Skin-on vegan chicken wings

© THIS/BrewDog

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

THIS Partners With BrewDog for “Europe’s First” Skin-On Vegan Chicken Wings

THIS, a UK-based producer of hyper-realistic meat alternatives, has launched what are claimed to be Europe’s first skin-on vegan chicken wings in partnership with brewery and pub chain BrewDog. The wings are made from soy and pea protein, combined with THIS’ olive oil-based fat technology. They are coated with a crispy seaweed-based “skin”, emulating the taste and texture of conventional chicken wings for an “unparalleled sensory experience”. While most chicken alternatives mimic white meat, THIS claims that the product is the first product to replicate darker cuts such as wings and thighs, which offer a different texture. The wings have been developed following two years of R&D, and feature three patent-pending technologies. 50% plant-based menu The wings are available as a limited-edition Veganuary menu option …

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LikeMeat Chick'n/ Chicken Wings

©LIVEKINDLY.co

Society

Sales of Plant-Based Wings Grow as Americans Expected to Consume 160M Vegan Wings for Super Bowl

A new report by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) shows that an estimated ten million Americans will consume about 160 million plant-based wings during this year’s Super Bowl. In addition, brands like Blackbird Foods report soaring demand for new vegan wing products as the segment continues to undergo expansion and innovation. Every year, Americans consume an enormous amount of party foods, including pizza, nachos and dips, during football’s biggest night. Perhaps the most popular dish of all is chicken wings – about 1.4 billion wings are eaten annually during the game.  But plant-based wings are steadily gaining ground as more Americans turn to a growing range of vegan wing options.  To estimate vegan wings’ popularity, CIWF estimated that roughly 6% of the U.S. population consider …

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©Vegan Wangs

Gastronomy & Food Service

‘Vegan Wangs’ Opens as First Vegan Chicken Wing Restaurant in Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, popularly known as America’s “Chicken Wing Capital” is now home to its first all-vegan wing eatery. Vegan Wangs, created by entrepreneur N’namdi Arinze, opened in the city last summer with a chef-crafted menu of crowd-pleasing favorites, including six flavors of plant-based wings.  Currently operating as a takeout and delivery service, Vegan Wangs focuses on offering health-forward ingredients and sides, such as non-GMO, wheat protein-based wings and salads with coconut-based feta. The restaurant also makes a gluten-free wing option with fried oyster mushrooms. Its menu includes a diverse selection of plant-based nuggets, Chick’n Sandwiches and wings in six flavors: Classic Buffalo, Lemon Pepper, Mango Habenero, Thai Sweet Chili, BBQ and more.  Growth plans Customers can currently order through its website, as well as delivery …

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Blackbird Vegan Korean BBQ Wings

©Blackbird Foods

Products & Launches

Blackbird Foods Launches ‘Naturally Boneless’ Crispy Plant-Based WINGS

Plant-based startup Blackbird Foods announces it is launching a new line of WINGS to pair with the brand’s popular artisan pizzas. Made with its signature seitan, a limited batch will launch on the brand’s website Oct. 11th before rolling out in retailers at the end of 2022.  According to Blackbird, its WINGS actually look and taste like traditional wings with a crispy outside and tender inside. Blackbird uses its signature method of producing seitan, a wheat-based protein, to create the product before hand-battering and coating each one in sauce.  WINGS, available in Buffalo and Korean BBQ flavors, are sold frozen in 10oz bags with a sauce packet – customers can bake or air-fry the wings until crispy and coat them in sauce. Like all of …

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Everything Legendary Boneless Wyngz

©Everything Legendary

Products & Launches

Everything Legendary Expands Plant-Based Meat Line with Dragon Wyngz

Plant-based burger brand Everything Legendary has expanded its range with Dragon Wyngz, which recently launched at Sprouts Farmers Markets across the US.  Made to offer a new twist on traditional chicken nuggets, the brand’s Wyngz are available in three flavors including spicy Scorchin’ Bites. Each variety offers at least 11 g of plant protein, while being soy-free, non-GMO, and made with no artificial ingredients.  According to Legendary, the new Wyngz perfectly complement its existing line of best-selling gourmet burgers and grounds.   Swift rise Launched by Duane Cheers, Danita Claytor and Chef Jumoke Jackson, Everything Legendary first rose to fame after securing an investment deal with Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban in 2021. Since then, the brand has significantly expanded its retail presence, and can be …

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Memphis Vegan BBQ

©Imagine Vegan Cafe

Society

How Memphis, the “Pork BBQ Capital of the World”, is Reinventing Itself Through Vegan Southern Cuisine

The city of Memphis, TN, famous for its status as a BBQ capital and haven of hot wings, is undergoing an unexpected transformation into a new destination for plant-based US Southern cuisine, reports National Geographic.  Among new noteworthy restaurants, Plant Based Heat opened in June 2021 to offer a fully meatless take on the city’s beloved tradition of spicy wings. Founded by Ralph ‘RJ Groove’ Johnson, Plant Based Heat offers diners vegan wings (“vings”) made from soy and pea protein smothered in a variety of signature sauces.  According to Johnson, a former branch owner of popular local chain Crumpy’s Wings, he created his concept to offer Memphis residents both excellent food and a healtful departure from the city’s meat-heavy cuisine. “I wanted to bring healthier food …

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Gardein Ultimate Chicken Wings

©Gardein

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Gardein’s Ultimate Plant-Based Line Adding BBQ Wings, Spicy Chicken and More

Plant-based foods brand Gardein, a Conagra-owned company, announces it is expanding its Ultimate Plant-Based line with seven new food products, including bratwurst, buffalo wings and spicy chick’n fillets. Launching in June, the collection will be available in grocery stores, mass retailers and through e-commerce. The upcoming lineup provides a wide variety of flavors and can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch or dinner, Gardein says. The new arrivals include:  Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Wings – Buffalo and BBQ style Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Spicy Fillets Ultimate Plant-Based Saus’ge Links – Bratwurst and Spicy Italian Ultimate Plant-Based Breakfast Saus’ge – Original and Spicy patties “Committed to delicious food” The Ultimate Plant-Based line first debuted in 2020 with the Ultimate Plant-Based Burger, followed by the release of Ultimate chicken tenders, …

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Vegan chicken wings Sundial Foods

©Sundial Foods

Products & Launches

Sundial Foods Announces Foodservice Debut for Plant-Based Chicken with Skin and Bone

Sundial Foods, the vegan chicken company creating plant-based chicken wings with realistic skin, has announced its first foodservice partnerships. The move comes as part of a gradual rollout throughout 2022, beginning in the Bay Area and New York. The soft launch will see the innovative chicken wings, formed around a small bamboo stick, available at Orchard Grocer & Deli on New York’s Lower East Side, as well as multiple locations in San Francisoco’s Foghorn Taproom. Additional restaurant partners are slated to be announced over the spring and summer.  Founded by Jessica Schwabach and Siwen Deng, who met while working on the University of California Berkeley’s Alternative Meats Program, Sundial spent a year developing prototypes in a basement kitchen before progressing through Nestle’s R&D Accelerator in …

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LikeMeat Plant-Based Chicken LikeWings

©Another Wing/ LikeMeat

Food & Beverage

DJ Khaled’s “Another Wing” Restaurant Now Serving LikeMeat’s Vegan Chicken Wings

Another Wing, a global restaurant chain owned by blockbuster hip-hop artist and record exec DJ Khaled, is adding vegan LikeWings to its menu. Another Wing operates as a ghost kitchen and delivery service in 150 cities across the US, UK, Canada, France, and UAE. LikeMeat, a LIVEKINDLY Collective brand, says the collaboration is the vegan brand’s first partnership based on ghost kitchens, which can be accessed through all major delivery apps. Another Wing’s new plant-based wings can be ordered in quantities from 6-20 wings and come in signature flavors such as Mogul Bourbon BBQ, You Loyal! Lemon Pepper and They Don’t Want You To Win Truffalo. (All of which reference Khaled’s hit songs and public persona.)  To celebrate the LikeWings debut, on April 20 Another …

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vegan chicken wing with a bone

© Biff's

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Biff’s Launches Vegan Street Food Range Into Retail Including Chick*n Wing on the Bone

UK-based vegan street food brand Biff’s is launching six products, including what it claims is the world’s first vegan chick*n wing on the bone, at Waitrose supermarkets. The Crispy Fried Jackfruit Wingz contain a sugarcane spear to replicate the bone in a conventional chicken wing. The product was first created for Biff’s original street food stall, Biff’s Jack Shack, in 2017. Also launching at Waitrose are five other Biff’s products — Crispy Fried Jackfruit Burgers, Smoky Chilli Cheeze Waffle Fries, Banging Bhaji Loaded Fries, Plant Based Burger Sauce, and Maple-Lime Chipotle BBQ Sauce. The Wingz and Burgers are made up of at least 50% jackfruit, with natural seasonings such as mushrooms, carrots, herbs, and spices. Expansion Biff’s has seen rapid expansion since its launch as …

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LikeMeat Chick'n/ Chicken Wings

©LIVEKINDLY.co

Products & Launches

LikeMeat’s Like Chick’n Wings Launch in Over 3,600 US Walmart Stores

Germany’s LikeMeat announces its plant-based Like Chick’n Wings are now available at US Walmart locations nationwide. Acquired by the LIVEKINDLY Collective, the brand debuts its wings at the world’s largest retailer just ahead of the Superbowl – the primetime football event where Americans traditionally consume massive quantities of party food and chicken wings.  LikeMeat’s vegan Chick’n Wings feature a crispy coating and boneless, meaty texture that offer the same satisfaction as conventional wings, the company says. Sold in one-pound Family Packs in Walmart’s freezer aisle, the gluten-free and non-GMO wings also include a pouch of vegan buffalo sauce for tossing and dipping.  The future of chicken wings Seeking to offer an alternative viewpoint on Superbowl chicken wings consumption, Compassion in World Farming reported last week …

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Sundial Foods

©Sundial Foods

Investments & Finance

Nestlé Leads $4M Investment in California’s Sundial Foods for Vegan Chicken with Skin and Bone

Global food conglomerate Nestlé has invested in Sundial Foods, a Californian plant-based meats company. Specializing in vegan chicken wings which include skin, muscle, and bone, Sundial has completed a $4 million seed round led by Nestlé.  After participating in the Nestlé R&D Accelerator in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2020, Sundial co-branded a product with Nestlé’s plant-based food brand Garden Gourmet and ran a successful test launch in more than 40 retail outlets across Switzerland. Sundial’s proprietary technology allows for the simulation of a whole cut of meat, with a fibrous meat texture, including muscle, and plant-based skin and bone. Sundial expects its chicken wings to be available in US restaurants in spring 2022, with the company planning to use the new funding to expand its team …

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