Good Catch, Newtown, Pennsylvania, was among a plethora of plant-based food and beverage brands exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West, held March 8-11 in Anaheim. Companies are churning out frozen desserts, yogurt, cheese and burgers made from nuts, legumes, vegetables and grains, as more and more consumers opt to eat less meat and dairy.
"We're seeing all of these incredible innovative products come out, but we're just scratching the surface of what's possible in the protein space," Sarno said during a panel discussion at the tradeshow. "I think the seafood space is absolutely wide open... There are 7 or 8 million in the US with seafood allergies, so it's a growing need not just from a vegan standpoint and an environmental standpoint but also from an allergen standpoint."
In addition to fish-free tuna, the company plans to launch crab-free cakes and alternatives to salmon, shellfish and more," Sarno said.
"Working with plant-based seafood, texture has been really key here," he said. "That's something we worked on quite vigorously for the first part of the development."
The recipes feature pea, soy, chickpea, lentil, fava and navy beans, and contain 13 grams of protein and heart-healthy fats. Sarno said "the sky's the limit" on available sources of plant-based protein.
"We recently just received a sample of cauliflower protein, which is amazing to start incorporating," he said.
Beyond Meat, the El Segundo, California, creator of the plant-based Beyond Burger, is experimenting with sunflower seed protein, said Ethan Brown, president and CEO.
"I would love to be able to sell sausages made out of sunflower seeds," Brown said during the panel discussion. "We get really excited about companies who are trying to bring more diversity to the protein supply chain."
Brown founded Beyond Meat nine years ago on the transformative idea that “you don’t need an animal to produce a piece of meat,” he said. Soy burgers and similar alternatives had existed for decades, but Mr. Brown wanted to produce a plant-based patty that looked, cooked and tasted like beef. Since launching in 2016, the Beyond Burger is available in the meat case at more than 5,000 grocery stores and served at more than 5,000 restaurants nationwide.
"The decisions you make about what you put in the center of your plate are far more important than the decisions you make regarding what type of lightbulb you put in your house or what type of car you drive in terms of impact on climate," Brown said.
Some of the world's largest meat processors also see potential in the plant-based segment. Tyson Foods, Inc. owns a stake in Beyond Meat and, along with Cargill, recently invested in lab-grown meat company Memphis Meats. Last year, Maple Leaf Foods inked a deal to acquire Field Roast Grain Meat Co., a maker of grain-based meat and cheese alternatives.
"I think a lot of meat companies right now are seeing the growth of the plant-based sector not as a threat to their existing business but an opportunity," said Alison Rabschnuk, director of corporate engagement for The Good Food Institute, Washington. "That's why I think more and more we'll hear about major meat companies repositioning themselves as a maker of protein."
Global Google searches for "vegan" have surged over the past five years, while searches for "paleo," "gluten-free" and "low carb" have leveled off, Rabschnuk said in a separate presentation at Expo West.
"The opportunity is huge for plant-based meat, especially when we look at current market share," she said. "In the US, plant-based meat makes up one-quarter of 1 percent of the entire meat market. That compares to the 10 percent that the plant-based dairy market comprises. So we feel when plant-based meat reaches dairy parity, it’s going to be a $20 billion market."
Plant proteins are expected to comprise a third of the entire meat market by 2054, said Rabschnuk, citing data from Lux Research.
"So how do we get to that $20 billion plant-based meat market as quickly as possible?" she asked. "We believe we need to focus on the three most important drivers in consumer choice, which are price, taste and convenience... If consumers love the taste of your products and can afford your products and they’re easily available, then you’re much more likely to succeed."
Added Brown, "I think there's a latent demand and a latent desire within human beings for this to work... Very few of us want things that are going into animal agriculture to continue... We want a better way to do it. We can't let up. We can't take our foot off the gas. We have to keep making products that are better."
