Food Companies Continue to Embrace Foodservice With New Distribution

While the pandemic may have initially shuttered restaurant doors across the country, the foodservice industry is rebounding and channel sales are on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to a study by The Culinary Institute of America. Check out the roundup below for the latest partnerships, innovations and new menu item collaborations.

Field Roast Expands Foodservice Presence With Wienerschnitzel

Plant-based protein maker Field Roast is digging deeper into foodservice, announcing that it has expanded its partnership with hot dog chain Wienerschnitzel nationwide. The expansion comes after a successful 30-market test launch of its co-branded Veggie Dog which is served at Wienerschnitzel locations in three varieties: Backyard, Barbeque and Chicago style.

“We’re excited to bring the Field Roast plant-based dogs systemwide following the great consumer response in our in-market tests across California, Texas and New Mexico,” said Doug Koegeboehn, Chief Marketing Officer of Wienerschnitzel, in a press release. “Consumers are eager to try plant-based options, and those who have tried our Veggie Dogs keep coming back for more. We look forward to making the product even more accessible with this national expansion.”

According to Field Roast, the Veggie Dogs are “hardwood smoked,” made with pea protein, use the same spice combination as beef hot dogs and also contain a similar protein content (5 grams per serving). The plant-based hot dogs are now available at over 325 Wienerschnitzel locations and are also available at retail, packaged as Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog.

“This partnership supports the growing trend of foodservice operators implementing more plant-based protein options into their menus, while furthering our goal to reach plant-based protein fans and plant-based curious consumers alike who like to sample products before purchasing at retail,” said a Greenleaf Foods Executive Spokesperson. “We’ve seen foodservice partnerships successfully lower the barrier for trial before purchase, adding to the continued momentum of our brands. We look forward to expanding the distribution of more Field Roast plant-based meats and cheeses throughout 2022.”

Earlier this month, Field Roast announced a partnership with pizza chain Donato’s, introducing its plant-based pepperoni to the chain’s cauliflower crust pizzas.

Numi Organic Tea Now Brewing At WeWork

Flexible space provider WeWork announced a new partnership with Numi Organic Tea this week, naming the brand as its “premier tea partner.” The partnership will span 275 WeWork locations across the United States and Canada and stock Numi tea products in the 1,000 pantries at these workspace locations.

“This partnership is a promising symbol of a healthy return to office life and we can’t wait to share our teas and mission with WeWork members,” said Brian Durkee, Chief Executive Officer of Numi, in a press release.

The rollout will begin with six of Numi’s top-selling varieties including Aged Earl Grey, Moroccan Mint, Jasmine Green, Breakfast Blend, Matcha Toasted Rice, and Rooibos Chai. All Numi teas are fair trade and made with a blend of leaves, herbs, spices and flowers.

Additionally, Numi will serve as the official sponsor for WeWork’s Earth Day celebrations and the two companies have plans to partner on sustainability initiatives and events. The Climate Neutral Certified tea company tea packages its products in biodegradable bags and compostable wrappers.

“At WeWork, we strive to harness the power of community to care for people and the planet by focusing on our climate strategy, local community impact, and core values,” said Christina Ferzli, Global Head of Public Affairs, in a press release. “We are excited to provide our members with access to Numi Organic Tea products, a brand that aligns with our purpose to make a positive impact on the world around us.”

Dippin’ Dots Now Served With IncrEDIBLE Eats Spoon

Flash frozen beaded ice cream maker Dippin’ Dots announced a partnership with IncrEDIBLE Eats to serve the brand’s edible spoons with each order of Dippin’ Dots. The new partnership supports the ice cream maker’s environmental-impact initiatives by reducing plastic use previously necessary for the product’s consumption.

“Providing an edible spoon with our ice cream is a win-win for everyone,” said Bryan Carney, Director of National Accounts at Dippin’ Dots, in a press release. “It elevates our ice cream, it saves our planet from waste and it aligns with the message many of our partners are trying to convey. We are so excited to kick-off this partnership and we can’t wait for our customers to try these delicious spoons.”

The spoons are available in Vanilla and Chocolate flavors and are made with a blend of wheat, oat and chickpea flour. The individually wrapped dessert spoons have begun to rollout to all Dippin Dots franchise locations for sampling with widespread distribution expected later this year.

“America’s Sub Shop” Goes Plant-based With New Gardein Menu Item

Sub shop chain Blimpie announced the introduction of a Plant-Based Meatball Parmigiana made with gardein Plant-Based Meatballs last week. The new vegetarian offering is topped with marinara sauce, provolone cheese and parmesan meaning that it is not vegan-friendly. Blimpie’s plant-based meatball sub will be available at all locations nationwide until April.

“Blimpie is thrilled to announce our very first plant-based sub,” said Sam Carity, senior national marketing manager for Kahala Brands, parent company of Blimpie, in a press release. “Guests have been looking for a plant-based option and we set out to create a sub that could fill their cravings. Our new sub delivers the same mouthwatering taste of our classic Meatball Parmigiana, now as a vegetarian option.”

Pokeworks Pilots OmniPork Luncheon Offering

Fast-casual poke chain Pokeworks has teamed up with OmniFoods to create a new plant-based take on one of the chain’s signature bowls, Garlic Spam Musubi. The new offering, Omni Musubi, is made with OmniPork Luncheon and is available at seven corporate Pokeworks locations on the West coast and Manhattan.

“After our successful expansion in the US over the last six months, we are incredibly delighted to partner with Pokeworks and bring OmniPork to more people and communities as well as fulfill our mission to construct a multi-faceted global ecosystem of future food,” said David Yeung, founder and CEO of OmniFoods, in a press release. “We have no doubt that the new OmniPork Luncheon Musubi will be a success, and we look forward to growing our partnership while taking a stance to support Veganuary and appreciate the impact food can have on our world.”

The announcement of this limited time menu item follows another recent partnership by Pokework. The fast casual chain has also teamed up with Wildtype to test out new offerings using the brand’s “sushi-grade” cultivated salmon.

Planet Smoothie Teams Up With Vital Proteins

Smoothie chain Planet Smoothie and collagen brand Vital Proteins announced last week they have teamed up to create three, collagen-infused smoothies: Vitality Vibes, Wellness Warrior, and Get Up & Glow. The new limited-time offerings each contain 10 grams of collagen per serving and are available at Planet Smoothie stores nationwide until May.

“We are thrilled to partner with Planet Smoothie to continue our goal of improving individual wellness routines and capitalizing on the Back to Wellness trend,” said Tracey Halama, President of Vital Proteins, in a press release. “As consumers are becoming more familiar with collagen and its benefits, we are excited to collaborate on these three new collagen-infused smoothies.”