After making its first foray into plant-based seafood last year with a plant-based crab product, Thai Union, one of the biggest processors and exporters of seafood in the world, plans to launch a plant-based shrimp product in 2021. It says it will supply the global foodservice market, not the retail market. Thai Union also has a partnership with Avanti Feeds in India to produce shrimp feeds.
Thai Union, the worldâs largest canned-tuna processor and a leading global supplier of seafood products to the USA and Europe, says its decision to expand into the plant-based market comes in response to consumer demand. Tunyawat Kasemsuwan, Group Director, Global Innovation Center, Thai Union Group, said, âWe have had consumers come to us and say, âI know you are an expert in seafood and shrimp; I would like to have a shrimp tempura, but not containing shrimpâ. They come to us because they see we understand product quality, its functional properties, characteristics, taste and sensory texture.â
This move from Thai Union indicates that we can no longer ignore the masses. The risk of missing out on the vast business opportunities in the plant-based sector is too great.
Recent studies have pointed out that the pandemic has prompted many omnivores to opt for plant-based versions of their favorite animal-based foods. A whopping 92% of first-time buyers say they plan to continue eating plant-based meats when the pandemic is over!
Information: Tunyawat Kasemsuwan, Group Director, Global Innovation Center, ThaiUnion, Corporate Headquarters, 72/1 Moo 7, Sethakit 1 Road, Tambon Tarsrai, Amphur Muangsamutsakorn, Samutsakorn 74000, Thailand (Phone +66(0) 3481-6500, Fax +66(0) 3481-6886, Webpage https://www.thaiunion.com/en).
Source: Green Queen. Seafood Giant Thai Union to Launch Plant-Based Shrimp This Year. Sally Ho. February 8, 2021.