As rising stars Impossible and Beyond burgers crush the plant-based meat game, others have set sights on the next big thing: egg alternatives. Fueled by a similar mix of motivations — animal welfare, environment, health — the alt-egg market is beginning to boil.
Startups including VeganEgg, Spero and Just Inc. are getting creative with chicken-friendly ingredients like soy powder, pumpkin seeds, algae, and mung beans (hope you’re enjoying your breakfast, btw).
But demand for old fashioned eggs is still fryin’ high
Egg whites are a pretty bomb source of lean protein, and changing consumer tastes is always tough — especially when you’re trying to market processed products as a healthier alternative to natural ones.
…Also there’s the gag reflex that tends to kick in while watching clear liquid “eggs” pour out of a carton.
In the meantime, there’s a market for sneaky ingredient swap-outs
SF-based startup Clara Foods has raised $20m for its super-soluble DNA-coded protein. Its first flavorless egg protein product will hatch in 2020 for use in the manufacturing of drinks and baked goods.
Otherwise, the $7B market for traditional eggs will stay strong until we find a legit substitute for replicating the scrambles and sammies we all know and love.
