Nestlé-Owned Sweet Earth Foods Launches Vegan Hot Dogs, Fava & Hemp-Based Burger Across U.S.

Part of Swiss food giant Nestlé‘s family of brands, plant-based Sweet Earth Foods has recently debuted new vegan Jumbo Hot Dogs and a reformulation of its Awesome Burger 2.0 that is made using hemp and protein derived from fava beans that is available across stores in the U.S.

Sweet Earth Foods unveiled new vegan hot dogs that are available at select North American Ahold grocery stores like FreshDirect, and will expand its availability at Kroger stores in August. On the other hand, consumers can purchase the Awesome Burger 2.0 that will be available nationally this summer at Target, Whole Foods, H-E-B, Sprouts, Amazon Fresh, and more.

According to the company, the hot dogs (priced at US$6.99) are 23% bigger than its competitors’ products and are developed using a pea and potato protein base. The non-GMO Project verified burger (priced at US$5.99) is a reformulated version of its first Awesome Burger that was made of yellow pea protein, however, the new one is made using hemp and protein from fava beans along with pea protein as its base containing 19g protein per serving, which the company claims make them even meatier than previous versions.

The new products were created in partnership with Nestlé’s R&D Center for food in Ohio and its global R&D network, taking advantage of the parent company’s proprietary technologies to develop plant-based meat with the right taste and texture.

In a press release seen by Green Queen, general manager of Sweet Earth Foods, Sara Wheeler, said that the team wanted to provide food options that consumers feel like eating: “Our relentless approach to innovation allows us to offer consumers tasty, nutrient-diverse protein options they can feel good about incorporating into their diets. With more people eager to try delicious plant-based options, we’re excited to bring an even greater variety of favorites to consumers’ backyards and kitchens this summer.”

Our relentless approach to innovation allows us to offer consumers tasty, nutrient-diverse protein options they can feel good about incorporating into their diets

Sara Wheeler, general manager of Sweet Earth Foods

According to research by Mintel, consumers’ top two requests for plant-based substitutes are burgers and hot dogs and another one shows that 60% of U.S. consumers are limiting their meat consumption and increasingly shifting to plant-based foods.

Senior product development specialist with Nestlé and Sweet Earth, Ryan Riddle said: “The Sweet Earth Awesome Burger saw incredible success at its launch in 2019, but at Sweet Earth Foods we’re constantly asking ourselves and our customers how we can make our plant-based proteins tastier, more craveable and more like traditional animal-based proteins. Over the last year, we have continued our product development, listened to consumer feedback, and made the Awesome Burger 2.0 even juicier with a beefier flavor and meatier texture.”

In addition, Sweet Earth Foods recently unveiled a new plant-based Jerky in two flavors – Spicy Kung Pao and Sweet Korean BBQ making its first foray into the snacking sector.

Its parent company Nestlé has been making huge strides in the alternative protein sector with several launches and product developments like a pea-based milk called Wunda for the European market, a dairy-free version of its chocolate malt beverage, Milo in Malaysia, a caffeinated beverage made from upcycled coffee berry husks in Australia and a vegan version of its KitKat chocolate.

Read: Is Nestlé Gearing Up To Enter The Cell-Based Infant Milk Space?

Elsewhere, other alt protein companies are working with hemp in the food sector like New Zealand-based Sustainable Foods is unveiling a more product line offering hemp-based burgers, sausages, mince, and chick*n alternatives and Los Angeles-based Grounded Foods, launched its dairy-free hemp-based cheese.

Lead image courtesy of Sweet Earth Foods.