Dutch Alt Protein Player Schouten Unveils Plant-Based Chicken & Beef To Promote Food Systems That Rely Only On Plants

Dutch family business and plant-based producer Schouten Europe recently debuted its plant-based chicken and beef to provide sustainable and healthy alternatives to the conventional meats that the company says brutally exploit animals and leave a high carbon footprint on the environment.

Since the 1990s, Schouten has been working on developing plant-based proteins and supplies its products in over 50 countries catering to the increasing plant-based demand across the globe.

Back in January, the company unveiled its plant-based tuna called TuNo, a vegan-friendly alternative to tuna fish, with each 100 gram serving boasting 17 grams protein. TuNO can be utilized the same preparations that tuna is called for, including salads, wraps, and sandwiches.

This time, the food tech pioneer is back with a plant-based chicken alternative made from wheat and pea protein that offers 18.3 grams of protein for with every 100 gram serving. Schouten is also debuting a range of plant-based beef analogues made from soya, wheat and peas. Every 100 gram serving contains 22.7 grams of protein pieces. The products are low in both saturated fat and salt, and can easily be incorporated into a range of dishes.

In a press release seen by Green Queen, R&D Director Niek-Jan Schouten said the company especially focused on flavour, texture, and feel. “There were already various chicken and beef pieces on the market, but we knew they could be improved upon. With these kinds of products it is especially important that the consumer doesn’t have to compromise on flavour and texture. We have worked hard to produce products that we expect to become more popular than real chicken and beef.”

There were already various chicken and beef pieces on the market, but we knew they could be improved upon. With these kinds of products it is especially important that the consumer doesn’t have to compromise on flavour and texture. We have worked hard to produce products that we expect to become more popular than real chicken and beef

Niek-Jan Schouten, R&D director, Schouten

According to a report, the chicken and beef alt protein market are the largest product groups in this sector, and sales of chicken alternatives are predicted to cross over US$13 billion by 2025, and another report showed that plant-based beef sales will reach a whopping US$16 billion by 2030.

Apart from these products, Schouten’s product portfolio includes vegan burgers like vegan bean quinoa burger and pumpkin curry burger, tempeh and tofu, vegan stuffed schnitzel and bbq snack balls made out of soy.

Schouten added: “We are proud that we can add these products to our range and we are sure that with these products we can contribute to the global shift towards a more plant-based diet.”

At the moment, Schouten’s products are sold to supermarket and foodservice companies across the Netherlands and other European markets. Going forward, the company plans to expand its products worldwide through retail services, retail, out-of-home channels and the food processing industry.

The world’s top scientists have warned that shifting to a plant-based diet and avoiding meats will not only help limit the risks of pandemics in the future but also on an individual level, will improve people’s health as studies link plant-based diets with a healthy heart and body.

Understanding this, several Dutch companies are working on plant-based product as well as receiving support for the same, for instance, food tech, Mosa Meat who is behind the world’s first cell-based beef recently received US$10 million in its latest funding round that will help expand its cultivated beef product across the world and the cultivated meat startup, Meatable also raised US$47 million that will help scale its technology and make the process a cost-effective one.

Elsewhere, another company has been making tremendous strides when it comes to debuting vegan versions of beef, with Canadian manufacturer, Top Tier Foods joining forces with Advanced Fresh Concepts (AFC) to launch vegan Waygu, which is traditionally a luxury Japanese beef cut, at the latter’s 4,000 sushi locations nationwide after an initial trial in the U.S.

Lead image – Schouten‘s R&D team, courtesy of Schouten.