Belgian Supermarkets Promote Mixed Meat Products as Trendy Choice
In the world of food retail, a shift towards more sustainable and health-conscious options is underway. This transformation is particularly evident in the realm of meat products, with several European supermarkets introducing blended meat options.
Leading the charge is Belgium's largest supermarket chain, Colruyt, who have recently unveiled a new blended beef mince product. This innovative offering, a combination of 60% beef and 40% fava bean flour, is part of Colruyt's ambitious plan to offer 60% proteins from plant sources and 40% from animal sources by 2028.
Colruyt's move to place the blended meat in the butcher's section is a strategic one. It aims to appeal to consumers who want to eat more plant-based food, try something new, or simply be mindful of health and the environment.
The Netherlands has been at the forefront of this movement, with supermarkets like Albert Heijn and Lidl following suit. Albert Heijn debuted the Swapburger, a burger containing 27% tomato and sugar beet fibre, while Lidl introduced blended burgers and beef, as well as a mince product with 40% plant protein. Aldi, too, has joined the fray with a mince product boasting 40% plant protein.
Lidl's foray into blended meat products has been a resounding success. One in four burgers sold by Lidl since June 2021 have been blended patties, resulting in savings of nearly 190kg of carbon emissions per store per week.
The trend is not limited to the Netherlands. Three other supermarket chains in Europe, Lidl, Albert Heijn, and Aldi, have also launched blended meat products this year.
In neighbouring Germany, Speisemanufaktur Adlershof is offering a range of blended meat dishes combining beef with koji protein from Nosh.bio.
The move towards blended meat products is not just about reducing reliance on animal protein. It also boosts fibre content and lowers saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, making these products a healthier choice for consumers.
Anay Mridul, the website's resident news reporter, has been closely following this development. Originally from India, Anay is passionate about coffee, plant-based milk, cooking, eating, veganism, food tech, writing, profiling people, and the Oxford comma.
Notably, Lidl has pledged to replace 20% of its current meat and dairy sales with plant-based proteins by 2030. Albert Heijn's parent company, Ahold Delhaize, aims to sell 60% plant proteins by the end of the decade.
As we move forward, it's clear that the landscape of food retail is changing, with a growing emphasis on sustainability, health, and innovation. The rise of blended meat products is just one example of this shift, and it's an exciting time to be a part of the food industry.
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