Vegan Food News of the Week: Beyond Meat Bánh Mì, TJ’s Beet Poke, and more

It seems like every week the news in the vegan food world is more exciting than the last and this week is no exception. Spring is off to a great start at Veggie Grill, where steak-stuffed sandwiches hit the menu. Trader Joe’s is making good on its commitment to vegan seafood options with the launch of Vegan Poke (made with a root vegetable that blows our minds as a tuna alternative). And if you want a little more spice in your life, Heinz has three new ketchups for you. Read on for more.

1Beyond Bánh Mì at the Veggie Grill

Beyond Meat introduced its plant-based steak to the retail market last year, inspiring many to create meat dishes like fajitas, steak salad and more. Now, Whole Cut Vegan Steak Veggie Grill is giving customers something new to crave.

Veggie Grill

New Beyond Steak Banh Mi sandwiches have hit the menu at vegan fast-food chain Veggie Grill, and we’re living for these hearty handhelds. The new sandwich is topped with Beyond Meat’s juicy steak, along with pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, spicy Fresno peppers, sweet and tangy banah mi sauce and dijonnaise, all sandwiched between a crusty French baguette.

TK Pillan, co-founder of Veggie Grill, told VegNews, “We are excited to partner with Beyond Meat to launch their amazing new steak product. “Our new Beyond Steak Bánh Mì takes the old vegan tofu Bánh Mì to a whole new level.”

The new Beyond Steak-stuffed Sandwiches are available at Veggie Grill locations nationwide, except for the New York City and UCLA outposts.

2Trader Joe’s fish-free punch

In 2021, Trader Joe’s insiders promised us some interesting vegan options in the seafood section, and honestly, they didn’t disappoint. If you haven’t tried the vegan salmonesque spread yet, head to your local TJ’s.

A brand new item in the plant-based seafood realm at Trader Joe’s is vegan poke. For the fish option, the chain went with surprisingly marinated beets—which provide the necessary texture to lift the tuna without the usually earthy-forward flavor of the main veggie.

Trader Joe’s

How did they do it? “As it turns out, roasted beets have a remarkably similar texture to sashimi-grade tuna, especially when marinated in a mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil—firm, yet delicate,” Trader Joe’s website states.

“Thus, Trader Joe’s Vegan Poke maintains a completely plant-based ingredient deck while instilling a tender, toothsome texture and wonderfully smooth flavor in the poke,” the description states.

Well, Trader Joe’s, we hear you and wonder what kind of fish you can make with turnips and radishes.

3Heinz turned on the heat

Heinz has been a go-to for classic ketchup for years, many years since it was first introduced in 1876. Now the company is upping its spicy game with three new spicy ketchups that turn up the heat.

“We know consumers are hungry for a variety of spicy sauces and flavors, and as a consumer-obsessed brand at the forefront of food culture, we saw an exciting opportunity to innovate around our fans’ growing preferences,” said Lindsey Davis, brand manager, HEINZ Innovation at The Kraft Heinz Company, a said in a statement.

Heinz

The new Spicy Ketchups are made from different chili bases to give consumers dynamic choice: Chipotle (medium), Jalapeño (hot), and Habanero (hot). Heinz is debuting a new hot sauce under its 57 Sauce line: HEINZ Hot 57 Sauce with a twist of red jalapeño.

“Hearing insights from our audience showed us that the heat source of a sauce is really important to them, which has served as a north star for creating new products with curated and flavorful, chili-specific bases,” Davis said.

4Peatos dairy-free cheesy puffs

We became fans of vegan snack brand Peatos in 2022 when it decided to change its entire line to go completely plant-based. Following an investment from cereal brand Post, the brand is moving full steam ahead on its mission to compete with Frito-Lay to become a household name for vegan snacks that are packed with flavor but without the junk.

Peatos

This week, Pitos took another step in that direction with the launch of two flavors of tempting puffs: Crunchy Fiery Lime Puffs and Crunchy Cheese-less Puffs, which are arriving at retailers this month and are available online through the company’s website and Amazon.

“Snackers love PeaTos because they offer the same great taste and crunch of the classic snacks America grew up on, but without all the scary artificial ingredients,” PeaTos founder Nick Desai said in a statement.

“With the introduction of Peatos Puffs, we’re giving snackers two more ways to enjoy the delicious, finger-licking sensory experience of America’s favorite snacks, but reimagined with better nutrition, and no junk.” Desai Dr.

Peatos also offers other snacks like Classic Cheese Curls, Crunchy Onion Rings, and Crunchy Pizza Rings—a special edition of which will launch in theaters this August. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

5Vegan ice cream bars at Walmart

For a sweet ending to this week’s vegan food news, we’re excited for the Walmart debut of vegan ice cream brand GoodPop. In store, expect to find seven new ice cream innovations from the brand.

These include Cherry n’ Lemonade, Orange Cherry Grape, Orange n’ Cream flavored Popsicles; Chocolate Vanilla Sandwich; As well as new bars from Goodpop such as Fudge N’ Vanilla Crunch, Mint N’ Fudge Chip and Double Chocolate Fudge.

Goodpop

“We’re thrilled to bring our refined classic frozen treats to Walmart, making it easier for families to find healthier and tastier frozen meal options,” GoodPop CEO and founder Daniel Goetz said in a statement.

“Our team is committed to creating the best-tasting frozen meals without sacrificing quality, and our expansion into Walmart stores allows us to take our mission to more communities across the country.”

The new Goodpop line is available at Walmart stores in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest regions. Is it summer yet?