TYSON FOODS, INC. TRADEMARKS AND REGISTERED TRADEMARKS ARE OWNED BY TYSON FOODS, INC. OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
Serve Up Winner, Winner Plant-Based Dinner!
There’s no doubt.
Consumer desire for plant-based protein is here to stay. In a flooded marketplace of constantly evolving plant-based options and new innovations, it’s important to stay ahead of this trend.
As many operators know, when serving plant-based proteins - flavor, texture and appearance play a huge part in consumer appeal. So, keep reading on to discover a new meat substitute and plant-based soy protein that delivers a delicious chicken-like-eating experience without extra time, labor and food costs.
85% of consumers
reported eating plant-based meat products more often or the same amount as they did two years ago.3
Unlock the Potential of Plant-Based Protein
The popularity of fried chicken has grown extraordinarily, with it now appearing on 56.9% of menus across all segments in the U.S.1 With plant-based protein also holding an established presence on menus, there is a unique opportunity to add a crispy, flavorful and crave-worthy item that will set your operation apart.
With 95% of operators anticipating that their sales of plant-based options will increase or stay the same in the upcoming year2, and 85% of consumers reportedly eating plant-based protein more often or the same amount as they did two years ago3, now’s the time to discover new Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets.
Plant-based products in general have been increasing in prevalence over the last several years,” says Melissa Bamsey, Senior Sensory Scientist at Tyson Foods. “We weren’t only seeing the need for plant-based products, but good quality plant-based products...to have a new gold standard for plant-based proteins that taste great.
"What’s special about this item is the texture."
Melissa Bamsey
Senior Sensory Scientist
Tyson Foods
Get the Perfect Meat Substitute to Maximize Your Menu
New Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets can help you deliver on current customer demand with a premium fully-cooked, crispy, plant-based alternative in three different forms. They're a wonderful 1:1 swap for their traditional counterparts, offering an easy way to expand your menu with no muss or fuss.
Preparation and performance qualities are similar to traditional chicken nuggets, tenders and filets so there’s no added back-of-house labor or training needed. Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets are versatile like their meat counterparts and deliver the authentic chicken-like-eating experience consumers crave in plant-based proteins.
“What’s special about this item is the texture,” says Bamsey. “We were seeking that light, airy, crispy type of breading texture, and a firm but juicy interior texture that is very similar to meat items. And that really stands out as different from competitors currently in the market.”
Serve Up Superior Taste and Texture
Both you and your customers will want to dig into our New Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets that are every bite as craveable as real chicken. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, they deliver a hard-to-replicate, chicken-like-eating experience that people are going crave-y over. Consumers have established their interest in meat substitutes, and now you can serve more of what they love by adding Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets to your menu.
"One thing that we’re incredibly proud of with this product in particular is the appearance and how it really looks like chicken,” says Bamsey. “It’s white, bright and looks like real chicken. That’s where we stand out against competitors. Interior color, overall appearance, breading appearance, size, and shape.
Get the Power of a Perfect Plant-Based Product
As part of our advanced research and development process, our Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets went through rigorous sensory testing to ensure top performance and customer satisfaction, as well as meeting our high Tyson Foods standards.
The product was tested among people who were open to eating plant-based foods in the future and also those who are current plant-based users. Two central location tests were conducted with 200+ consumers each. Consumers that participated in the studies were open to eating plant-based foods in the future, accepting of our plant-based concept, and current users of meat and/or the plant-based categories included.
“We were able to see we had really strong performance, but still made tweaks to the formulation after the first test to perfect the product,” says Bamsey. “R&D has done a ton of internal work. In real life, operators have different types of fryers. Operators are sometimes not going to fry and do oven recon, and we wanted to make sure this product fits all those different types of scenarios.”
Check Out What Consumers Had to Say After Their First Bite
When presented with Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets first against other plant-based brands, at least 86% of consumers stated that Tyson® met or exceeded their expectations4. But just don’t take our word for it. Here are some verbatims from our central location test:
"The texture was great. The crispiness was on point. The consistency was much better than the competition. The breading and seasoning were spot on."
"The flavor, texture and aroma were so much better than the competition."
"The taste is amazing and it tastes just like a normal meat nugget."
92% of operators
are facing significant challenges with food costs.5
Add Plant-Based Options Without Extra Labor and Food Costs
Eighty-nine percent of restaurant operators are facing significant challenges with labor costs5, and 92% are facing significant challenges with food costs 5. New Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets offer competitive pricing similar to that of traditional chicken products, so there’s no extra food costs. They also have a 365-day shelf life when stored frozen at 0˚F, so you get greater flexibility amid variable customer demand.
In addition, Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets cook from frozen to fryer to shorten prep time and reduce food safety concerns back of house.
"One awesome thing for operators is that the product’s ready to go...they just have to fry it for a few minutes.."
Melissa Bamsey
Senior Sensory Scientist
Tyson Foods
Go From Freezer to Fryer for Added Ease
Sixty-two percent of operators say their restaurant currently does not have enough employees to support its existing customer demand 5, and 79% say their restaurant currently has job openings that are difficult to fill 5.
With staffing shortages and increased demand for plant-based offerings it can be difficult to expand your menu and deliver the premium food experience your patrons expect. New Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets can help you solve for these challenges and more. The product comes fully cooked, and it only needs to be brought up to an internal temperature of 140˚. And since it cooks the same as traditional breaded chicken with no added steps or unique skills necessary, it’s easier to get delicious plant-based dishes on the table quick, satisfying the speed of visit that’s so important for 84% of consumers6.
“One awesome thing for operators is that the product’s ready to go,” says Bamsey. “The work is already done for them.
Get Inspired with our Latest Recipes
Hot Honey & Waffle Sandwich with Plant Based Tenders
Get a fresh take on plant-based salads:Our Crispy Summer Salad with Plant Based Filets is the perfect way to showcase the product’s white and bright interior that gives your salad a chicken-like appeal.
Get a fresh take on plant-based salads: Our Crispy Summer Salad with Plant Based Filets is the perfect way to showcase the product’s white and bright interior that gives your salad a chicken-like appeal.
Make a great add across your menu, with tenders as an appetizer, nuggets for kids’ meals and the filet being the perfect center-of-plate sandwich.
“The most stand-out thing about this product is that it’s soy protein, but consumers say it tastes just like a normal nugget,” says Bamsey. “It’s versatile and customizable...a staple, a really simple but powerful and strong performing item. So, if an operator has an idea to use it for something, it’s so versatile."
Ready for Customers to Say “Winner, Winner Plant-Based Dinner”?
Start going from freezer to fryer with new Tyson® Plant Based Nuggets, Tenders and Filets. Learn more with our helpful product guides for nuggets, tenders and filets, and be sure to check out our sell sheet and product rebate. Then get ready to stay ahead of the plant-based trend and expand your menu offering without added food costs, labor and time.
Stay in the Know With Our Newsletter
Sixty percent of operators say plant-based meat is a long-term trend7, and one-in-three operators plan to add more plant-based meat offerings to their menu in 20237. Sign up for our newsletter and stay ahead of the plant-based trend and more. You’ll be first to know about our great new products, and get exclusive access to money-saving offers, business solutions and menu inspiration.
Sources
1 Technomic, Ignite Q4-22
2 Datassential, Plant-Based Keynote Sneak Peek, Dec 2022
3 Technomic, Consumer Trend Report, 2022
4 Validation Central Location test, January 2023
5 National Restaurant Association (NRA), Restaurant Business Conditions Survey, December 2022
6 Technomic Ignite, Attribute/Segment Snapshot, 2020
7 Datassential, 2023 Food Trends Report, 2023
