Distribution Roundup: PREVAIL Jerky Lands in Erewhon; Plant-Based Meat Grows in Foodservice

In the latest distribution news, jerky brand PREVAIL builds on West Coast ecommerce success with its retail launch at Erewhon, Otamot rolls out its full sauce line at Sprouts stores nationwide and plant-based meat brands make a push in the foodservice channel.

PREVAIL Jerky Hit Shelves at Erewhon

Chicago-based jerky brand PREVAIL Jerky launched three flavors — Original, Umami and Spicy — at all Erewhon locations last week.

According to PREVAIL founder and CMO Ashley Kohn, the Erewhon launch is intended to solidify the brand’s presence in Southern California, an area which has accounted for the majority of its ecommerce business. To-date, ecommerce has represented the bulk of the brand’s sales

“We are so excited to be chosen as the newest jerky brand at Erewhon, a store that has such incredibly high standards when it comes to clean ingredients, so it’s a true testament of our product,” Kohn said. “We are looking forward to being able to offer our delicious, allergy friendly ingredient jerky to their customers.”

Launched in 2019, the brand’s grass-fed jerky is free of the top-8 allergens and is sold in more than 70 retail locations, including Foxtrot and Plum Market. Looking ahead, Kohn said the brand will be launching with New@KeHE in March and has been accepted to Elevate, the distributor’s emerging brand platform.

PREVAIL plans to continue to expand its footprint west of Chicago “as the allergy friendly food category continues to grow,” Kohn said.

“Health and nutrition has always been important, but we are seeing even more interest in our functional food meat snack as consumers are looking to improve their eating habits in 2021,” she said.

Otamot Launches Full Sauce Line at Sprouts Nationwide

Organic sauce brand Otamot announced it has launched all four of its sauces into Sprouts nationwide. The retailer is the first to carry the brand’s full product line, which includes Essential, Spicy and Carrot Bolognese sauces. The brand’s newest offering, Vodka sauce, is currently an exclusive itemat Sprouts. The sauces retail for $6.99 per 16 oz. jar.

According to founder Andrew Suzuka, after launching in March 2019, Spouts was one of the first retailers Otamotpitched. While it was not initially accepted into stores, Suzuka attributes its three line extensions, increased brand awareness and “persistence” as contributing factors to being finally brought on by the retailer.

“It really validates how staying focused on the long-term growth of our brand is winning over both customers and retailers,” Suzuka said.

The new distribution brings the brand’s door count to approximately 2,000 in the U.S., including Whole Foods, Central Market, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Fred Meyer. The brand is also sold in Canada and China, and has plans to expand into additional international markets this year.

To gear up for what it projects to be a busy year ahead, the company has brought on a new 3PL partner to help the brand handle increased demand. It has also upped its production levels following a wave of category resets initially delayed by COVID-19.This year, Suzuka said Otamot also plans to launch two new sauce SKUs, one being a retailer exclusive, and extend into a new category in the second quarter of 2021, according to Suzuka.

Plant-Based Brands Hit Menus in Foodservice

Just as plant-based alternatives have continued to grow in retail, many brands are also making a push into foodservice in the new year to appeal to vegan and flexitarian consumers.

For brands, restaurant partnerships can help with marketing efforts, introducing sometimes unfamiliar products to new shoppers. Meanwhile, restaurants, which have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, can use new and novel ingredients as a means of drawing consumer attention, and dollars.

Two brands, Field Roast Grain Meat Co and Dr. Praeger’s, both rolled out plant-based pizza toppings for foodservice this month.

Field Roast’s new Plant-Based Pepperoni has launched in all 140 locations of Pizza Nova, a Toronto-headquartered pizza chain, both as a topping and as part of six new plant-based menu items. The pepperoni alternative is made with pea protein, seasoned with fennel, cracked black peppers, garlic and paprika; it contains six grams of protein per serving. The company plans to launch the product into retail in the United States and Canada later this year, according to Field Roast.

Dr. Praeger’s also released a line of plant-based pizza toppings available for foodservice this month. The brand’s vegan Meatless Pepperoni Slices, Meatless Sausage Toppings and Chick’n Strips are now available in 10 pound frozen cases for foodservice, though the brand has yet to announce any specific restaurant accounts.

“We’re thrilled to be expanding into the beloved pizza category, and hope to see these new toppings on our favorite pizzas,” Dr. Praeger’s CEO Larry Praeger said in a press release. “As the consumer appetite for plant-based protein sources grows, we are here to provide the variety they crave without sacrificing the integrity of our ingredients.”

Elsewhere, several plant-based brands have landed on the menus of major fast food chains.

Taco Bell announced last week a new partnership with Beyond Meat to create an “innovative new plant-based protein.” The plant-based meat will be tested over the next year, according to a press release from the fast food chain, and will mark the chain’s first move into meat alternatives.

Earlier this month, Dunkin’ announced a new partnership with Kelloggs’ MorningStar Farms to launch a new Southwest Veggie Power Breakfast Sandwich, featuring the brand’s Black Bean Patty. The breakfast sandwich, sold at Dunkin’ locations nationwide for a limited time, is the chain’s second plant-based breakfast sandwich offering, joining the Beyond Breakfast Sausage sandwich launched in 2019.

“Flexitarian eating is on the rise and we’re thrilled to deliver new menu items that can satisfy everyone,” Dara Schuster, senior director of marketing, plant-based protein at Kellogg Company, said in a press release.

Other distribution news includes:

• Hungry Buddha’s Keto Bars are set to hit shelves at select Costco and Whole Foods regions early this year.
• Plant-based superfood bar brand LivBar launched at all Sprouts locations earlier this month.
• Mary’s Gone Crackers has expanded distribution of its Real Thin cracker line’s Tomato + Basil flavor to Whole Foods and Amazon.
• Almond-based dip maker Bitchin’ Sauce has launched four SKUs — Original, Cilantro Chili, Chipotle and Pesto — at Sprouts nationwide.