IRVINE, CALIF. — Before the Butcher is expanding its meat-free burger offerings with a line of patties tailored to budget-minded shoppers.
The new Mainstream Plant-Based Patties join the company’s premium Uncut brand and will be available to retailers and foodservice operators in October. The Mainstream line will be sold in the freezer section in resealable 8-packs of quarter-pound patties for a suggested retail price of $10.99. The price was achieved through family pack-packaging and minor adjustments that reduced ingredient costs, Before the Butcher said.
Like the Uncut line, Mainstream patties are vegan, gluten-free and made from natural seasonings and a combination of soy, coconut and canola oils. Each patty contains 18 grams of plant protein.
“More consumers clearly are interested in meat alternatives, but until now plant-based meats have had a price tag that doesn’t fit many family budgets,” said Danny O’Malley, founder and president of Before the Butcher. “The new Mainstream line provides an affordable option for people who aren’t able to pay nearly $3 apiece for a meatless burger. At just under $1.40 per patty, we are opening the category to a large new universe of purchasers that we expect to drive substantial new growth for alt-meat products.”