Senior Marketing Executive | Fractional CMO/VP of Marketing | Marketing Consultant | University Professor | Author, Speaker and Philanthropist | Follow On Social Media: @keithrpillow
Remember five years ago when plant-based proteins were ALL THE RAGE, and #fastfood, #QSR, and restaurant chains engaged in a no-holds-barred arms race to add Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods offerings to their respective menus? I certainly do. I've been tracking this trend now for the past 24 months, and the mainstream plant-based meat movement is, in my opinion, essentially dead (or on death's door...knocking loudly). Consumers, particularly vegans and vegetarians, have made it loud and clear this #food trend is over by backing away from these products and voting with their wallets. Simply stated, they don't desire or consume plant-based meats...despite what the sales figures from industry associations indicate. As Fast Company's Kristin Toussaint details here, https://buff.ly/3UKuPdi, the latest nail in the coffin for plant-based meats is the decision by Del Taco and CARL'S JR. RESTAURANTS, LLC, both early Beyond Meat adopters in 2019, have scaled back their plant-based offerings, or no longer sell them entirely. Neither does Dunkin', and many other chains have removed them from menus as well. Of course, time will tell if Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods can recover from these setbacks. At the moment, consumer demand just isn't there.
