Tyson Foods, the largest meatpacker in the U.S., is shipping a plant-based protein nugget under the Raised & Rooted brand name and saw continuous market growth in the past year. Noel White, Tyson Foods CEO, said on an earnings call this week that the nuggets “will be in 4000 retail stores and available in broad line food service distribution by the end of September.” White also says discussions are continuing with consumers and this engagement “will involve both plant and blended protein options under the Raised & Rooted brand and our flagship brands.” The Raised & Rooted nuggets are made “from a blend of pea protein isolate and other plant ingredients and contain five grams of fiber and omega-3s, and less saturated fat than traditional nuggets,” explained a release by Tyson Foods. With this new investment into the plant-based meat alternatives, questions have arisen that Tyson will not be committed to its flagship brands, such as Hillshire Farm. The company says it does not view it as internal competition, but rather a way to offer more consumer options. White stated previously, “We remain firmly committed to our growing traditional meat business and expect to be a market leader in alternative protein, which is experiencing double-digit growth and could someday be a billion-dollar business for our company."
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