‘Plant-forward’ product development In the UK, only 28% of adults eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, falling to just 18% for children up to 15 years old.41 Despite the popularity of plant-based foods among Millennial and Generation Z consumers, these population groups are often deficient in vegetable and fibre intake. Mintel has identified an opportunity for brands to create plant-based foods made with vegetables,42 and a growing number of packaged food companies are stepping up to fill the gap between ‘plant-based’ and ‘vegetable-rich’ by using whole vegetables and fruit pieces, pulses, and other unprocessed plant ingredients in their products.43 Canadian brand Wholly Veggie makes comfort food favourites such as cauliflower floret Buffalo ‘wings’ and convenient vegetable-packed patties that can be heated in the toaster. Irish company Strong Roots’ portfolio includes broccoli & purple carrot bites, cauliflower hash browns, and pumpkin & spinach burger patties. With many consumers embracing (or even discovering for the first time) home cooking during global COVID-19 lockdowns, there could be an opportunity for ready-to-use, whole food vegetable mixes for meal preparation. US brand Tattooed Chef, for instance, offers bags of pre-washed, -cut, and -seasoned mixed frozen vegetables, removing the hassle of preparing vegetables but still allowing people the experience of scratch cooking.
Plant-based ingredients to watch Fava bean protein Between 2017 and 2019, Innova tracked a 439% increase in global product launches using fava beans in meat and dairy alternatives.44 In addition to adding protein, fava beans can improve the texture of products thanks to legumin, a specific globulin protein they contain that creates a firmer, springier, and more cohesive curd texture than lentil or pea. (Legumin is also present in soy).45 Fava bean isolate also has higher water and oil absorption capacities and better gelling properties than soy and pea.46 Brands are embracing fava beans in dairy, snacks and meat. Healthy indulgent ice cream brand Halo Top recently swapped brown rice protein for fava protein because it creates a creamier texture while US startup NutteeBean sells roasted fava beans as a high-protein snack. According to Mintel, around 80% of meat substitutes using fava bean are blended pea protein47; one example is Finnish brand Beanit’s pea and fava mince, which launched in the UK in 2020.
Plant-based ingredients report 2021 |
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