The Week In Plant-Based: Fuddruckers, Goiko Add Vegan Menu Items, Heura Debuts The Choribuger

Comfort foods ruled the plant-based newsfeed this week with QSR chains and CPG companies alike debuting vegan takes on classic items around the world. Fuddruckers in the US and Goiko in Spain added plant-based items to their menus while Heura, also in Spain, unveiled the world’s first vegan chorizo burger and Good Planet rolled out a new line of cheese wheels.

US: Fuddruckers adds vegan items to US locations

The restaurant chain has revamped its menu to include offerings from a number of different plant-based protein companies. That includes burgers, chicken tenders, and sausage from Beyond Meat and “chik’n’ cutlets from Meatless Farm.

The items were developed exclusively for Fuddruckers and will be available at 14 different locations in the US. This marks a major change for Fuddruckers, a chain that’s built its reputation on traditional animal meat over the last few decades. 

Spain: Heura unveils the world’s first vegan chorizo burger

The Choriburger is made from soy protein and contains 57% less fat and 25% less saturated fat than pork-based chorizo, according to the company. Heura debuted the burger at Madrid restaurant Zielou.

The company bagged €16 million (US$19 million) last year and has been on a global expansion ever since. It also recently reported a doubling of sales and 333 percent increased global presence.

US: Planet Based Foods adds vegan comfort food to its lineup

Best known for its hemp-based burgers, Planet Based Foods is expanding its range of products with the launch of plant-based taquitos. Like the company’s burgers and sausages, the taquitos use a blend of hemp seed, pea protein, and brown rice to recreate the meaty textures found in the traditional version.

The taquitos, available in Original and Southwest flavors, are debuting at the Natural Products Expo West show this week and are slated for foodservice and direct-to-consumer distribution in May 2022.

US: Eclipse Foods plots US expansion for plant-based dairy

The brand, best known for its plant-based ice creams, will expand to expand to more than 130 US stores including Safeway stores (Albertons, Vons, Pavilions) Nugget Market, and Harmon’s. 

Eclipse says its ice cream alternative is “indistinguishable” from the real thing. All Eclipse products are free of soy, nuts, cocoa, and gluten. Last year, the company started its US expansion by entering Whole Foods stores and releasing new flavors. 

The Netherlands: Albert Heijn will expand its in-store vegan offerings

The Dutch supermarket chain released a statement this week noting that it “supports the movement towards a more plant-based diet in which 60% of the proteins come from plant sources” and that it will expand its choices of vegan foods. The company will double the number of Price Favorites deals for its own in-house meat alternative brand.

Albert Heijn has more than 1,000 plant-based and vegetarian products in its range, from breakfast to drinks, dinner and drinks. Meanwhile, a survey last year found that the majority of Dutch citizens favor meat reduction policies. 

US: Good Planet Foods rolls out vegan cheese wheels

Plant-based cheesemaker Good Planet has unveiled two new products, the Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Plant-Based Cheese Wheels. Both are entirely vegan and will make their official debut at the Natural Products Expo West show this week in California. 

Good Planet unveiled vegan cheese wedges towards the end of last year.

UK: Oumph! launches vegan burrito bowl at Iceland stores

The plant-based food brand owned by Livekindly Collective has partnered with Tex-Mex restaurant chain Chiquitos for the Vegan Burrito Bowl, which features Oumph!’s soya protein along with Mexican-inspired flavors. 

The heat-and-serve bowl is available exclusive at Iceland and The Food Warehouse Stores across the UK, and the product retails at £4 for a 450g bowl.

Livekindly has an existing relationship with Iceland stores, having acquired the vegan brand No Meat from the retailer last year.

US: Nasoya debuts premium plant-based steak

The company, best known for its tofu brand in the US, will launch its Plantspired Steak at grocery stores nationwide this spring. Participating stores will initially include Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions stores.

The steak-like strips are made from soy protein and will be available in a Korean BBQ flavor. The wider retail launch follows a 2021 trial of the product at fast-casual rice bowl chain WaBa Grills.

Spain: Goiko goes vegan with Beyond Meat and Violife

One of Spain’s most popular burger chains has added three new vegan burgers to its menu made with products from alt-meat maker Beyond Meat and plant-based cheese company Violife. 

Up to now, vegan options on the chain’s menu have been practically non-existent. The new menu items include a veggie burger made with edamame, a plant-based chicken burger, and one item made with Beyond Meat. All items include Violife cheese.

Lead image courtesy of Meatless Farm/Fuddruckers