Paul Sandle

LONDON, (Reuters) – Nestle will launch plant-based alternatives to egg and shrimp, expanding its product range for the rapidly growing vegan market.

Garden Gourmet, Europe’s egg substitute, has soy protein as well as omega-3 fatty oils. Nestle stated that it is possible to use the egg substitute in scrambled eggs, a frittata, and as an ingredient for cakes or cookies.

Vrimp is a vegan shrimp that follows last year’s launch of a tuna replacement.

Mark Schneider, Chief Executive of the Swiss Company said that sales for vegan products like plant-based burgers or sausages are growing by double digits.

Reporters in London were told by him that “it’s not just limited to one specific age group or one single demographic group.” This is becoming mainstream and broadly based.

Nestle sold plant-based products for just 200 million Swiss Swiss Francs last year (or a fraction of its total sales, which was 84 billion Swiss Francs).

Stefan Palzer, chief technology officer at Nestle said the company developed its new products in less time than one year. Nestle used for instance its plant science expertise and pea protein engineering to create a product that didn’t taste like the legume.

In an interview, he stated that they wanted to mimic the animal-based product as much as possible. This makes it easier to convert to such products.

Initial launch will be limited in certain European countries, including Switzerland.

Nestle introduced its first plant-based beef burgers three years earlier than the U.S. pioneers Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.

Schneider stated, “We are the first to admit that we didn’t create the plant-based hamburger and we certainly weren’t the ones who invented the plant-based chicken.”

“But I’m also clearly proud to say that ours will be better than anyone around the globe when it comes down to taste, mouth appeal, and nutrition.”

Palzer claimed that Nestle had an advantage because of its global reach, and the variety of brands it offers.

He said, “We have a wide portfolio of food- and beverage brands that these companies do not have.”

Nestle is already launching vegan products within its other product categories, such as a KitKat for vegans.

Palzer explained that there is an enormous opportunity to extend line lengths with all of the loved brands.

($1 = 0.9276 Swiss francs)