Distribution: Wholly Veggie Debuts Entrees; Panda Express Brings Back Beyond Orange Chicken
Wholly Veggie Launches ‘The Good Lunch’ Entree Line at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts
Toronto-based food brand Wholly Veggie has launched a new three-SKU entree line, ‘The Good Lunch,’ at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts stores nationwide, marking the brand’s first foray into frozen entrees.
The three frozen plant-based entrees include Cheezy Cauliflower & Broccoli, Thai Curry and Southwest Chili varieties. Each meal contains between 11 to 13 grams of protein, depending on the variety.
Though the line will debut at two natural retailers, co-founder John Bonnell told NOSH in an email that the brand plans to be as multifaceted as possible including DTC partners like Imperfect Foods, its own ecommerce platform and foodservice.
Launched in 2017, Wholly Veggie makes vegetable-based snacks, appetizers and meals aimed at creating convenient, plant-based offerings. The brand created the entree line with consumer research insights that revealed “lunch hour” had become an afterthought for many consumers.
According to a 2021 study by Harvest Business Review, over 60% of working professionals take lunch at their desk or skip lunch altogether due to busy schedules.
“The Good Lunch entrees were created to provide easy solutions that we were missing in our own lives, delivering the vegetables you need in the dishes you love, ready-to-eat in under five minutes,” said Bonnell in a press release.
“The Good Lunch” line is now available in the frozen aisle at Whole Foods and Sprouts across the U.S. for $7.99 per entree. The line is set to debut at major Canadian retailers in October. Wholly Veggie’s full lineup is available in 4,500 doors across Canada and the U.S., including nationwide at Target and at select Foxtrot, Gelson’s, Earth Fare, Mom’s and Harmons stores, among others.
Looking ahead, the brand has a few more rollouts scheduled for this year, but will mainly focus on servicing its existing retail partners, said Bonnell. Wholly Veggie plans on “doubling down” on merchandising, sampling and discovering new ways to drive brand awareness.
“The launch and new product line [at WFM and Sprouts] comes on the heels of a rebrand which has signaled bigger changes for Wholly Veggie,” said Bonnell. “Not only do we look and feel different, but we’re thinking bigger for 2023 and beyond, and looking for fun and innovative ways to bring more veggies into the lives of North American households.”
Beyond Meat And Panda Express Bring Back Beyond The Original Orange Chicken
Fast-casual Asian restaurant chain Panda Express has added its plant-based Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to its permanent menu and will be available at all 2,400 locations nationwide.
Beyond The Original Chicken, created in partnership with Beyond Meat, originally debuted as a test launch in 2021 at Panda Express locations in Southern California and New York City and was later expanded to 10 markets across the country.
“We are thrilled to offer Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to consumers nationwide for the very first time,” said Beyond Meat chief innovation officer, Dariush Ajami, in a press release. “By partnering with Panda Express to introduce new and innovative plant-based options that deliver the delicious taste and experience of their iconic menu items, we’re enabling people to enjoy their favorite dishes with the upsides of plant-based meat.”
The news is an improvement to Beyond Meat’s below-expected performance in recent months, including a 1.6% decline in sales during Q2, which resulted in the company cutting back manufacturing costs and laying off approximately 4% of its workforce, CEO Ethan Brown said during a call with investors. The report also noted its McPlant burger test launch with McDonald’s had concluded but the company has not yet determined if it will return as a menu item in the U.S.
Blackbird Foods Launches Plant-Based Pizza at Target
Target is adding two new plant-based pizzas to its frozen set, onboarding Blackbird’s Margherita and Supreme pizzas at 300 locations.
The Margherita features basil, garlic and the Blackbird’s signature tomato sauce while the Supreme is made with plant-based sausage crumbles, red onions and green peppers. Both varieties are non-GMO, kosher and cholesterol-free and will be available at select Target stores for a suggested retail price of $7.99.
The New York City-based startup was founded in 2020 and, since its inception, has expanded its retail line to include five hand-tossed frozen pizzas (Supreme, Margherita, BBQ Chick’n, Kale & Mushroom and Pepperoni) and four shredded seitan products (Original, Rosemary Garlic, Texas BBQ and Chili Lime).
“Since our launch, we’ve been working tirelessly to prove that we can make the best frozen pizza that also happens to be plant-based. I started off selling door-to-door in NYC […] this win from Target just two years later is a huge stamp of approval for us,” said CEO Emanuel Storch in a press release.
The Supreme and Margherita pizzas will be available at select Target locations beginning October 9.
Yishi Foods Goes Nationwide with Whole Foods Market
Asian-inspired oatmeal brand Yishi Foods announced it has expanded its retail footprint with Whole Foods Market nationwide. The natural grocer will carry three of the brand’s oatmeal varieties: Taro Bubble Tea (taro, black tea, blueberry and chia), Matcha Latte (matcha, flaxseed and coconut milk) and Toasted Sesame (chia seeds, walnuts and flaxseed).
“More than ever, shoppers are increasingly demanding breakfast cereals in innovative and delicious flavors that provide a multitude of functional benefits,” said Yishi founder and CEO, Lin Jiang, in a press release. “We’re thrilled to expand the availability of our nourishing products to Whole Foods Market across the country, continuing to capitalize on our phenomenal growth momentum and market traction.”
Since its debut last year, the brand said it has sold over 250,000 servings of oatmeal. Yishi products are currently available at Mom’s Organic, Central Market, Bristol Farms and Gelson’s. Looking ahead, the brand is on track to reach 1,000 retail stores by the end of the month, including the 500 Whole Foods doors.
