Kroger Just Got More Vegan-Friendly
One of the most popular supermarkets in the United States (according to You Gov) is "beefing" up their plant-based options to provide vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores alike with a plethora of new and delicious options. The American grocer, which the Kroger website states opened its first storefront in 1883, has added more than 50 new products to its Simple Truth Plant Based line (via Meat + Poultry). Kroger's Chief Merchant, Stuart Aitken, revealed to Meat + Poultry that the supermarket chain hopes to continue expanding their plant-based line, as it has been well received by many of their customers.
Veg News reports that the store brand was launched in 2019 with a lineup of about 20 products, ranging from meatless burger patties to sour cream to chocolate chip cookie dough. It's no surprise that Kroger is expanding their line of plant-based products. LiveKindly points out that last year, plant-based product sales went up about 11 percent overall, and refrigerated vegan meats went up a whopping 37 percent compared to regular meat sales which have only increased by about 2 percent. Aitken shared with Meat + Poultry that their Simple Truth brand "exceeded $2.5 billion in sales last year" and is expected to continue growing as time progresses.
What are the new plant-based products being offered at Kroger?
In addition to their burger patties, meat grinds, and deli ham (via Veg News), Simple Truth will be adding even more plant-based goodies to their collection, ensuring that they truly have something for everyone. Meat + Poultry reports that Kroger's goal with the line is to provide consumers with "affordable, delicious and quality products" for those who follow a "vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian lifestyle." Many of the products the plant-based brand offers are free of GMOs, dairy, and soy, and can provide up to 21 grams of wheat-based protein per serving.
What kinds of new plant-based products can Kroger customers expect to find? Additions to the Simple Truth collection will include a variety of plant-based shredded cheese and cheese slices, flavored oat milk ice cream like strawberry graham and sea salt caramel, flavored almond milk yogurts, cauliflower dips, salad dressings, and ready-to-eat chocolate chip cookies and chocolate truffle brownie batter. Kroger explains that they worked alongside chefs, food scientists, and nutritionists to ensure that their products were of top quality and mirrored their meat and dairy counterparts (via Meat + Poultry).