Plant-based products on the rise at supermarkets amid possible meat shortages
A sign at a Kroger store in Atlanta limits shoppers to three packages of ground beef on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Kroger is limiting meat purchases, like a number of other grocery retailers, due to supply concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [AP/ Jeff Amy]
Plant-based products could capture a larger portion of the market as concerns over beef and pork shortages grow in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impossible Foods—which makes imitation meat and dairy products from plants—announced Tuesday it is expanding sales to more than 1,700 Kroger groceries.
Starting this week we are rolling out in the @kroger family of stores across the U.S. Find a store near you: https://t.co/esIr7EgS0O #CookImpossible?????? pic.twitter.com/yV1RYRe6yJ
— Impossible Foods (@ImpossibleFoods) May 5, 2020
"Kroger's new partnership with Impossible Foods is one more way we are providing our customers with convenient access to popular fresh plant-based meats," Joe Grieshaber, Kroger's senior vice president of merchandising, said in a statement. "Plant-based food remains one of the fastest-growing categories at Kroger. We're excited to continue growing our selection, especially as more customers than ever are purchasing meat products made from plants."
Meanwhile, rival Beyond Meat, which makes burgers and sausage from pea protein, said Tuesday it's launching new value packs to entice consumers.
As of Monday, U.S. beef and pork processing capacity was down 40% from last year, according to Jayson Lusk, head of the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University.
More from KSTP.com:
Hy-Vee to limit meat purchases beginning Wednesday
Some Wendy's locations experiencing beef shortages, limited menus
ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.