Mock the plant-based protein trend at your own peril. Sure, there may be something unnatural about taking peas, legumes, and other non-meat items and turning them into versions of beef patties, bacon, or chicken. But the sales show that these products are popular. A Bloomberg report on the subject notes that alternative meat and dairy products are on pace to surpass the growth of conventional foods.
Brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are continuing to expand their product lines and gain visibility on foodservice menus. Traditional meat processors like Tyson and Cargill have developed their own plant-based products, and it’s not just the domain of the large meat corporations, either. Smaller, innovative processors like Bilinski’s and Jensen Meat Co. have their own brands that complement their existing meat products.