Plantwise Weekly Issue #5
Japan invents plant-based eel, THIS vegan options in Boots, Beyond Steak expands nationwide & More
Welcome to Plantwise Weekly, a curated digest of the week's most groundbreaking developments.
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🍣 NISSIN FOODS Announces Breakthrough in Plant-Based Eel Innovation
📚 TL;DR: NISSIN FOODS has successfully developed a plant-based eel that closely mimics the texture, appearance, and flavour of the eel dish Kabayaki. This breakthrough is a response to the critical status of the Japanese eel. Japanese eel has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). NISSIN FOODS' plant-based initiative aims to preserve Japan's rich food culture while creating more sustainable food systems.
🧩 Context: The Japanese eel, long regarded as a luxury food, is facing extinction. NISSIN FOODS R&D team focused on creating a plant-based eel that maintains the appearance and texture of real Kabayaki. The result is a three-layered composition:
a white meat layer made primarily from soy protein granules for a fluffy, fibrous texture,
a middle layer made with vegetable oils for a fatty texture,
and a skin layer made with bamboo charcoal powder for the unique dark color of eel skin.
The process involves stuffing these layers into a special mould, steaming it, coating it with sauce, and searing it for a grilled look.
➡️ Curious about NISSIN FOODS' plant-based eel development? Discover more here.
🥗 THIS™ Unveils Tasty Vegan Lunch Options at Boots and WHSmith Stores
📚 TL;DR: UK-based alt-meat brand, THIS™, has launched two exciting vegan lunch options in Boots stores nationwide. The new meals include THIS™ Isn't Chicken Korean-Style Noodle Salad and THIS™ Isn't Chicken & Bacon Pasta Salad. They are also included in the Meal Deal offers. Meanwhile, a plant-based first time for WHSmith, they have made the THIS™ Isn’t Chicken & Bacon Wrap and THIS™ Isn’t Chicken & Bacon Pasta Salad available nationwide too.
🌱 Context: THIS™ is raising the bar for vegan lunch choices by moving beyond the standard hummus and roasted vegetable sandwiches. Andy Shovel, Co-Founder of THIS™, said: "We don't think people should compromise on their lunch options. If you want a delicious chicken and bacon wrap or salad, we've made it for you."
➡️ Read the full story about THIS’ new development here.
🥩 Beyond Steak® Tops the Charts in US and Expands Nationwide
📚 TL;DR: Beyond Meat's Beyond Steak®, a front-runner in plant-based meat products, is increasing its reach nationwide. Now, it is available in Kroger, Walmart, Albertsons, Ahold, Target, and Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, Publix, Wegmans, Meijer, and Stater Bros Markets.
🌱 Context: Beyond Steak® has earned rave reviews for mimicking the juicy, tender bite of seared steak tips with a caramelised crust. It has also the PEOPLE Food Awards 2023 for its authentic steak-like texture and flavour. It can be prepared in a skillet or air fryer in just five minutes - perfect for salads, sandwiches, tacos, and stir-fries. Boasting 21 grams of protein per serving, Beyond Steak® only contains 1 gram of saturated fat and 170 calories per serving. Beyond Steak has also been certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food.
➡️ More details on Beyond Meat's news release here.
🏭 Revolution Kitchen Faces Potential Closure, Risking Hundreds of Jobs
📚 TL;DR: Samworth Brothers has entered discussions about the potential shutdown of its plant-based Revolution Kitchen branch. Revolution Kitchen is located in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. This move could jeopardise hundreds of positions, although the exact numbers remain unconfirmed. Revolution Kitchen produces a variety of private-label products, including the Wicked Kitchen range for Tesco. Their products include plant-based frozen meals, pizzas, ice cream, and alternatives to meat and fish.
🧩 Context: This announcement comes amidst challenging times for the plant-based sector in the UK. Despite significant financial investments, Revolution Kitchen has consistently operated at a loss. Samworth Brothers also operates in food-to-go, savoury pastries, and cooked meals sectors.
➡️ If you want to learn more about the potential closure of Revolution Kitchen, check out the full story here.
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