ONTARIO, CA - What happens when two top consumer trends blend to create a new offering in the produce aisle? I assume the result would be an increase in foot traffic. This is the case with FiveStar Gourmet Foods' latest offering, as the company has partnered with Beyond Meat^® to align the convenience of packaged salads with the demand for more diverse plant-based meat products. The new Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat recently debuted in Publix supermarkets and will be available to retailers nationwide starting in January.

"We are thrilled to be working with Beyond Meat, a company we appreciate and respect. This partnership allows us to be more versatile with our main product lines and enables us to feature plant-based protein as a key ingredient within all of our fresh, prepared categories, such as salads, breakfast, and meal entrées," said Tal Shoshan, CEO of FiveStar Gourmet Foods. "From a culinary perspective, the Beyond Beef^® Crumbles are delicious, innovative, versatile, and are designed to look, cook, and taste like beef—which our chefs really like. Also, more importantly, a company like Beyond Meat aligns with our core values for innovation and sustainability, using high-quality ingredients to build food that's better for people and the planet."

The Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat features Beyond Beef Crumbles alongside fresh and flavorful toppings like fire-roasted corn and roasted red bell peppers with black beans, aged Cheddar and Jack cheeses, plus crunchy tri-color tortilla strips—topped with a made-in-house creamy Salsa Ranch Dressing.

According to a press release, the new salad is also "Ultra fresh Sealed," which means consumers can enjoy a product with a longer shelf-life. The salad offers a contactless retail experience and is produced in FiveStar's state-of-the-art facilities in California and Florida, which are USDA and SQF Level 3 certified.

"We're proud to partner with FiveStar to make delicious and nutritious plant-based meat more accessible for consumers on-the-go with the launch of the new Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat," said Tim Smith, VP of Foodservice Sales, North America for Beyond Meat. "We value our partnership with FiveStar as they share our vision for providing consumers with convenient, craveable, and better-for-you products."

Don't pass up on this opportunity to add a unique plant-based offering to your shelves! Trust me, your shoppers will thank you. Stay tuned as ANUK continues bringing you the latest news.

FiveStar Gourmet Foods