Vegan meat company Tofurky is expanding its range by launching its festive ham-style roast as a year-round permanent addition. It will also launch a brand new dairy-free cheesecake, available only for the holiday season.
The new chocolate espresso cheesecake is the brand’s first foray into dairy-free dessert options; previously, it has stuck firmly to plant-based meat products, such as its popular turkey-style roast and Italian sausages. However, the new seasonal dessert could potentially be the start of a wider range of Tofurky dairy-style products.
In an interview with Food Business News, Marcia Walker, the vice-president of research, development, and quality assurance at the company, explained, “We’re really excited to see where we can go with this and potentially look at other dairy replacement products…Maybe not just desserts but other dairy-like products that people have a hard time finding if they’re trying not to consume animal products.”
The new year-round ham roast, previously only offered during the fall and winter months, contains 22 grams of protein, and it’s tasty too. “It really performs just like its meat counterpart,” said Walker. “We’ve had a lot of success in offering that for the holidays, so we’re really excited to have it as an everyday item now.”
Across the U.S., consumers are becoming more interested in living vegan, meat-free, and flexitarian lifestyles. The younger generations, in particular, are leading this change, often citing health, environmental, and animal welfare concerns as their main motivating factors.
This changing market means that brands like Tofurky must adapt to a new customer base quickly. Previously, the meat and dairy substitute market was dominated by vegans and vegetarians, but now, the demographic of buyers has expanded to include everyone. Consumers want products that are sustainable and nutritious, but don’t compromise on taste, says Walker. She noted, “The challenge is on us to get them products that deliver on that, where they feel like they’re having a really great meal. I think it’s exciting times for the whole industry, and because it’s growing so fast I think our challenges are keeping up with demand.”
For more information on Tofurky’s products, visit its website here.
Image Credit: Tofurky
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