While plant-based burgers, sausages and meatballs have long dominated the alt-meat landscape, creating realistic steaks from plants has always represented a lofty, if seemingly unattainable goal for many brands.
But thanks to fearless and relentless innovation, amazingly meaty and juicy plant-based steaks have hit the market in the US and Canada, and are coming fast. Here, The Vegeconomist takes a look at the most notable names bringing animal-free steak to mainstream consumers.
out of the flesh
While not a fully structured filet, Beyond’s “revolution” is plant-based Steak tips Marks a major milestone for the company, which previously only offered ground-textured products such as burgers and sausages. According to CEO Ethan Brown, Beyond Stake took five years of extensive research and development to develop. The product will be available at thousands of US retail locations, including Kroger, Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club.
“Beyond Steak is a highly-anticipated expansion of our popular beef platform and we are proud to introduce this innovative product to consumers nationwide,” said Dariush Azmi, Chief Innovation Officer at Beyond Meet.
the meat
Based in Colorado, this mycelium startup is making whole cuts of animal-free meat, from steak and chicken. In January, Matty open A massive production facility nicknamed the “Mega Ranch” is capable of producing millions of pounds of mycelium per year
“We want to be the final frontier in animal-free protein, creating a superfood protein category that will change the way people eat, ultimately improving the health of people and our planet,” Share Meati CEO Tyler Huggins.
I like it
In March 2022, Nassau released Plantspire ready-to-eat meals including Korean BBQ steak. Available at US retailers nationwide, the plant-based strips are char-grilled and paired with noodle and rice dishes. The company announced the sale of the product in October increase by 800% since launch.
“Steak is one of the last categories to offer a truly delicious plant-based option and we think we’ve cracked the code and have a product that delivers on taste, texture, nutrition and even price,” said Ellen Kim, director of strategy. and marketing communications in Nassau.
Chunk Foods
Based in Israel, this whole-cut alt-meat startup is currently piloting its plant-based steak at restaurants including Coletta in New York City.
“Cut the entire muscle beef Like sirloin, chuck or ribs have become the Holy Grail for alternative meats as they account for nearly 60% of the US beef market,” said Amos Golan, founder of Chunk Foods. “Using our novel fermentation technology we have overcome the technical limitations of other methods by creating a naturally delicious and realistic product with many of the qualities of meat while ensuring a clean and concise ingredient list.”
Better Meat Co.
By using a unique strain of Rhyza mycoprotein, Better Meat says it is able to naturally replicate the texture and flavor of any meat-based product. In addition to shredded turkey, hot dogs and foie gras, the company has indicated that it is working on animal-free steaks:
“By simply fermenting, we can create a whole-food, all-natural meat enhancer and meat substitute that is extremely beneficial for both economic and functional reasons,” said Better Meat CEO Paul Shapiro.
Wamame Foods
This Canadian brand burst onto the alt-protein scene in 2018 with Waygu — its take on plant-based Japanese Wagyu beef. In 2021, Wamame raised $7.6M to expand Waygu globally — and it’s been on since. on At 7-Eleven Canada locations and online retailers like GTFO It’s Vegan.
“Wamam’s mission is to create the best plant-based eating experience by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the most well-known animal protein brands on the planet, such as Japanese Wagyu, Angus, etc. We set this goal because we believe that alternative proteins need to be of higher quality than their animal-based counterparts to be successful,” WAMAM President Blair Bullas told A Vegan. the interview.
Juicy marble
In 2021, this Slovenian startup took the internet by storm by launching the “world’s first” plant-based filet mignon. Made from relatively simple ingredients such as wheat and soy protein, Juicy Marbles’ highly realistic line of raw steaks has made the brand a sell-out success across the UK, Europe and the US.
Untimed and Next Meet
Hailing from Korea and Japan respectively, these startups are creating specialty cuts of plant-based steak designed specifically for Asian cuisine.
After huge success in Korea Unlimite brought it Award winning line Thin-sliced beef made from soy and pea protein in the US in 2022.
“We plan to expand in earnest into the US market by first securing a supply chain and logistics network on the West Coast. We want to provide more options to the American table with our Asian-style plant-based meats,” said an Unlimeat representative.
Next Meats offers a range of Japanese-style dishes fried meat Such as short ribs and skirt steak, use seasonings such as soy sauce, garlic, salt, sesame oil and bean paste to achieve a realistic beef flavor.
Its products are currently available in Japan and North America. “Next Meats’ healthy, plant-based products are a delicious addition to any diet, and we’re incredibly excited to begin this journey in North America,” said Koki Terui, CEO of Next Meats USA.
According to Future Market Insights, the global market for vegan steak is expected to be worth $1.1 billion by 2033. The US plant-based steak market size is estimated to be US$ 168.5 million in 2022. According to the report, this regional market currently makes up about 30.2% of overall sales of plant-based steak alternatives.