Field Roast launches plant-based chicken nuggets

Plant-based food brand Field Roast has added faux-chicken nuggets to its line of frozen plant-based appetizers and entrees.

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(Field Roast)
(Field Roast)

Plant-based food brand Field Roast has added faux-chicken nuggets to its line of frozen plant-based appetizers and entrees.

“Remember the joy that a chicken nugget could bring you as a kid?,” said Dan Curtin, president of Greenleaf Foods, said in a statement. “We’re bringing that back with an absolutely delicious plant-based nugget that’s easy to prepare, flavorful on its own, yet still stands up to dips and sauces. And they’re not just for kids—adults are going to crave these, too.”

Greenleaf Foods, the plant-based division of Maple Leaf Foods acquired Field Roast in 2017. Earlier this year, Maple Leaf Foods CEO Michael H. McCain said that plant-based proteins are now in the “takeoff phase,” predicting that it could develop into a CA$3 billion business for the company by 2029.

A new era for plant-based meat?

It has been notoriously difficult to create plant-based chicken that consumers like. Chicken is one of the most popular meats with consumers.

In 2019, sales of plant-based beef soared, in part because it is easier to create a product that mimics the taste and texture of beef compared to poultry.

Interest in plant-based chicken has started to pick up in 2020. In February, KFC tested a plant-based nugget made by Beyond Meat at 60 locations throughout the southeast U.S.  That test was followed by a buzzy April launch in China with Cargill’s plant-based nugget product.

More about the nuggets

The non-GMO breaded nuggets are made of roasted garlic, wheat and pea protein and contains no soy, artificial ingredients or colors added. Each serving has 14 grams of protein.

A 10-ounce package of 13 nuggets retails for $13.99.

The plant-based nuggets are currently available at Albertsons, Sobey’s and Price Chopper. Additional retailers and foodservice locations will be added this summer.

Field Roast is known for its plant-based sausages, deli slices, hot dogs, turkey-like Celebration Roasts and Chao cheeses.

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