Back in June, my colleague, Tim Gilberto, grimly reported that Burger King’s addition of bacon and American cheese to its Impossible Burger might be a sign that interest in meatless meals was declining. A Bloomberg report in August noting that Beyond Meat had laid off about 40 of its 1,100 workers seemed to underscore the handwriting on the wall.
Now fresh reporting of a second round of layoffs confirms that enthusiasm in plant-based meat “has broadly cooled off. Retail sales of refrigerated meat alternatives fell almost 11% in the 12 months ended Oct. 2 from the previous period, IRI data show. Beyond Meat-branded sausage substitutes fell 19% in the period, while the company’s plant-based patties dropped 27%.”
There is one possible note of optimism — namely that the sale of Beyond Meat’s faux meatballs had risen 19%. One might also posit that the decline in sales and firings might be attributed to inflation. All in all, however, the future of the meatless revolution is looking bleak.
See also…
- Is This a Sign that the Plant-Based Food Movement Is Weakening?
- Caveat Emptor: Not All Vegan Food Is Healthy
- Branch of World’s Largest Plant-Based Restaurant Chain Opens In New York
