CATEGORY INSIGHTS: PLANT BASED
Plant Based Product Development Sharpens and Expands
Flexitarian movement shows signs of becoming a foundational aspect of plant based trends
A Konscious Effort in Plant-Based Raw Seafood
Interview with Yves Potvin, owner and CEO of Konscious Foods, Inc.
The great paradigm shift in plant-based happened when product makers stopped thinking of vegetarian offerings in terms of “substitutes” – think bean “burgers” and Portobello mushroom “steaks”—and started to create items meant to replicate the actual flavors and textures of meat.
“When it comes to developing a product, I take a holistic view on how to collect and connect different ingredients to make a delicious and nutritious option for consumers,” said Yves Potvin, owner and CEO of Konscious Foods, Inc. “It’s a combination of art and science; ingredient companies provide the science of different protein sources, but it’s art in how you put it together for consumers."
This was appalling to vegetarians in the beginning – and still is to a fringe contingent. But it catalyzed the now overwhelming flexitarian movement that allowed meat-eaters to participate in reducing the impact of a meat-based protein economy without sacrificing their preferences for the flavors and textures of beef, chicken, seafood, and bacon. One of the foremost pioneers of plant-based mimics of animal proteins is Yves Potvin. Potvin created a true soy-based hot dog analog in the 1980s. From there, his work in plant-based meat analogs expanded into analogs of deli slices and ultimately, his founding of Garden Protein International—a.k.a. Gardein—in 2003. There, he created a comprehensive line of game-changing analogs of beef, chicken, sausage, crab, and fish.
Wesson Plant Butters
The new butters contain zero cholesterol and are dairy- and preservative-free
Wesson's made-in-Memphis, plant-based cooking oil has been a staple in American pantries for 124 years. For the first time, health-conscious consumers will discover Wesson in the refrigerated aisle. Wesson Plant Butter (Original) and Plant Butter (with Olive Oil) have officially made its debut at select retailers in northeastern US. The flavor had 91% of blind taste testers indicating they'd likely purchase the new plant butter, according to the company. The new product launch builds on the momentum of the recent Wesson brand refresh completed by Richardson International Ltd. that acquired the brand in 2019.
NotCo NotChicken™ Dino Nuggets
The AI-powered plant-based startup continues aggressive expansion of NotChicken™ portfolio
NotCo, a food tech company with a first-of-its-kind patented AI technology named Giuseppe, announced the launch of NotChicken™ Dino Nuggets. These crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside dinosaur-shaped, plant-based nuggets are available at Meijer stores throughout the Midwest and online through Thrive Market at the end of October, with additional retailers to follow.
Top Trends Among Plant Based Consumers
Plant based shopper insights study highlights opportunities for brands and retailers
The Acosta Group released the results of its plant-based study with its proprietary Shopper Community, which looks at the state of active, light and non-lant-based users, providing brands and retailers valuable information to drive growth in-store and online.
Over the past four years, plant-based product sales have seen strong growth, reaching record sales of $8B in 2022 (SPINS). While 88% of active users have a moderate to high commitment to continue their plant-based purchases, one-third of shoppers say they would like to see more plant-based offerings at stores, according to research. Retailers and brands can drive growth by offering a broader assortment and more online and in-store options.
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