4 ms·

That's not even technically an anecdote, let alone data, but here's a more accurate description of what's "already" happening: A vanishingly small fraction of

That's not even technically an anecdote, let alone data, but here's a more accurate description of what's "already" happening: A vanishingly small fraction of fast-food restaurants are taking small steps to experiment with offering faux-beef burgers as an additional menu option for the small percentage of their customers who might want that.

carapace 7y ago
In the cold light of morning... Here we go: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Plant-Based-Meat-Fast-Food-561454171.html https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Plant-Bas... > A number of fast-food chains have introduced plant-based meat alternatives in recent months, partnering with meatless companies Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods. > They are reacting to consumers' increased appetite for those foods: from April 2018 to April 2019, the plant-based retail market has registered 11% growth, according to data published on the Plant Based Foods Association website. - - - - Or this: https://www.starherald.com/news/nation_world/impossible-burger-becomes-no-item-sold-at-grocery-stores/article_78629272-e4ad-5531-9012-a8f55ee662cb.html https://www.starherald.com/news/nation_world/impossible-burg... > Impossible Burger debuted on store shelves earlier this month, immediately becoming the No. 1 product sold at some of America’s favorite grocery stores -- and remaining the top performer ever since. > Since its Sept. 20 debut, Impossible Burger has remained the No. 1 packaged item at Gelson’s 27-unit chain. Since its launch, Gelson’s has sold more Impossible Burger than all types of ground beef from cows, based on both revenue and total number of pounds sold. > “No one could have predicted this level of pent-up demand for Impossible Burger,” said John Bagan, Gelson’s Chief Merchandising Officer. - - - - I think we are at the base of the "hockey-stick" curve and that meatless meat is about to eat beef's lunch.
- AnimalMuppet 7y ago
  I highly doubt your last paragraph. Meatless would have to be clearly better on at least one axis that matters to customers, and not significantly worse on any other axis. I don't see that happening. (And don't bother to say "no animals harmed". That isn't an axis that matters to customers of beef.)
- ravitation 7y ago
  The value of the US plant-based meat retail market is still less than 2% of the value of the US animal meat retail market. I think it would be incredible if this were the base of the "hockey-stick" curve, it would fundamentally transform what agriculture looks like in the United States; but there are a lot of reasons to think that growth will slow substantially before the two markets are even in the same ballpark.

carapace 7y ago

In the cold light of morning... Here we go: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Plant-Based-Meat-Fast-Food-561454171.html https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Plant-Bas... > A number of fast-food chains have introduced plant-based meat alternatives in recent months, partnering with meatless companies Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods. > They are reacting to consumers' increased appetite for those foods: from April 2018 to April 2019, the plant-based retail market has registered 11% growth, according to data published on the Plant Based Foods Association website. - - - - Or this: https://www.starherald.com/news/nation_world/impossible-burger-becomes-no-item-sold-at-grocery-stores/article_78629272-e4ad-5531-9012-a8f55ee662cb.html https://www.starherald.com/news/nation_world/impossible-burg... > Impossible Burger debuted on store shelves earlier this month, immediately becoming the No. 1 product sold at some of America’s favorite grocery stores -- and remaining the top performer ever since. > Since its Sept. 20 debut, Impossible Burger has remained the No. 1 packaged item at Gelson’s 27-unit chain. Since its launch, Gelson’s has sold more Impossible Burger than all types of ground beef from cows, based on both revenue and total number of pounds sold. > “No one could have predicted this level of pent-up demand for Impossible Burger,” said John Bagan, Gelson’s Chief Merchandising Officer. - - - - I think we are at the base of the "hockey-stick" curve and that meatless meat is about to eat beef's lunch.

AnimalMuppet 7y ago
I highly doubt your last paragraph. Meatless would have to be clearly better on at least one axis that matters to customers, and not significantly worse on any other axis. I don't see that happening. (And don't bother to say "no animals harmed". That isn't an axis that matters to customers of beef.)
ravitation 7y ago
The value of the US plant-based meat retail market is still less than 2% of the value of the US animal meat retail market. I think it would be incredible if this were the base of the "hockey-stick" curve, it would fundamentally transform what agriculture looks like in the United States; but there are a lot of reasons to think that growth will slow substantially before the two markets are even in the same ballpark.