Benzinga | Apr 8, 2021 09:03AM EDT

Beyond Meat Says Expands U.S. Retail Distribution Within Multiple National, Regional Grocery Chains

Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND), a leader in plant-based meat, today announced several major product expansions within its existing footprint at retailers nationwide. As demand for plant-based meat continues to rise,

Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND), a leader in plant-based meat, today announced several major product expansions within its existing footprint at retailers nationwide. As demand for plant-based meat continues to rise, this increased distribution strengthens the company's expansive retail presence at approximately 28,000 retail outlets across the U.S. in which consumers have made their preference for Beyond Meat clear: Beyond Meat was the #1 selling plant-based meat brand in the refrigerated category at grocery stores1 and across foodservice2.



The expanded retail product availability includes:

Beyond Meatballs(tm): Newly available at Kroger (approximately 1,500 stores), Target (750 stores) and Giant Foods (163 stores).

* Beyond Meatballs were first introduced at retailers in September 2020.

* Conveniently pre-seasoned with a signature blend of Italian spices, pre-rolled and ready to cook with 30% less saturated fat and sodium than a leading brand of animal-based Italian-style meatballs.

Beyond Breakfast Sausage(r) Links: Newly available at Kroger (approximately 1,500 stores).

* Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links were first introduced at retailers in October 2020.

* A quick and convenient plant-based option made with savory herbs and spices to make restaurant-style breakfast an at-home staple but with 40% less sodium than a leading brand of pork sausage links.

Cookout Classic(tm): Expanding throughout April and May to more than 3,000 existing Beyond Meat retail partner stores nationwide including Wegmans, Albertsons/Safeway (Mid-Atlantic, NorCal, Phoenix and Portland), FreshDirect.com, Jewel, Sprouts, Stew Leonard's, and Stop & Shop.

* Cookout Classic was first introduced as a permanent retail offering within Walmart stores in March 2021.

* Everything that customers love about the juicy, meaty taste and texture of plant-based burgers with the added convenience of being sold frozen in a value-pack designed to feed the whole family.

Beyond Sausage(r) Newly available at Super Target (200+ stores) in May.

* Beyond Sausage was first introduced at retailers in December 2017 and most recently expanded distribution of Beyond Sausage Hot Italian within Walmart stores in March 2021.

* A plant-based sausage designed to look, sizzle, and satisfy like pork sausage but with more protein and iron, less total and saturated fat and no cholesterol, antibiotics or hormones.

"Last year, we expanded our retail portfolio by introducing six new product SKUs. In tandem, we've been able to work with major retailers across the country to expand our in-store presence to offer more Beyond Meat products in more stores to advance our unwavering commitment towards making plant-based meat options that are better for people and the planet more accessible to all," said Chuck Muth, Chief Growth Officer, Beyond Meat.

The move comes as part of Beyond Meat's effort to meet consumers' growing demand for delicious, nutritious and sustainable plant-based meat made without GMOs or bioengineered ingredients. In a study conducted at Stanford University and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers evaluated the impact of replacing animal-based meat with Beyond Meat's plant-based meats over an 8-week period on cholesterol levels (including LDL), heart disease risk factors including TMAO levels, and body weight, and found improvement in key health metrics when participants replaced animal-based meat with Beyond Meat's plant-based meat. The results of the Stanford University study complement the results of the University of Michigan's 2018 LCA which showed that the original Beyond Burger, compared to producing a ¼ lb. standard 80/20 beef burger, has 99% less impact on water scarcity, 93% less impact on land use, requires 46% less energy and generates 90% less greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit Beyond Meat's store locator to find Beyond Meat products at a store near you.