Starbucks China launches plant-based menus with Beyond Meat, Oatly, and Omnipork

Over the last few years, F&B brands worldwide have been moving to include vegetarian and vegan plant-based alternatives to the meat-based options their menus. Starbucks China is the latest in Asia to jump onboard, rolling out a new menu to meet this customer need through partnerships with Beyond Meat, Oatly, and Omnipork.

Starbucks China's partnership with Beyond Meat will see the chain offer three new dishes. Available in most Starbucks stores across the country from 22 April onwards, the new menu includes pesto pasta, classic lasagna, and spicy and sour wrap.

Speaking on his company's entry into the market. Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat's founder and CEO, said, “Today we mark an important milestone as Beyond Meat launches in China, advancing our goal of increasing accessibility to plant-based protein globally. Starbucks is a trusted brand with a strong market presence and deep understanding of customers in China, and we’re pleased to partner with them on our market entry."

In addition, Starbucks China is partnering with OmniPork to offer two more dishes featuring its plant-based protein; a Vietnamese style noodle salad, and a mushroom sauce grain bowl.

“Starbucks is thrilled to partner with Beyond Meat to provide even more choices to consumers through innovative new plant-based offerings. Through our new plant-based platform, we seek to inspire new routines by inviting everyone to eat good, feel good and do good. Together, we can take a small, humble step to make a better world,” said Leo Tsoi, senior vice president, chief operating officer, and president of Starbucks China Retail.

Turning to beverages, Starbucks China is introducing Oatly oat milk to the core beverage menu in all its stores across China, as a vegan alternative to traditional dairy. To celebrate the partnership with Oatly, Starbucks China is selling oat milk versions of its signature beverages, including an oat milk latte and oat milk matcha latte, as well as - for a limited time - a berries oatmilk black tea macchiato.

“It’s a significant step for the growing plant-based movement that Starbucks customers in China can now enjoy their favourite beverages with Oatly,” commented Toni Petersson, global CEO of Oatly.

To further advocate a sustainable lifestyle, Starbucks China has also launched tumblers and notebooks made from recycled coffee grounds sourced by its branches. The coffee grounds are processed and mixed with polypropylene to form an industrial-grade material with over 30% recycled coffee ground content, which according to Starbucks China can potentially be used to manufacture a variety of lifestyle items. One example is furniture made from this material, which will be rolled out across Starbucks China stores in the near future.

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