Thai Union getting positive feedback on seafood alternatives sold under OMG Meat brand

As demand for plant-based food increases, plant-based seafood analogs have also grown in popularity across the globe. SeafoodSource is closely following the plant- and cell-based seafood alternatives by compiling a weekly roundup of updates from the industry.

• Plant-based food industry experts are predicting the sector will exceed USD 1.6 billion (EUR 1.4 billion) in sales over the next decade, according to CNBC. The experts described the sector's current status as “in its infancy.”
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based New School Foods plans to launch plant-based salmon to the Canadian restaurant, sector, according to TechCrunch. "We spent the last two to three years developing, developing this completely new technology that allows us to create muscle fibers entirely from plants and then to assemble that into larger structures like whole cuts of meat,” New School Co-Founder and CEO Chris Bryson said. 
• Thai Union’s plant-based brand OMG Meat recently launched seafood alternative products, and an executive with the company told Food Navigator Asia the comapny is receiving positive feedback. Thai Union Alternative Proteins Managing Director Maarten Geraets told the publication that the success of its shrimp analog comes from the company's focus on “sensory enjoyment.” “This technology focuses on the texture development, allowing for the shrimp to have that bouncy mouthfeel that makes it feel even more similar to conventional shrimp; as well as to give it that translucent seafood look,” Geraets told Food Navigator Asia. "Thai Union is traditionally already very big in the areas of tuna and shrimp so we do have a lot of in-house know-how when it comes to these seafoods and this is what we are leveraging to spur further growth and provide consumers with more choice so as to grow the overall seafood category."
• Fish and meat analog producer Schouten has announced it will be developing more of its substitutes using grass. The family-owned Giessen, Netherlands-based company will be joining forces Heijen, Netherlands-based company Grassa. The two will be working to test and research uses of grass proteins in Schouten's alternative meat analogs. 
• On 15 February, the third edition of the New Food Invest event will take place online, with a special focus on Asian Markets. The event aims to accelerate protein market growth, according to a press release issued by ProVeg. The program hosts speakers from investment firms, alternative protein companies, plant-based media outlets, and more. Startups will also be allowed to participate in pitching sessions at the event, ProVeg said.  

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