A PLANT-BASED MEAT SANDWICH STARBUCKS NEW ADDITION TO US MENU

Wed 24 June 2020:

Starbucks is adding plant-based meat to its US menu for the first time.

The company has sold plant-based milk alternatives, such as soy milk and oat milk, in the US and elsewhere. But the sausage is its first plant-based food item in the US.

Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks, said this is part of the company’s sustainability initiatives and an effort to meet increasing customer demand for plant-based options.

In April, it began selling lasagna, pasta and wraps made with Beyond Meat crumbles in China. It also introduced a Beyond Meat breakfast sandwich in Canada in February. Beyond Meat, which is based in El Segundo, California, is Impossible Foods’ chief competitor.

Asked why it went with an Impossible Foods sausage for the US over one from Beyond Meat, Starbucks said it works with a variety of suppliers around the globe.

In January, Starbucks launched Oatly oat milk at more than 1,300 locations in the Midwest. Today, the chain is expanding the oat milk option to California locations. In addition to the almond foam beverages, customers in the Midwest and California can also order new beverage Cold Brew with Cinnamon Oatmilk Foam. 

The new launches are part of Starbucks’ summer menu—and commitment to decrease its carbon footprint with plant-based offerings—which also includes a new vegan Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink that the chain added to participating locations nationwide in May.

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