Unilever wants to make vegan kebabs mainstream by putting plant-based skewers in restaurants across Europe

From veganfoodandliving.com

The Vegetarian Butcher wants vegan kebabs to become the norm in eateries across the continent, following a recent partnership with a döner producer…

Unilever has unveiled an ambitious plan to help make vegan kebabs ‘mainstream’. 

The food giant acquired vegan meat maker The Vegetarian Butcher back in 2018. Now, it has partnered with döner producer The Düzgün Group. 

Together, the duo have created a soy-based döner which is designed to be grilled on the skewer just like animal meat kebabs. It also features traditional spices such as cumin and oregano to simulate an ‘authentic taste’. 

The Vegetarian Butcher even incorporated a blend of fats with different melting characteristics.

Moreover, it worked to make sure that ‘when the plant-based meat was perfectly browned and ready to be sliced, it was still juicy’.

Vegan kebabs – is there demand? 

Unilever states that consumer demand for plant-based kebabs is ‘certainly present’ – citing a study where 60 per cent of 16-59-year-olds in Germany said they would order one. 

Overall, Europe produces 400 tonnes of kebabs daily, mostly exported out of Germany, bringing in revenues of up to €12 billion a year.

Unilever wants to jump on this trend and ‘fill the gap’ for kebab restaurant operators by delivering plant-based skewers ‘at scale’. 

The conglomerate says this will turn ‘a once-niche purchase into a readily available option on menus across Europe.  

Unilever wants to deliver plant-based skewers ‘at scale’ and make them readily available on menus across Europe. Photo © Unilever

‘Can’t taste the difference’

“We can deliver on a large scale. So, we’re perfectly set up to offer restaurateurs an international supply chain for plant-based skewers,” Blue Yildizbakan of The Düzgün Group said in a statement.

Hugo Verkuil, CEO of The Vegetarian Butcher, added that the skewers can ‘seamlessly fit’ with restaurants’ equipment and procedures. 

“The product performs just the way we intended to,“ he added. “Hacking meat icons like the döner kebab with plant-based equivalents is what it is all about for us.

“We are targeting meat-lovers – from vegans to carnivores – who don’t want to miss out. And when it comes to guests, we’re convinced people won’t be able to taste the difference.”

All this kebab talk got you hungry? Check out these Peanut Satay Tempeh Skewers

https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/unilever-vegan-kebabs-mainstream/