Chunk Foods unveils new plant-based pastrami at New York Deli

USA – Chunk Foods, a company specializing in vegan whole-cut meats, has introduced a new product, The Prince, in collaboration with the renowned New York City deli Pastrami Queen. 

This innovative offering is a plant-based pastrami sandwich made from the company’s latest creation, the Chunk Slab.

The Prince, priced at US$20, features a cut from the Chunk Slab, a cultured soy and wheat-based steak. 

It is now available at Pastrami Queen’s Moynihan Food Hall location. 

This new item includes the plant-based steak, New York deli mustard, rye bread, and a pickle, providing a vegan alternative at the historic deli known for its traditional Jewish cuisine. 

The Chunk Slab, notable for being the largest plant-based whole-cut meat introduced to the restaurant market, weighs over three pounds. 

It made its debut at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago in May, where it received a Food and Beverage (FABI) Award. 

The product’s ingredient list includes soy, wheat, coconut oil, beet juice, iron, salt, and vitamin B12, appealing to health-conscious consumers with its clean-label approach.

One of the main barriers to the adoption of plant-based meats is texture. 

According to a survey of 1,500 Americans, 42% hesitate to choose meat analogues at restaurants due to concerns about texture. 

However, 91% of those who have tried plant-based proteins report being satisfied with their taste and texture, indicating a significant perception gap.

This isn’t Chunk Foods’ first foray into the meat-based foodservice industry – in 2023, the company’s vegan steak appeared on the menu at Charley’s Steak House in Orlando, marking the first time a US steakhouse featured a vegan analogue. 

Chunk Foods, which has raised US$24 million in funding, including a US$7.5 million round earlier this year, is also developing pork, lamb, and poultry alternatives. 

The company has built one of the world’s largest factories for plant-based meat production and has entered the international market through a partnership with Better Balance to develop whole-cut meat analogues for Mexico. 

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