Impossible Meats begins selling Nationwide, while Beyond Meat goes International

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated consumers’ purchase of plant-based meats. In the 16-week period ended June 20, retail sales of fresh meat alternatives had soared 218% compared to the year-ago period, according to Nielsen data.  So while many industries are suffering, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are entering brand new markets and capitalizing on the trend.

Impossible Foods announced Monday that its meatless sausage will now be sold to restaurants nationwide.  The Impossible Sausage is already available at U.S. locations of Restaurant Brands International’s Burger King and Starbucks, but now other chains and independent restaurant owners can also put the meat-free sausage on their menus.

Impossible’s rival Beyond Meat already sells its own meatless sausage in grocery stores and at restaurants, including Dunkin’. Other food companies, like Kellogg, also sell their own sausage meat alternative.  Impossible’s meatless sausage, which debuted in January, is its first new product since Impossible launched the Impossible Burger.

Meanwhile, Beyond Meat announced Tuesday that Alibaba’s Freshippo grocery stores would start selling its meatless burger patties, marking its entry into supermarkets in mainland China.  Beyond first entered mainland China in April through a partnership with Starbucks. Yum China’s KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut also sell Beyond Meat products in several Chinese cities.

Beyond Burgers will be available at 50 Freshippo locations in Shanghai starting Saturday. By September, the patties will also be available at an additional 48 locations in Beijing and Hangzhou. “We know that retail will be a critical part of our success in China, and we’re pleased to mark this early milestone within a few months of our market entry,” CEO Ethan Brown said in a statement.

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