Starting this week, Beyond Meat’s new vegan meatballs will launch at grocery stores nationwide.
According to a press release sent to LIVEKINDLY, the new Beyond Meatballs are made from simple, plant-based ingredients—with no GMOs, soy, or gluten. They also contain 30 percent less saturated fat and sodium than animal-derived meatballs.
Beyond Meat pre-rolls and pre-seasons the meatballs with a signature blend of Italian spices. Each portion contains 19g of plant protein derived from peas and brown rice. According to the brand, Beyond Meatballs have a “juicy, meaty taste and texture.”
“We’re thrilled to introduce Beyond Meatballs as they deliver on consumers’ growing demand for delicious and nutritious plant-based meat options without GMOs or synthetic ingredients,” said Stuart Kronauge, Chief Marketing Officer, Beyond Meat.
“We are proud to introduce our newest innovation at retailers nationwide and know our fans will be excited about the great taste and convenience of Beyond Meatballs,” she added.
Beyond Meat and Plant-Based Demand
Demand for vegan food has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the health and environmental impact of animal products, while lockdown restrictions mean an increase in supermarket purchases and home-cooked meals.
Beyond Meat, alone, reported a 300 percent increase in supermarket sales during COVID.
The company recently launched its range of patties, sausages, and ground beef in more than 26,000 U.S. retail outlets. The company also launched a direct-to-consumer website with delivery options enabling customers to get mixed product bundles, bulk packs, and trial packs sent straight to their door.
Beyond Meat aims to make vegan meat more accessible than ever before. In June, the company took on the meat industry head-to-head by reducing the prices of its products to bring them closer to price parity with meat. It also launched limited-edition value packs in several major retailers.
CFO and treasurer Mark Nelson has said that the company aims to match conventional meat prices by 2024. Beyond Meatballs currently have a suggested retail price of $6.99 for 12 meatballs. Stockists will include Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Sprouts, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Albertsons, and more by the start of October.
