Supermarket Perimeter - February 2021 - 46

Seafood

Plant-based
BY ANDY NELSON

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, the plant-based meat industry has exploded.
Following the lead of fast-food giants and others in the foodservice
world, retail grocery has added a variety of new products from
Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and other plant-based producers.
Beef, pork, chicken and turkey, yes. But what about seafood? Up to
this point, that particular corner of the protein galaxy has mostly stayed
out of the headlines when it comes to plant-based.
But that's quickly changing, with new plant-based seafood
alternatives coming to market and promising to eventually - likely
sooner rather than later - change the complexion of supermarket
seafood departments.

Nestlé expands its plant-based portfolio with seafood
Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestlé's launch of a plant-based alternative to
tuna is the company's ﬁrst foray into plant-based seafood.
The plant-based tuna alternative has a ﬂaky texture and rich ﬂavor
that can be used in a wide range of dishes such as salads, sandwiches
and pizzas, according to Nestle.
Made from a combination of only six plant-based ingredients,
the product is rich in nutritious pea protein, one of the most
environmentally friendly sources of plant-based protein. It contains
all the essential amino acids and is free of artiﬁcial colorings or
preservatives.
46 - FEBRUARY 2021

" Sustainably produced plant-based seafood alternatives can help to
reduce overﬁshing and to protect the biodiversity of our oceans, " said
Stefan Palzer, Nestlé's chief technology officer. " Our plant-based tuna
alternative is delicious, nutritious and high in protein. We are excited
to launch this great product, and other plant-based ﬁsh and shellﬁsh
alternatives are already under development. "
Nestlé developed the tuna alternative in nine months, leveraging its
expertise in protein science and proprietary technologies, Palzer said.
The company already offers a variety of other plant-based products,
including alternatives to burgers, mince, meatballs, sausages, cold cuts,
chicken nuggets and chicken ﬁlets.
The products were developed by Nestlé Research in Switzerland
and the company's dedicated R&D Centers for food in Germany and
the United States. To increase speed-to-market, products are rapidly
prototyped and tested in selected retail outlets, and ﬁrst commercial
batches are produced in Nestlé R&D facilities.
" We are delighted to launch this strategic expansion of Nestlé's plantbased offerings in the Swiss market ﬁrst, " said Eugenio Simioni, market
head for Nestlé Switzerland. " It's another example of the innovation
strength of Nestlé in Switzerland, and the exceptional capabilities and
expertise we have in this country in the area of food and nutrition. "
The product was ﬁrst launched under the Garden Gourmet brand in
Switzerland.

supermarketperimeter.com

NESTLE, GATHERED FOODS

Nestle has entered
the plant-based
seafood category with
a tuna alternative.

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Supermarket Perimeter - February 2021

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