Amazon, Whole Foods, Kroger Co, and Albertsons Companies Inc. Its products are also available at more than 53,000 retailers and restaurants worldwide.
Impossible Foods makes a “bleeding” burger made from soy protein. Previously, the patty was available only in fast-food chains and restaurants that include Burger King, FatBurger, Hard Rock Cafe, Little Caesars, Qdoba, Red Robin, Umami Burger, and White Castle. As we reported earlier this month, Impossible Foods received approval by the Food and Drug Administration to sell its burger in grocery stores. It plans to sell in select supermarkets in September but declined to provide details on its retail launch.
Nestle SA is the largest packaged food group in the world and has launched a pea-based veggie patty called the Awesome Burger. It will be released under its plant-based brand, Sweet Earth, in supermarkets and restaurants in September or October. The company is currently selling the Awesome Burger at McDonald’s restaurants in Germany.
Maple Leaf Foods Inc, the Canadian packaged meat producer, offers plant-based burgers and ground meat under its Lightlife brand. It also produces plant-based sausages, burgers, deli slices, meatloaf and roasts under its Field Roast brand. The products are available at thousands of US stores, including Whole Foods, Albertsons and Wegmans.
Perdue Foods, a chicken, turkey, and pork processing company in the US, has launched frozen chicken nuggets mixed with cauliflower, chickpeas and other plant protein. It is considering launching entirely plant-based products in the future.
Smithfield Foods Inc., the meat-processing company, owned by China’s WH Group Ltd, has launched a line of soy-based burgers, meatballs, sausages, and ground meat under their Pure Farmland brand. The products will be available at Kroger Co, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Target in mid-September.
The Meatless Farm Co, the UK-based meat alternatives company, has launched its sausages, burgers and ground meat made of pea, rice and soy protein in an exclusive deal with Whole Foods in the US. Meatless Farm’s chief executive, Robert Woodall, told Reuters the company looks to manufacture in the US with plans to launch at other retailers next year.
