Chicago-based Upton’s Naturals announced that it is now the top-selling seitan brand across all channels (spins 52 week ending 12/4/22) and the only nationally distributed, independently owned company in its category.
As a pioneer of Seitan-based meat alternatives for retail as well as foodservice, Upton’s Naturals reports it From 2013 to 2022, sales have seen a steady increase of almost 600%.
Sell-out products
When Upton’s Naturals added seitan-based beef to the menu at 24 Buona locations in Chicago and Indiana for plant-based Italian beefless sandwiches in 2021, the option sold out on the first day of launch at multiple locations due to “extremely high demand”, using 1,800lbs of seitan in the process. by doing
Following this success, Buona decided to make the sandwich a permanent fixture on his menu the following August. Uptons x Buona beef was launched at Whole Foods a year later.
Popular products from Upton’s Naturals include Ground and Italian, in a ground meat style; Traditional, large pieces for cooking; chorizo; and bacon, made with natural hickory smoke. Additionally, the self-funded brand claims to be the first pre-season, heat-and-eat jackfruit in the market. Other products include Ch’eesy Macs, Fava Taco Crumbles, and a line of Vegan soups.
the founder Daniel Stackman Says: “When we started this company, there was no shortage of convenient meat options. Now, while the opposite is true, we’re finding that products like ours, made from real, simple ingredients, are still a favorite among consumers.”
Products are sold in more than 5,000 stores nationwide, in addition to food service and industrial customers. Uptons will be exhibiting at this year’s Natural Products Expo West booth #5617.