Dive Brief:
- Swiss food tech company Planted has plans to expand its fermented whole-cut steak product to a global stage following its debut in France on Monday.
- The steak was initially launched in foodservice throughout Europe, followed by retailers in Switzerland and Germany. The product has now moved into French restaurants and select supermarkets.
- The company made a major investment in its fermentation capabilities back in March, creating 30 new jobs at its manufacturing plant in Kemptthal, Switzerland.
Dive Insight:
The steak product is a whole muscle cut of beef loin-style protein made with ingredients such as soy, rapeseed oil, beans, rice, and a proprietary blend of microbial cultures.
Planted is one of many companies using fermentation to create alternative protein products. Juicy Marbles, Chunk Foods, Meati Foods and Umami are among the players making “whole cut” alternatives to conventional meat.
Planted touts its products for being high-protein, high-fiber, low in saturated and high in iron and vitamin B12. The brand described its “planted.steak” as a first-of-its-kind. It’s in a beef loin-style made entirely with plant-based and natural ingredients.
Co-founder co-founder Pascal Bieri said the company has worked with over 50 gastronomy professionals to create the product.
In October, the company will debut the steak product on a global stage at the 60th anniversary of SIAL Paris — a biannual event that has been described as the world’s largest food show. The event will serve as a way for Planted to reach more consumers in its European markets.
“I’d say the UK is maybe the most similar to the US in that we’ve seen some stagnation in the category in the last few years. I think what happened was that big companies and traditional protein companies came in without caring too much about product quality and repurchase rates weren’t good,” Bieri told AgFunder News in a previous interview.
The CEO also said that the company’s presence in foodservice has helped it reach certain retailers as well, which he says are pickier now than ever.
