Alternative Meats Interview Overview
This detailed interview features Ryan Phillips, Former Director of Strategic Partnerships at Beyond Meat, discussing normalizing production costs, consumer perception, and partnerships with QSRs and retailers.
Key Discussion Points
- Production cost normalization and scaling strategies
- Challenges around market saturation in burger and sausage categories
- Consumer perception regarding taste and cost
- Impact of pandemic on growth and price wars
- Future innovations and the role of retail vs. foodservice channels
Interview Highlights
On Partnerships: Phillips emphasizes that strategic collaborations with major QSR chains are essential for brand visibility, but the success of these partnerships depends on cost competitiveness and consistent supply.
Cost Barriers: The discussion highlights how taste and cost remain the primary barriers to mass adoption, with a push for R&D to reduce production costs and improve flavor profiles.
Future Outlook: Phillips foresees broader category expansion beyond burgers and sausages, focusing on new product lines that cater to growing consumer interest in healthy and sustainable protein alternatives.