The now-famous Impossible Burger made headlines when it was introduced to the menu at one of the world’s most prolific restaurant chains: Burger King. It’s a new era for meat analogues and meat alternatives, as even those who do not live a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle are willing to try vegan-friendly meat alternatives.
The market for vegan products has never been bigger than it is today, and it is only going to continue growing. This is an exciting opportunity for innovative food companies looking to introduce new, great-tasting meat substitutes. For many consumers, their primary deterrent from trying a vegan or vegetarian diet is simple: they would not know what to eat. As companies continue to expand this market, more and more individuals are likely to join in on the trend. Here are several savory flavors that would be ideal for vegan products.
Beef Flavor
While the Impossible Burger was a landmark product in the mass marketing of meat analogues, the debate still rages about how well it truly captures the taste of an authentic beef burger. Suffice to say, the race to perfect beef flavoring in vegan-friendly products is a long way from finished. But beef, and burgers in particular, will always be an immensely popular item, thus making them a natural target for development and innovation among flavoring manufacturers.
Whether in burgers, broths, steaks, or meat alternatives, beef flavoring will always be in high demand.
Pork & Seafood Flavors
Vegetarians and health-conscious consumers alike have already begun turning to plant-based pork alternatives to satisfy their cravings for hot dogs, bacon, and sausages. Veggie dogs and vegan sausages have been popular meat alternatives for years, and as this market continues to develop, newer and more authentic-tasting versions of these products are sure to emerge. Few savory flavors are more popular than pork, so it’s no wonder that pork alternatives are already one of the staples on the market. Pork-free food manufacturers can advertise the convincing flavor, alongside other benefits: they’re typically more heart-healthy than pork, with fewer of the strange mystery ingredients in many popular pork products like breakfast sausage.
The taste of seafood is admittedly not for everyone. But, those of us who do enjoy it do so immensely. There is certainly a market for those who would love the taste of seafood, but are restricted by their vegan diet, or even seafood allergies. There are already several brands offering vegan-friendly fish alternatives on the market, but this is a far less developed market than those for other meat-alternatives. Regardless, it is still possible to find meatless fish sticks, tuna, shrimp, or even caviar in some places. The possibilities for meatless seafood-alternatives are endless and intriguing.
As the market for vegan products continues to grow, the importance of flavor manufacturers cannot be understated. The demand for good-tasting, nutritious products that are also vegan-friendly is only going to continue to grow, particularly in the market for savory flavors and meat alternatives.
OSF Flavors is a flavor manufacturer that appreciates and is excited by the demands of this market. Our company understands the importance of producing high-quality, naturally-flavored products free of allergens, excessive sodium content, and other common problems facing flavor manufacturers. Ask for a sample today!