Whole Foods Adds Plant-Based Offerings, Yo Mama’s Sees Summer Expansion

Wholly Veggies Enters Whole Foods Market, Opens US Office

Wholly Veggie is making progress in its quest to move into the U.S. market. The Canadian plant-based food brand announced its heat-and-eat cauliflower “wings” will be available in all 480 Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

The natural retailer is picking up Buffalo and Ranch versions of the soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free wings, which have an MSRP of $7.99. In addition to their unique cruciferous filling, the wings are notable for their “patented” panko coating, which the company claims gives the product a distinctive crunch. Wholly Veggie first launched the line in January 2020 in Canadian and California retailers, initially.

Along with the retail news, Wholly Veggie announced plans to open a U.S. office in Austin, Texas. The Toronto-based company has also signed on with broker Presence Marketing. Currently the company, which also produces frozen plant-based pizzas, appetizers, veggie patties and meals, is sold in over 3,500 stores in North America. Retail partners include Target, National Coop Group, and Loblaws, with the brand recently expanding in the Midwest and North East via placement in Moms Market, Roche Bros, and FoxTrot Market.

The company’s goal is to double its retail footprint in 2022, with a particular focus on expanding within the U.S. market. Ecommerce will also be another avenue for growth, the company said, with shipping offered across North America.

Though the company offers more processed options like pizza bites and burger patties, in which vegetables are more hidden in crusts or include added pea protein, Wholly Veggie Wings are notable for offering larger, whole vegetable cuts in the center of each bite. The choice to put broccoli or cauliflower florets as the protein replacement differentiate it from other plant-based options that use fillings that more closely resemble and taste like meat.

David Gaucher, Co-CEO of Wholly Veggie, said that while the company wants to produce products that are familiar to shoppers and better-for-you takes on classic dishes, the team also still wants to emphasize its vegetable ingredients.

“We’re thrilled to be launching nationwide with Whole Foods, validating our view that plant-based shoppers are looking for more than just meat analogs,” Gaucher said. “Our goal is to democratize plant-based foods for everyday shoppers, and make plant-based food part of daily life.”

Daring Heads to Whole Foods Freezers

Chicken alternative Daring Foods is heading to the country’s largest natural retailer, announcing it will now be sold in 264 Whole Foods Market locations, nationwide. The company called the new distribution a “significant retail growth moment” for the brand, which launched only 18 months ago.

Whole Foods will stock the company’s breaded and original chicken pieces, which are sold frozen and can be substituted for diced chicken pieces or nuggets.

“Entering such an iconic retailer that is known for its healthy, high-quality products is a major milestone for Daring,” said Justin Neal, Head of Retail at Daring. “Whole Foods Market is the pinnacle of better-for-you products and they have been a huge proponent of the plant-based food category.”

Neal added that the company has largely focused on the natural channel, but hopes to deepen its presence in conventional and club stores this year. Recent retail pickups include Costco, Kroger, Wegmans, Bristol Farms and Erewhon. The company aims to be in over 5,000 doors by the end of 2021. Ecommerce is also a focus, through sales on Darin’s own website, being added to the menus of meal kits and by partnering with last-mile delivery partners such as Imperfect Foods.

Daring announced the close of $40 million in funding earlier this year in May, a round that followed the close of $8 million in funding last year. Investors in Daring’s latest fundraise included D1 Capital Partners, musician Drake, Maveron and Palm Tree Crew. At the time, Daring CEO Ross Mackay said the capital was needed to support upcoming retail expansion and, in turn, increasing production capacity. In preparation for this expansion, and to better appeal to more mainstream consumers, he said, Daring also lowered its MRSP from $8.99 for an 8 oz. pouch to $6.99.

“[We’re at] sort of an inflection point of what we needed to do to capitalize on becoming a market leader in chicken,” Ross said in a May interview with NOSH. “We’re very early and growing tremendously quickly so having [a] narrow [product] focus rather than being, you know, loose, and fast is definitely how we’re trying to build and run the company.”

Yo Mama’s Foods Sees Summer Expansion

Florida-based Yo Mama’s Foods expanded distribution for its pasta sauces this summer to an additional 290 Publix locations and Greenwise stores across the southeast. The expansion will bring the brand’s Belissima Basil Tomato Sauce to Publix locations and its ‘Mama’s Original Marinara’ to GreenWise Markets in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

“We’re excited to continue expanding with Publix. Our team works day and night to create delightful customer experiences that start the moment they try Yo Mama’s Foods,” said CEO of Yo Mama’s Foods Daivd Habib in a press release. “Everything on the inside and outside of our products are just the way Yo Mama would want it to be! Clean, simple, and delicious.”

In addition, last month Walmart added the brand’s Original Marinara, Bellisima Basil, Spicy Marinara, and Vodka Marinara to shelves at 1,000 store locations.

Yo Mama’s Foods produces pasta sauces, dressings and condiments using clean ingredients and maintaining low sodium and no added sugar across its product lines. The products across the brand’s portfolio can be found at over 7,000 stores nationwide and are available online at Amazon.

Impossible Sausage Reaches Retail

After a year since launching in restaurants and foodservice distributors, Impossible Foods announced this month it is bringing its plant-based Impossible Sausage to grocery stores nationwide including retailers such as Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, Wegmans and Stop & Shop.

“At Impossible Foods, we’re intent upon delivering on what consumers demand from meat, but without the compromise inherent in the use of animals for food production,” said President of Impossible Foods, Dennis Woodside, in a press release. “With our latest Impossible Sausage product for retail, we’re doubling down in our efforts to reach every home cook looking to satiate their cravings for sausage.”

Impossible Sausage made its debut at restaurant chains such as Starbucks and Burger King last June. The company recently secured Child Nutrition Labels authorized by the USDA and announced it will begin offering its Impossible Burger to K-12 school districts nationwide through a pilot program. Impossible Foods introduced its beef alternative to retailers back in 2019 and has expanded distribution to more than 20,000 grocery stores nationwide.

Other notable distribution gains:

• Love + Chew rolled out its 2 oz. Banana Bread, Cherry Almond and Chocolate Chia cookies to the protein bar aisle at Whole Foods locations across Northern California this month.
• D2C-focused supplement maker Organifi expanded retail presence for its powdered Green Juice, Red Juice, Gold and Pure SKUs nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market, 600 CVS stores, Denver-area King Soopers and Midwest region Fresh Thyme locations.
• Snack maker Munk Pack will now distribute its keto nut & seed bars in Sea Salt Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate and its keto granola bar in Coconut Cocoa Chip and Blueberry Almond Vanilla flavors to Walmart stores nationwide.
• Honey Mama’s cocoa truffle bars are now available at Whole Foods Markets nationwide.
• Keto baking brand Sweet Logic gained nationwide distribution for its Triple Chocolate, Lemon Poppyseed, Blueberry Mug Muffin and Apple Cinnamon mug cake mixes at over 700 Vitamin Shoppe Stores.
• Stryve Foods added more than 4,000 convenience and retail locations to distribute its air-dried meat snacks
• Gelato and sorbet maker Nancy’s Fancy rolled out its Butterscotch Budino and Roasted Banana flavors in addition to its non dairy Passion Fruit, Coconut Stracciatella, Chocolate Fondente and Salted Peanut Butter flavors to Mid-Atlantic region Whole Foods stores.