Weekly Roundup: PepsiCo and Beyond Meat unveil plant-based jerky, nostalgic lemonade and “no-cow” chocolate

25 Mar 2022 --- This week in NPD news, Cleveland Kitchen added Mild Kimchi to its product line, which was showcased at Natural Products Expo West, Meati launched their classic and crispy plant-based cutlets, Mike’s Hard Lemonade brought back the 90’s with Mike’s Hard Freeze, and Organic Valley launched a premium range of creamers that contain less sugar. Meanwhile, DKSH partnered with CFF to distribute dietary fiber concentrates in Switzerland, and Fonterra will exit its businesses from Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine. 

In brief: NPD
Beyond Meat Jerky is the first product to come out of the PepsiCo and Beyond Meat Joint Venture, called Planet Partnership, LLC. According to the two companies, it’s a plant-based product that offers a full-flavored, on-the-go snack experience. Beyond Meat Jerky is marinated and slow-roasted to provide the savory experience of traditional beef jerky in three flavors: Original, Hot & Spicy and Teriyaki. It contains 10g of protein per serving, no cholesterol, and is made with plant-based ingredients like peas and mung beans, all without GMOs, soy or gluten.

Gourmet fermented food brand Cleveland Kitchen added Mild Kimchi to its product line. This snacking variety was perfected and developed with local Korean chefs at Cleveland’s Korea House restaurant. The side dish can dress eggs, rice, noodle dishes and toast.

Barry Callebaut has launched a zesty, fruit-flavored chocolate, Evocao WholeFruit Chocolate, by Cacao Barry in Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. It subsequently received the World Food Innovation Award for “Best Artisan Product.” The chocolate was developed by 30 collaborating chefs and artisans around the world.

Chocolate-dipped protein bars are a new addition to No Cow’s product range.

No Cow, the creators of plant-based, low-sugar protein bars and powders, has launched chocolate-dipped protein bars to bring more decadence to the brand’s lineup. Each bar is powered with a proprietary blend of rice and pea protein. The protein bars feature classic US candies and treats and contain more than 20g of plant protein, 5g of carbohydrates and 1g of sugar. The bars are available in six flavors: Chocolate Sea Salt, Chocolate Salted Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Mint Cookie, Chocolate Sprinkled Donut and Chocolate Coconut Almond.

Whole-cut and whole-food alternative meats start-up Meati launched its first national consumer offerings, the classic cutlet and the crispy cutlet. Their steak filet will be available later in the spring. All cuts are made of Meati mycelium, a superfood protein similar to the root structure of mushrooms and deliver nutritional benefits in a low-calorie, whole food.

Organic Valley launched a premium range of creamers available in French vanilla and sweet cream flavors. At-home baristas can use the creamer option, which contains 40% less sugar than other brands, contains no artificial ingredients and is lactose-free. 

In response to fans’ love for nostalgic flavors, Mike’s Hard Lemonade brought back the 90’s with Mike’s Hard Freeze, a collection of four refreshing, throwback flavors that will remind consumers of their favorite slushy flavors. The company reports that more than 70% of consumers crave nostalgic flavors, reminding them of simpler times and carefree days.Mike's Hard Freeze.

Galactic launched Natural Basil Flavor, a natural ingredient designed for meat alternatives and plant-based meals through fermentation and infusion. The ingredient has been formulated to infuse round flavors and gives producers labeling options such as plant-based, naturalness and clean label. Natural Basil Flavor can be used in plant-based burgers, sausages, nuggets, cold cuts, bread spreads and ready meals.

San Francisco-based, The EVERY Co launched an animal-free egg white, EVERY EggWhite. The ingredient offers bakers and chefs the taste and culinary functionality of egg whites without the need to use hen’s eggs. To celebrate the move, the company showcased the product with a macaron designed by Chantal Guillon, maker of the French macaron of the West Coast. Since its inception in 2014, EVERY, formerly Clara Foods, advocated for advancing the development of alternative animal protein such as animal-free pepsin.

Better-for-you frozen treat brand, GoodPop unveiled its US Department of Agriculture fruit juice-based certified Organic Junior Pops, frozen pops with no added sugar. The pops come in a variety pack of six in three flavors; orange, cherry and grape. 

In brief: Business moves
Distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients, DKSH partnered with CFF, a renewable natural fibers supplier, to distribute its dietary fiber concentrates in Switzerland. DKSH’s business unit performance materials will provide business development, marketing, sales, logistics and distribution services for CFF’s Sanacel line of natural fiber concentrates for food applications. The cooperation with DKSH enables CFF to market and expand its brand presence in Switzerland.

Fonterra is shutting down its businesses in the Russian Federation following the co-op’s decision to suspend shipments of products to the region at the end of February, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fonterra exports a small amount of product to Russia, primarily butter, totaling about 1% of our annual exports. Fonterra, a New Zealand multinational, entered the joint venture Unifood in December 2018. New Zealand has been exporting butter to Russia for more than 40 years. 

In brief: SustainabilityGoodpop frozen pops.
Poultry producer PHW Group and SuperMeat, a food-tech company developing cultivated meat products, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce meat products including chicken, turkey and duck for the European market. PHW Group and Supermeat will work together to obtain EU authorization of the products and be among the first to develop, manufacture and distribute cultivated meat at a large scale for consumers. Using SuperMeat’s proprietary cultivated meat platform, they will be able to offer cultivated meat products that meet consumers’ expectations across taste, texture and nutritional composition. 

Darling Ingredients, a company that turns food waste into sustainable products and producer of renewable energy, chose to convert its used cooking oil into cleaner-burning renewable transportation fuel. Darling Ingredients’ service brand DAR PRO Solutions will recycle cooking oil from all Chick-fil-A restaurants in the US and Canada.

In brief: Other highlights
FrieslandCampina and DSM have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cattle with a pilot project using DSM’s feed additive Bovaer at 200 FrieslandCampina dairy farms. The additive has consistently reduced methane emissions from cows by around 30%. Following EU approval for the additive’s use in February 2022, the companies decided to launch the pilot. Dutch feed supplier Agrifirm will supply the feed additive to the participating farmers. 

Grain Farmers of Ontario has called on all parties to restore CP rail operations without delay. It is essential for Canada’s food supply that the commercial transportation system continues to operate, stresses the organization. Farmers rely on transporting goods that are important to plant crops and transport grain to markets. In Canada, a rail stoppage adds risks to the food supply system and further exacerbates the already strained transportation system.

By Inga de Jong