Tag: plant-based alternatives

Grass-Fed Beef Challenging Meat Alternatives

Growing support for products like grass-fed beef is creating new challenges for the meat alternative market, which continues to struggle with adoption and repeat purchases among its primary consumer base – flexitarians.

Mycelium-based Meat Intriguing Investors and Consumers

Alt-meat funding has all but dried up, but mycelium-based meats are still intriguing investors and consumers. From chicken and steak to deli meats, here’s what’s cooking in the world of mushroom roots.

Plant-based Consumers’ Favorite QSRs

U.S. consumers love fast food and those who follow a plant-forward diet are no exception. Which quick service restaurants (QSRs) are plant-based consumers seeking out this year?

Ask an Athlete: Building Strength with Plant-Based Protein

Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch wants to set the record straight: Building strength with plant-based protein is a very accessible goal. Consuming plenty of vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains is sufficient — the key is eating enough to fuel the body.

States Are Banning Cultivated Meat; Do Consumers Want Novel Proteins?

Novel proteins including cultivated meat, mycelium, and dairy bioidenticals are advancing further into the market, and some state governments are pushing back. A new survey by McKinsey & Company explores how consumers perceive these ingredients—and their willingness to trial them.

Plant-Based Milk Brands Take Aim at Coffee Category

Plant-based milks largely stole the spotlight at the recent Specialty Coffee Expo in Chicago. Along with the familiar oat and almond milks, exhibitors offered plant-based milks made with bananas, chickpeas, coconut, macadamias, and pistachios.

Mac and Cheese Gets a Plant-Based Makeover

CPG producers are veganizing macaroni and cheese by removing dairy ingredients, adding gluten-free pasta and, in some cases, boosting the nutritional value of the popular comfort food.

Expo West Speakers Plot Plant-Based’s Path Forward

Last Friday at Expo West, industry leaders unpacked the plant-based category’s path forward. “Progress is not linear,” one CEO reminded the crowd, adding that getting consumers to try plant-based items “has to be a stepwise process.”

3D-Printed Food Innovations Push Closer to Market

Steakholder Foods is leading the charge in additive manufacturing for the food industry. Over the past year, the food tech innovator has unveiled the “world’s first” 3D-printed cuts of grouper, steak, eel, and plant-based shrimp.

Tasting the Future: Food Fermentation Breakthroughs

From regulatory approvals in animal-free dairy, to a new snack made with air protein, fermentation is making major moves in the new year. What could the recent headlines signal for the future of food?

Milk Wars: Labeling Battles Escalate

Dairy producers are ramping up their efforts to scrub ‘milk’ from the labels of alternatives. How critical is the term in plant-based marketing? Could waging “milk wars” significantly improve traditional dairy’s bottom line?

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Lead with Delicious: How Plant-Based Thrives

How will plant-based evolve in the year ahead? In this industry outlook, analysts weigh in on economic challenges, the financial landscape, and consumer adoption strategies for 2024.

Plant-Based Meat: What’s in Store for 2024?

Plant-based meat continues to recalibrate at retail. In this Q&A, Chris DuBois, EVP and Protein Practice Leader at Circana, spoke with FI to outline major category challenges and priorities in the months ahead.

Market Signals: Unpacking the Veggie Grill Acquisition

Plant-based chain Next Level Burger has acquired Veggie Grill from vegan investment fund VegInvest. The Food Institute spoke with industry analysts to unpack the potential ramifications of this transaction amidst ongoing financial challenges for plant-based and the restaurant industry at large.

Plant-Based Trends to Watch in 2024

What key topics will drive plant-based evolution in the year ahead? The Food Institute spoke with several industry analysts and thought leaders to outline major trends to watch in 2024 — and beyond.

Private Label Driving Alt-Dairy Innovation

The alt-dairy category experienced significant economic pressure in 2023, but private label performance was strong. Here are a few featured products from the November Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) show.

Who’s Buying Alt-Meat? Unpacking Consumer Motivations

When it comes to consumers, the alt-meat category has more than its fair share of challenges — and supporters. Who’s buying meat alternatives today and why? Here’s the latest stats from Brightfield Group’s quarterly shopper survey.

Case Study: Rebellyous Foods & Engineering the Future

What does it take to design a novel system for alternative protein production? Christie Lagally, CEO of alt-chicken company Rebellyous Foods, spoke with FI about poor alt-meat infrastructure and what her company is doing about it.

What Dishes are Winning at Plant-Based QSRs?

Plant-based restaurants are experiencing a shakeout as operators recalibrate their menus to address economic challenges. FI checked in with T.K. Pillan, CEO of Veggie Grill, to explore how the vegan QSR is streamlining its offerings to meet evolving consumer demands.

Has Tofu Gone Mainstream?

Tofu is enjoying a new era of popularity thanks to its adaptability and nutritional clout. But despite its position as a plant-based powerhouse, this longtime vegan staple has its own share of hurdles to overcome.