Kraft Heinz, NotCo collaborate on plant-based Oscar Mayer hotdogs and sausages

By Deniz Ataman

- Last updated on GMT

Source: The Kraft Heinz Company
Source: The Kraft Heinz Company
The joint venture’s recent launch, Oscar Mayer’s NotHotDogs and NotSausages, is an opportunity bring more consumers into the category “and achieve mainstream adoption by making the food more approachable and improving taste, texture, variety and availability,” Lucho Lopez-May, CEO, The Kraft Heinz Company, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Translating Oscar Mayer’s smoky and savory hotdogs and sausages into a plant-based formula was an opportunity for the company to address consumers’ disappointment in taste and texture within the category, according to the Kraft Heinz​. Additionally, the company pointed out, the “underdeveloped and under-consumed” plant-based hotdog and sausage sector could be a driver for the new launch.

KHNC_OM_NotHotDogs-NotSausages-2-optimized (1)
Source: The Kraft Heinz Company

“Our Oscar Mayer NotHotDogs and NotSausages products not only deliver on great taste, but also bring the smell, appearance, texture and grill marks consumers desire and want – and we are positioning the products to reflect this,” he explained.

With a nationwide rollout expected later this year in time for grilling and tailgating season, the NotHotDogs and NotSausages “are currently available in or are exploring other channels,” including away from home, natural retailers, club stores and international expansion, Lopez-May explained.

Oscar Mayer NotHotDogs have an SRP of $5.99 per pack of four and NotSausages an SRP of $7.99 per pack of four, an increase from the original Oscar Mayer classic beef hot dogs which are retailed at approximately $3.99​ for a 10-pack.

While plant-based products are typically pricier than their animal counterparts​, Lopez-May noted that the company is working to “continuously optimize our offerings and pricing to ensure we are delivering superior tasting, high-quality products at the right value to consumers as we aim to create mouthwatering plant-based food for all.”

Leveraging NotCo’s AI-based technology for optimal plant-based ingredients

NotCo’s AI-based technology, Giuseppe, discovers and identifies viable plant-based ingredients that matches taste, texture and smell of animal-based foods for its B2B customers, which is half of the company’s business. The other half focuses on its CPG brand, NotCo Foods.

“Through the combination of Kraft Heinz’s family of iconic brands and NotCo’s revolutionary AI technology, we’re able to develop plant-based versions of the brands consumers know and love at a level of speed and taste that’s never been done before. This AI technology further enables us to understand food at the molecular level in order to mimic taste, functionality, color and more,” Lopez-May elaborated.

NotHotDogs and NotSausages are the latest addition to the joint venture’s portfolio of plant-based products, including KRAFT NotMac&Cheese, KRAFT NotCheese Slices and NotMayo.

                                                                                                                                          

Related news

Show more

Related products

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Content provided by Ayana Bio | 12-Jan-2024 | White Paper

Ayana Bio conducted the Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Pulse survey, offering insight into consumers’ willingness to consume UPFs, as well as the variables...

 Four actionable steps to reduce allergen recalls

Four actionable steps to reduce allergen recalls

Content provided by FoodChain ID | 04-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Failing to mitigate allergen risks has serious consequences - not just for consumer safety, poor allergen procedures can also cause financial losses and...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars