
Plant-Based Steak Is Here
The next frontier of plant-based meat is officially here—and it’s all about steak. Three of the biggest names in the plant-based industry—Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, and Chunk Foods—have each introduced their own take on steak, designed to meet different needs across retail and foodservice.
From fine-dining-worthy filets to air-fryer convenience to sauce-infused grocery-ready options, plant-based steak is emerging as a versatile, highly marketable format that retailers and foodservice operators alike should be paying attention to.
Beyond Meat: A Steakhouse-Ready Filet for Foodservice
Beyond Meat (pictured above) is bringing its Beyond Steak Filet to the market, designed to mimic the premium experience of a USDA steak filet. As the brand shared on LinkedIn:
“A whole-cut plant-based steak that mirrors the texture, flavor, and experience of a premium USDA steak filet while also offering a better-for-you, more sustainable choice.”
This signals a major push into fine dining and premium foodservice. While Beyond Steak’s first iteration (thinly sliced steak tips) was targeted toward casual applications, the new Beyond Steak Filet is built for steakhouses, high-end restaurants, and chef-driven menus.
Foodservice Implications:
- Steakhouses and high-end restaurants now have a premium, whole-cut plant-based option to add to their menus.
- Fine-dining chefs can experiment with plating, cooking techniques, and pairings, just as they would with a traditional filet.
- Upscale hotel and catering menus now have a sophisticated plant-based protein option.
For buyers in foodservice, this is an opportunity to introduce a steakhouse-quality plant-based steak that appeals to flexitarian diners looking for indulgence without compromise.
Impossible Foods: Steak Bites for Convenience & Versatility
While Beyond is going after the premium steakhouse crowd, Impossible Foods is bringing plant-based steak to everyday meals with its new Impossible Steak Bites.
“Impossible® Steak Bites Meat from Plants are exactly what they sound like: pre-cut, juicy bites of pure deliciousness. From stir fries to salads to fajitas to sandwiches to protein-rich breakfasts, these beefalicious bites go great with everything that steak goes great with.”
Unlike whole-cut steak, Impossible Steak Bites are designed for versatility and convenience. Pre-cut and ready to go, these bites are an easy swap for diced beef in nearly any dish, from stir-fries to grain bowls to tacos.
Retail & Foodservice Implications:
- For retailers, Impossible Steak Bites are an easy grab-and-go product for home cooks looking for quick, protein-packed meals.
- For foodservice, they are a simple substitution for diced steak in fast-casual and quick-service menus.
- For meal kit companies, they offer a user-friendly, pre-cut plant-based steak option.
In an era where air fryers and convenience-driven meal solutions are dominating consumer habits, Impossible’s steak bites could be a game-changer for weeknight cooking.
Chunk Foods: Flavored, Sauce-Infused Steaks for the Grocery Aisle
The third major approach to plant-based steak is Chunk Foods’ new retail line of pre-seasoned, sauce-infused steaks. The brand recently unveiled:
“🚨Meet Chunk Pulled with Simmer Sauces🚨
High-protein and ready in minutes. Our new retail range, debuting this week at ExpoWest, pairs our award-winning plant-based Pulled meat with chef-crafted sauces made from real fruit, veggies, and spices.”
Chunk’s lineup includes:
- Texas BBQ
- Teriyaki
- Korean BBQ
- Barbacoa
Rather than expecting consumers to season and prepare plant-based steak from scratch, Chunk is taking a “heat-and-eat” approach, perfect for the grocery aisle.
Retail & Foodservice Implications:
- For retailers, this is a ready-to-cook product that simplifies meal prep for consumers.
- For foodservice, these could be perfect for fast-casual concepts, meal kits, or pre-made sandwiches and bowls.
- For grocery buyers, this format taps into the growing demand for plant-based convenience foods with bold, globally inspired flavors.
While Beyond is bringing steak to steakhouses and Impossible is bringing steak to busy home cooks, Chunk is making steak an effortless weeknight meal with pre-flavored, ready-to-heat options.
What This Means for Retailers & Foodservice Operators
Plant-based steak is evolving in real-time, and these three companies are proving that steak isn’t just one thing—it’s an entire category with multiple entry points.
For retail and foodservice buyers, this means steak is no longer just a niche experiment—it’s a viable, scalable category in the plant-based protein space.