Tesco and plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat launch new ready meal range

Tesco’s exclusive plant-based Wicked Kitchen range is partnering with Beyond Meat to launch a line of frozen ready meals in the UK this week.

It’s the first time that Beyond Meat, which is known for its restaurant-quality vegan food, has collaborated with another food manufacturer in the UK.   

Plant-based food continues to be the biggest culinary trend this century with current demand for chilled meat free food growing by nearly 40 per cent in the last year at the supermarket, according to latest Kantar data (March 2021).

But now Tesco is looking to further develop its frozen plant-based food offering with the launch of a new range of protein-packed meat free exotic dishes from around the world which will be offered through its exclusive Wicked Kitchen brand.

The move follows the supermarket’s pledge, last autumn, to grow its plant-based meat-free alternatives by 300 per cent by 2025.

Tesco Director for Plant-Based Innovation Derek Sarno said:

“Both Wicked Kitchen and Beyond Meat have worked hard to create excitement in the world of plant-based food in the UK and we are thrilled to be working with them on this new range.

“We hope that the launch of these new meals will encourage more people to give plant-based food a try. Early feed back from people who took part in food trials for the new range was that they did not believe the meals were vegan.”

“I brought Beyond Meat to Tesco a few years ago so it’s great to be collaborating again and working with them on these new Wicked Kitchen frozen plant-based meals.”

Chuck Muth, Chief Growth Officer at Beyond Meat said:

“As consumers are increasingly looking to include plant-based meals in their diet, Tesco's new ‘ready meals’ featuring Beyond Meat, offer a simple and delicious solution without having to sacrifice on flavour or convenience.

“We are proud to be the best-selling chilled plant-based burger at Tesco and look forward to continuing our partnership with one of the UK's top retailers as we work to satisfy consumers’ growing demand for delicious, nutritious and sustainable plant-based meat across Europe.”

The four meals in the new range, which cost £2.75 each, are as follows:

• Wicked Kitchen – Korean Inspired Bowl made with Beyond Meat
• Wicked Kitchen – Naked Burrito made with Beyond Meat
• Wicked Kitchen – Bangin’ Biryani made with Beyond Meat
• Wicked Kitchen – Cowboy Chilli made with Beyond Meat

ENDS

Note to editors:

Tesco’s plant-based food journey to date:

2018

Jan – Tesco becomes the first UK retailer to launch an own label plant-based range, Wicked Kitchen, with 20 plant based meals, sandwiches and salads

March – Innovative Swedish vegan experts Oumph! launch three products at Tesco - all made from a soya-based meat alternative

May – Dutch vegetarian/vegan manufacturer Vivera launches the UK’s first ever vegan steak at Tesco as well as a range of other foods

September – Oumph! extends its Tesco offering and introduces a chilled vegan pizza to UK high street stores

October – Wicked Kitchen launch an additional 26 foods including the UK’s first vegan sausage roll

November – Launch of Beyond Burger

2019

April – Tesco widens appeal of vegetarian and plant-based foods to flexitarian diners by creating new fixture in the meat aisle of some of its larger stores.

Sept – Launch of new Plant Chef range.

October – Launch of extended Wicked Kitchen range.

2020

January – Tesco launches 35 new lines for Veganuary including an expansion of its food-to-go items such as a coronation cauliflower wrap, and a hoisin duck style wrap. New frozen additions included meat-free sausage rolls, nut cutlets and burgers.

September – Launch of 11 new Plant Chef lines including a range of centrepiece dishes such as a plant-based chicken-free crown, beef-free joint and Hunters Chicken-free traybake. 

October - Tesco commits to increasing sales of plant-based meat alternatives by 300 per cent within the next five years.

The ground-breaking commitment is part of a wider set of sustainability measures which it has developed with WWF to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket and comes as the plant-based food revolution continues to grow at pace.  

December – The UK’s first ever plant-based turkey crown is launched.

2021

January – Tesco launches the UK’s first ever plant-based jam doughnut as well as the first in-store plant-based bakery range.

April – Tesco expands its chilled meat-free range.