BRAZIL – Marfrig Global Foods, one of the world’s leading beef producers and the world’s largest beef patty producers, has launched its plant-based burger in the Burger King chain in Uruguay.

The partnership with Burger King will expand Marfrig Foods’ plant-based burger, whose sales first started in Brazil in September last year, into Uruguayan market through the chain’s 20 stores in the country.

“The expansion of our partnership with the chain attests to the high quality of our burger,” said Miguel Gularte, CEO for Marfrig’s South America Operation.

Marfrig’s vegeterain burger, also known as the Rebel Whopper, is the first plant-based product the company launched since signing an agreement with ADM to produce and market plant-based products.

The company is also launching its proprietary brand of plant-based burgers, the Revolution Burger made at the Várzea Grande Unit in Mato Grosso state, which also produces Marfrig’s other plant-based burgers.

Plant-based retail market growing 5X faster than total food sales

New data released today by the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and The Good Food Institute (GFI) shows US retail sales of plant-based foods have grown 11.4% in the past year, bringing the total plant-based market value to US$5 billion.

Compared to the total US retail food market, which grew by just 2.2% in dollar sales during this same period and was flat in unit sales, the data shows that plant-based foods are a key driver of growth for retailers nationwide.

The leading drivers of plant-based sales continue to be plant-based milks, meat, dairy alternatives in general, and plant-based meals.

In the US, sales of plant-based milks grew 5% over the past year, now making up 14% of the entire milk category while the total plant-based meat category alone is worth more than US$939m , with sales up 18% in the past year.

Refrigerated plant-based meat is driving growth, up 63% compared to conventional meat category which grew just 3 percent during the same period. Plant-based meat now accounts for 2 percent of retail packaged meat sales.

Growth in the sector is expected to continue accelerating fueled by innovation in categories across the store and retailers responding by expanding shelf space to satisfy the rapidly expanding consumer base seeking more plant-based foods.