Beyond Meat And PepsiCo Are Serving Their First Shelf-Stable Product

If you eat a vegan diet or prefer to keep your intake of animal products on the lighter side, things have certainly gotten a lot easier over the past few years. While many vegans, of course, still stick to tried-and-true basics such as fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as dishes like red beans and rice and sweet potato dal, the market for ready-to-eat burgers, sausages, and other meat-like products has recently exploded. Valued at close to $30 billion in 2020, a Bloomberg report released last year predicts that the plant-based food market will reach a global value of $162 billion by 2030 — a growth of more than 450%.

The Beyond Meat brand, founded in 2009, is a large part of that market. The brand's line of burgers, ground beef, sausages, meatballs, and chicken tenders "are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet," according to its website. Consistently ranked as one of the best meat replacements, Beyond Meat has, until now, only marketed refrigerated and frozen products such as those you'd find in the traditional meat section of a supermarket. But today, the brand announced the release of its first shelf-stable product, which will provide a convenient vegan snacking alternative.

Back in January, Beyond Meat and soda giant PepsiCo announced a new partnership called The PLANeT Partnership (TPP), an effort to "develop, produce and market innovative snack and beverage products made from plant-based protein" (via PepsiCo). Beyond Meat Jerky is the first product to launch as a result of that partnership and will soon be available in grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations near you, according to Food & Wine. Featuring ingredients such as peas and mung beans, each serving of jerky contains 10 grams of protein, according to Yahoo, and is marinated and slow-roasted to recreate the flavor and texture of meat-based jerky.

"The nationwide launch of Beyond Meat Jerky will make plant-based meat accessible to millions of households," Dan Moisan, Planet Partnership CEO, said in a press release (via Yahoo). "It tastes great, it's a good source of protein, and it's convenient to eat whether you're on the go, at the office, or out on adventures." The jerky will be available in three flavors: Original, Teriyaki, and Hot & Spicy.