In a recent development, Belgian supermarkets take the lead by advocating for blended meat products as the future of the meat industry.
In the realm of food technology and sustainable living, European supermarkets are making strides in reducing their carbon footprint by introducing blended meat products. One such pioneer is the German canteen Speisemanufaktur Adlershof, which offers a variety of blended meat dishes, combining beef with koji protein from Nosh.bio.
This trend isn't limited to Germany. Three other European supermarket chains - Lidl, Albert Heijn, and Aldi - have also jumped on the bandwagon this year. Lidl and Aldi have introduced beef mince and burgers with 40% plants, while Colruyt Group's blended meat product combines 60% beef with 40% fava bean flour.
Lidl's foray into blended meat products has proven successful. One in four burgers sold since June has been a blended patty, and these products have saved nearly 190kg of carbon emissions per store per week. Lidl has pledged to replace 20% of its current meat and dairy sales with plant-based proteins by 2030.
Albert Heijn, a Dutch supermarket chain, offers 15 blended protein products in the Netherlands, including two hybrid milks. The parent company of Albert Heijn, Ahold Delhaize, aims to increase the share of plant proteins sold to 60% by the end of the decade.
The benefits of these blended meat products extend beyond sustainability. They boost fibre while lowering saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. Moreover, they help reduce reliance on animal protein without compromising on taste or texture.
Nosh.bio, a company focusing on B2B partnerships with manufacturers and retailers, is a key player in this movement. Colruyt Group, Belgium's largest supermarket chain, has partnered with Nosh.bio for its new blended beef mince product. This product is now available at Colruyt Lowest Prices and Okay stores in Belgium, even at the butcher's counter.
Colruyt Group, like Lidl, is committed to reducing the ecological footprint of food. They aim to encourage customers to consume fewer animal proteins and more plant-based alternatives. In line with this, Colruyt Group introduced its own-label vegan brand Boni Plan't this year.
The Netherlands has led the way in rolling out blended meat and milk products over the last year. However, information about which companies in Belgium have committed to sourcing at least 60% of their proteins from plant-based sources by 2028 is not readily available.
Anay Mridul, the website's resident news reporter, originally from India, is passionate about food tech, writing, veganism, and the Oxford comma. Mridul reports this news with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to factual accuracy.
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