Aviko to Offer Plant-Based Alternative in Every Product Category by 2025 – vegconomist
Dutch food company Aviko, a Royal Cosun subsidiary that specialises in potato-based products, has announced that it plans to offer a plant-based alternative in all its product categories by 2025.
Speaking to Cosun Nutrition Center, the company said it hoped to be a “specialist in tasty, plant-based snacks” by 2030. While many Aviko products have previously been made with cheese or cream, plant-based innovations are increasingly making it possible to swap out animal ingredients.
Last year, the company’s Aviko Rixona brand announced it had developed a cheese alternative made from potatoes in collaboration with the Cosun Innovation Center. The ingredient is said to be healthier than conventional cheese and most other plant-based alternatives; it is suitable for finger foods, snacks, and fillings for meat substitutes, with a separate version available for pizza.
Aviko has used the Potato Cheezz to develop new products such as Chile Cheezz Nuggets and Cheezz Onion Rings, which are plant-based alternatives to some of the company’s existing offerings. In taste tests, consumers reportedly struggle to believe that the snacks are plant-based. The products also offer an improved nutritional profile; for example, the nuggets have a Nutriscore of C, compared to D for the animal-based version. The plant-based products are part of Aviko’s Green Delight range, which also features Plant-based Chicken Pops.
“We are celebrating veggies”
The product line has already proven a success, and is sold for food service worldwide. Aviko says it strives to price its plant-based and conventional potato products equally, so that choosing a sustainable option is not more expensive. The company is also reportedly developing new plant-based innovations such as a falafel burger and products made from fava bean isolate.
“We did not try to make alternatives to meat, but rather to look up to the power of vegetables,” said Willem Fijten, innovation director at Aviko, on the company’s website. “We are celebrating veggies! The products are developed in collaboration with chefs and food start-ups. They are successful because we have managed to give them a nice texture and fine mouth feeling in addition to good taste.”
He added, “The intrinsic sustainability benefits are good. But what is also important to me is that you can create a great vegan product, for everyone. In doing so, we inspire people to make more responsible choices and we contribute to the growth of sustainability in the world.”
