Dunkin’ Donuts Is Teaming up With Beyond Meat

Highlights

The breakfast chain had debuted a new sandwich containing the plant-based substitute’s vegan sausage. The item, which costs $4.29, will begin selling at just over 160 locations in New York City. According to CNN, Dunkin’ is looking to sell the sandwich across the U.S. sometime in the future. The chain is the latest to introduce a food item with meat substitutes, joining Burger King and Little Caesars. The move also shows that the market for plant-based foods is showing no signs of slowing down. In just the past year, retail sales in America for have jumped over 11%. According to Barclays, the industry’s value may hit $140 billion throughout the next 10 years.

Is This the Future?

Plant-based meat alternatives have become an evermore frequent menu item at restaurants nationwide, including giants like White Castle and Burger King, making a dent in the traditional meat market.

H.G. Parsa, the Barron Hilton Distinguished Professor of Lodging Management at the University of Denver has worked in the food industry for decades and believes this new alternative is here to stay.

“When Burger King introduced the special burger, sales went up 11 percent,” Parsa said. “That’s huge!”

The success of companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods is an encouraging sign for companies in the space but still has several logistical challenges to get meet market demand.

“Supply chain is the issue here, not consumer demand,” Parsa pointed out.