Capitalize on diners’ interest in seafood and plant-based alternatives.
Americans have a love affair with shrimp.
They eat 1.5 billion pounds of it a year—two times more than salmon or tuna. That makes shrimp the #1 consumed seafood in the U.S., and the most popular seafood item in restaurants and foodservice—where a whopping 80% of shrimp is consumed.
Delicious taste and versatility are top reasons why consumers love shrimp. In restaurants, consumers view shrimp as a treat and a change of pace.
With more and more consumers turning to plant-based dishes, how would a selection of menu options made with plant-based shrimp play with your customers?
The following insights, captured through recent proprietary consumer research conducted by Datassential for New Wave Foods, will help you understand consumers’ attitudes toward plant-based shrimp—and help you explore plant-based shrimp dishes that can bring added excitement and profits to your menu.
There’s a tsunami of interest in plant-based shrimp.
Driven by strong demand for healthier choices, sustainable food options and the desire to try something new, Gen Z and millennials initiated the alternative protein revolution. 79% of millennials already consume plant-based meals. The same number is predicted for plant-based seafood products.
Now firmly mainstream, plant-based protein is one of the most important consumer trends in decades, with explosive demand for healthy, sustainable products.
As plant-based eating grows at a phenomenal rate, 2021 is the year of plant-based shrimp. Menu items featuring plant-based shrimp—with its health, environmental and sustainability benefits—offer tremendous promise to foodservice establishments.
Seafood, The plant-based breakout star for 20211
Many motivations.
A desire for a change of pace and an interest in nutrition are top consumer motivations for choosing plant-based shrimp at restaurants. Research shows that plant-based shrimp has strong appeal, especially among those who already consume shrimp and other plant-based offerings.
Gen Z and millennial consumers in particular feel plant-based shrimp dishes would be a satisfying meal option.
Guided by environmental interests, consumers in general like that plant-based shrimp will help protect the environment, is allergen-free and is made with seaweed—a clean, eco-friendly, on-trend ingredient already enjoyed commercially in sushi, poke and salads.
Why they’ll try
What’s most appealing?
Replicating the taste and texture of ocean shrimp is most important to consumers. Millennials and plant-based users find environmental impact especially important for a plant-based shrimp product.
Top Likes
How likely to order it?
More than half of the people who ate plant-based products in the last three months say they plan on purchasing plant-based shrimp more than ocean shrimp.
57% expect to purchase plant-based shrimp more than ocean shrimp.2
Profitable opportunities across your menu.
Delivering the succulent bite, authentic texture and appealing taste of ocean shrimp, New Wave Shrimp® lets you easily offer the on-trend plant-based seafood items customers are craving.
Use it across your menu for new menu items, as an LTO, or as a replacement for any hot dish you serve—apps, small plates, lunch items or entrées—to easily elevate your plant-based menu offerings and increase profits.
Super-versatile and easy to prepare.
New Wave Shrimp comes pre-cooked for easy prep. Just add your favorite seasoning, sauce or global flavors to give any hot shrimp dish your signature spin.
It’s as versatile as ocean shrimp. Easy to sauté, sear, bake, deep fry or grill.
It’s less messy than its ocean counterpart, too. No peeling or deveining, and thawing is done right in the package.
New Wave Shrimp is the perfect ingredient for a wide range of on-trend dishes, including Breaded Shrimp, Honey Chipotle Shrimp Tacos and Garlic Butter Sautéed Shrimp.
Works in any hot shrimp dish you serve.
A commitment to quality.
It’s hard to go wrong when a recipe starts with healthy, quality ingredients. With no shellfish allergens, soy or gluten, New Wave Shrimp is the breakthrough plant-based alternative to ocean shrimp. It’s always consistent in quality, size, taste and texture.
Its stable cost is a nice bonus, too. No price fluctuations from sourcing issues like with ocean shrimp.
The first of many healthy plant-forward products combining welcome workability with versatility and authentic seafood taste, New Wave Shrimp is helping operators effectively deliver the menu variety, flavor appeal and sustainable options consumers want—while creating selling power, profitability and value.
Get your FREE sample of the product that’s making a splash.
1 Datassential, FoodBytes 2021 Trend Forecast
2 Datassential, 2020 New Wave Foods Consumer Report
