beyond meat burgers in a grocery store

Plant-based meat growth stalls

Explosive sales growth in 2020 could explain sector’s difficulty expanding much last year

Glacier FarmMedia – The growth in plant-based meat products flatlined in 2021, according to the Good Food Institute. Sales in the United States stagnated at US$1.4 billion after experiencing a 46 per cent increase in 2020. The 2021 performance of zero growth fell far short of industry expectations, but GFI doesn’t believe the industry has […] Read more

The McDonald’s “P.L.T.” sandwich in 2019. (CNW Group/McDonald’s Canada)

McDonald’s, Beyond Meat seen planning big U.S. McPlant expansion

New York | Reuters — McDonald’s Corp. is planning a major expansion of its plant-based burger with Beyond Meat Inc. in the United States in 2022, according to two Wall Street analysts. The companies began testing the “McPlant” patty in eight McDonald’s U.S. locations in November. Those restaurants have been selling enough of the sandwiches […] Read more

The McDonald’s “P.L.T.”

Comment: McDonald’s makes plans for a new plant-based burger

However, the company won’t be using beef-bashing Beyond Meat

One of the most bizarre food stories of the year, other than the panic buying we witnessed in the spring, is the quasi-divorce between McDonald’s and Beyond Meat. While McDonald’s recently announced its new McPlant products to be rolled out in 2021, Beyond Meat, which has been working with the fast-food chain for a while, […] Read more

The McDonald’s “P.L.T.” (CNW Group/McDonald’s Canada)

McDonald’s to make its own ‘McPlant’ items

Beyond Meat says co-created patty

Reuters — Burger chain McDonald’s on Monday decided to debut its own plant-based meat alternatives line called “McPlant” in 2021, including a patty that Beyond Meat subsequently said it helped co-create. “Beyond Meat and McDonald’s co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform,” a Beyond Meat spokesperson said in […] Read more

Roquette’s plant-based protein products include Nutralys T70S, billed as a plant-based, texturized protein that “guarantees a unique fibrous texture and great use adaptable to several types of meat substitute” such as burger patties, chicken-type filets and sausage. (Roquette.com)

Plant-based protein maker Roquette sees short-term COVID-19 impact

Demand could accelerate second Canadian plant

Paris | Reuters — The plant-based protein market has seen a slowdown in new product launches and lower sales in restaurants and cafeterias due to COVID-19 but benefited from more people cooking at home and trying new products, French manufacturer Roquette said. The market for plant-based protein such as meat-free burgers has surged in the […] Read more


KFC Canada says it will launch its ‘Plant-Based KFC’ sandwich nationwide Aug. 10. (CNW Group/KFC Canada)

Plant-based near-chicken on KFC’s Canadian menu to stay

Maple Leaf's Lightlife arm to make 'Plant-Based KFC' sandwich

Updated, Aug. 18: Consumers’ response to a single-day test of plant-based near-chicken menu items in Mississauga last year has led KFC Canada to add the product, full time, to its menu nationwide. The Canadian arm of the Yum Brands-owned chicken chain announced Wednesday its ‘Plant-Based KFC’ sandwiches will be available permanently at its stores across […] Read more

Beyond Meat’s ‘latest iteration’ of its Beyond Burger gets to carry a Made in Canada label. (Photo courtesy Beyond Meat via Globe Newswire)

Beyond Meat lines up Canadian patty co-packer

U.S. company launches 'latest iteration' of burger line

One of the names tied closest to the plant protein-based meat substitute sector has enlisted an unnamed Quebec operation to make its beef-similar patties for the Canadian retail market. Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat on Wednesday launched the “latest iteration” of its flagship Beyond Burger, billed as “produced locally at a co-manufacturing facility in Canada” and […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Starbucks plans plant-based breakfast sandwich

Reuters — Starbucks Corp. said Tuesday it would introduce a breakfast sandwich this year with a plant-based patty in Canada and the United States. The coffee chain said last week it aims to add more plant-based food and drinks to its menu as part of the company’s latest plan to become more environmentally friendly. A […] Read more


Tim Hortons had a nationwide rollout for Beyond Sausage Egg + Cheese, Beyond Sausage Farmer’s Wrap and Beyond Sausage Lettuce Tomato sandwiches on its breakfast menu in June 2019. (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)

Tim Hortons pulls Beyond Meat products from Ontario, B.C.

Reuters — Restaurant Brands International’s Tim Hortons said on Tuesday it has removed Beyond Meat’s products from its coffee and donut shops in Ontario and British Columbia. This comes after the coffee and breakfast chain cut Beyond Meat’s burgers and sandwiches from its menu in September from all of Canada except the two provinces. “We […] Read more

An artists’ rendition of the Merit Functional Foods plant under construction in Winnipeg. Merit also recently picked up support from research “supercluster” Protein Industries Canada to help further develop pea and canola proteins. (Meritfoods.com)

Nestle to source plant proteins from Winnipeg

Winnipeg/Zurich | Reuters — Food company Nestle SA said on Friday it has teamed up with small Canadian plant-based food ingredient makers Burcon and Merit Functional Foods, the second such supply agreement this month that targets Canadian crops. Meat substitutes from plants in burgers, nuggets and many other foods are a fast-growing industry, driving up […] Read more