MingsBings @ Mr. Tofu Store

© Mr. Tofu

Company News

MingBings Launches Plant-Based Pockets into Mexico via Retail Chain Mr. Tofu

Plant-based frozen food brand MingsBings announces it has launched in Mexico, marking the brand’s first international expansion. MingBings will now be available at Mr. Tofu, Mexico’s leading plant-based retail chain, both in-store and online.  Founded by Iron Chef Ming Tsai, MingBings offer a modern Asian take on ancient Chinese “bings” (flatbreads) in familiar flavors like Cheeseburger, Sausage and Peppers, Buffalo Cauliflower and Fiesta. The fully gluten-free and vegan pockets are currently offered in over 3,500 US grocery stores, including Sprouts, Wegmans, select Targets and Whole Foods. The brand can also be found at major concession locations such as Fenway Park and Hard Rock Stadium, as well as colleges, universities and prep schools.  In October, MingsBings partnered with JUST Egg to debut new breakfast pockets featuring …

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Orange Chicken

©Panda Express

Gastronomy & Food Service

Panda Express Launches Beyond Orange Chicken at All US Locations

Panda Express, the largest Asian fast-casual chain in the US, announces it is launching Beyond The Original Orange Chicken™ at all 2,300 US locations. Available for a limited time, the launch follows a highly successful regional launch in 2021, and makes Panda the first national Asian dining concept to offer Beyond Meat across its restaurants.  Co-developed with Beyond Meat, the new Orange Chicken features plant protein wok-tossed in Panda’s signature sweet, spicy and tangy orange sauce. According to Panda, the product offers fans all the classic crunchy texture and flavor of the chain’s beloved Original Orange Chicken.  “Our team has been overjoyed by the undeniable excitement and incredible demand generated when we first introduced Beyond The Original Orange Chicken last summer as an innovative twist …

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OmniPork Vietnamese Dish

©OmniFoods/ Madame Vo

Gastronomy & Food Service

OmniFoods and NYC Chefs Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with New OmniPork Dishes

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month, plant-based foods brand OmniFoods is joining with chefs across NYC to serve exclusive OmniPork dishes. Available from May 16-31, several AAPI restaurants will participate in the event, with a portion of sales going to benefit the Asian American senior community.  Based in Hong Kong, OmniFoods launched OmniPork in the US in 2021 as a realistic alternative to traditional pork. Sold in strips, ground pork and luncheon meat varieties, OmniPork will now be featured in these NYC restaurants for a limited time:  Noreetuh: Chinese-American Chef Chung Chow, who previously for Thomas Keller’s Bouchon and Per Se, has created Chow Noodles using OmniPork Strips, black beans and Szechuan chili. May Kaidee: Bangkok-born Chef May Kaidee will serve a …

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Satvinder Bains, Home Chef and Founder of Plant Alternative

©Plant Alternative

Interviews

Plant Alternative: “Our Products Make Choosing Plant-Based Alternatives Easier; Because Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference”

Plant Alternative is absolutely unique in its USP: veganised versions of the UK’s favourite Indian ready meals, products that stand far out from other ready meals on the market due to their restaurant quality and authentic flavours, as well as their vegan “Shicken” meat which is quite unlike others on the market. The London-based family brand has seen huge success since catching the attention of Matthew Glover just last year and has already bagged its first retail partnership with CostCo. We caught up with founder Satvinder Bains to find out about the background to the product range and her passion for bringing authentic Indian flavours vegan-friendly dishes.  What is the background behind Plant Alternative/Shicken?  Having grown up as a vegetarian in Nottingham with a North …

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Nisha Menon Nikasu, founder Jack & Chill

Nisha Menon Nikasu, founder Jack & Chill

Interviews

Jack & Chill: “Jackfruit’s Natural Capability to Mimic the Texture of Meat is Absolutely Incredible!”

With the exponential growth of the alt meat market globally, a wealth of plant-based ingredients – from algae to pea and everything in between – are coming under the spotlight for their functionality and sustainability. However, more and more producers are now turning to one ingredient previously overlooked until recent times: the humble jackfruit. One such brand is newcomer Jack & Chill, which sources all its jackfruit from the local farms and households of Kerala, India, where the company has its roots. We spoke to Nisha Menon of Nikasu Foods UK about the new brand, what sets it apart and its plans for the rest of 2022. How was the Jack & Chill brand born? JACK & CHILL was born in 2019 with a mission …

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wagamama

©wagamama

Gastronomy & Food Service

Wagamama Confirms 50% of Menu Will Be Plant-Based By October

UK restaurant chain wagamama this week launches its ‘Plant Pledge’ a campaign to encourage guests to eat more plant-based dishes to help tackle the climate emergency, in response to the UN’s latest environmental report. In 2020, wagamama became the first major restaurant chain to offer vegan tuna, offering a product created with watermelon. For Veganuary this year the chain launched a range of new vegan menu options and stated its aim to make half its main menu options meatless by the end of 2021. Now, Global Executive Chef Steve Mangleshot and his team have confirmed that from 6th October, 50% of the menu will be officially plant-based. From this week wagamama is urging guests to pledge a ‘small choice for big change’, whether that’s trialling …

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itsu

© itsu ltd

Products & Launches

Itsu Launches Vegan Protein Cup Noodles Into Sainsbury’s

Itsu, an Asian-inspired healthy eating brand, has launched a new line of vegan protein noodle dishes that will be available at Sainsbury’s in the UK and on Amazon from this month. The soya bean noodles, with a handmade miso-based broth produced in Japan, offer over 20 grams of protein per serving and are available in three Asian flavours. The three flavours available are: Super Sesame: a vegan miso-based broth with a blend of nutty sesame seeds, herbs and spices Crackin’ Curry: a miso-based vegan broth with a blend of Japanese curry spices. Mega Miso: a vegan miso-based broth with a blend of spices and a hint of chilli. The handmade miso-based broth complements itsu’s existing range of popular noodle dishes and is made by Yoshihiro, …

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Panda Express Logo

© Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.

Company News

Panda Express Yields to Animal Rights Groups with Vegan Options

Panda Express has announced that by the end of this month, it will offer vegan options for the first time across all 2000+ global locations. The largest Asian Cuisine restaurant chain in the US has options on the menu that appear to be vegetarian or vegan, but in fact, contain chicken broth. Animal Outreach and PETA discovered this, and separately launched successful campaigns against the chain.

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Business development to success and growing growth concept, Businessman pointing line dot graph corporate future growth plan

© Chaiyawat - stock.adobe.com

Market & Trends

Market Report: Annual Growth Rate of Coconut Milk to Reach 7.3% by 2027

According to the recent market research report “Coconut Milk Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027”, available from online provider MRRSE, the market for coconut milk will grow by about 7.3 percent annually over the next 10 years. The report distinguishes between conventional and organic coconut milk. The market analysis also reveals reasons for the forecast growth, such as the growing number of lactose intolerant people and the growing popularity of Asian and vegan food. According to the report, organic coconut milk will achieve stronger market growth than conventional products. Organic coconut milk sales are expected to increase by 8.2% in the forecast period and contribute almost 30% to total sales by the end of 2027. The market for organic coconut milk is estimated …

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