SPRINGDALE – This week Tyson Foods announced it will be swapping out chicken for plant-protein alternatives in nuggets, the Wall Street Journal reports. The new chickenless chicken nuggets, made with flaxseed, peas and other plants, will debut this summer.
Tyson currently produces one out of every five pounds of chicken, beef and pork processed in the United States annually. But the company sees meatless as a business that could reach $1 billion in yearly sales. The plant-based nuggets will be under a new brand called “Raised & Rooted.”
“There are opportunities for us to produce and supply many of the products produced today in traditional form, in plant-based form,” said Noel White, Tyson’s CEO.
The company also has plans to offer sausages and burgers with barley, pea protein and quinoa combined with beef and chicken.
The company says it is eyeing the growing number of customers who like to have veggie burgers and plant proteins along with their meats. Recent studies have found that more consumers are cutting back on meat consumption as well.
Tyson isn’t the only food company expanding into meat alternatives. Nestlé is rumored to be expanding its agreement with McDonald’s to add its plant-based Incredible Burger to stores outside of Germany,