Beyond Meat unveils revamped plant-based burgers amid flagging US sales

The company said its revamped burgers are the product of a “multi-year research effort” and will be available to consumers in the spring.

(The Hill) – Beyond Meat unveiled its revamped plant-based burgers on Wednesday in the hopes of luring back consumers with a new recipe that cuts down on saturated fat.

The California-based company launched a new version of its patties, switching to avocado oil after using canola and coconut oils in previous iterations. The new burgers will also have more protein and less sodium, according to the company. 

The latest iteration of Beyond Burgers — the fourth — will now contain 21 grams of protein and 2 grams of saturated fat per serving. Each patty will contain 230 calories, like the previous iteration.

The company said its revamped burgers are the product of a “multi-year research effort” and will be available to consumers in the spring.

“Beyond IV represents a transformative step forward in delivering plant-based nutrition to the consumer in the form of meat,” Beyond Meat founder and CEO Ethan Brown said. 

”Every ingredient in this fourth iteration was thoughtfully selected to bring the nutritional power of plants — from the heart-healthy monounsaturated fats in avocado oil, to the protein and fiber in peas, red lentils, faba beans and brown rice.”

The new version of the burger comes at a time when the El Segundo, Calif.-based company and other similar ventures face sales hurdles.

Beyond’s restaurant and retail sales dropped almost 30% in the third quarter over the last two years, according to CNBC. The company’s stock has dropped more than 50% since the start of 2023. However, on Wednesday, the stock rose close to 4 percent. 

The company’s market value is at $463 million. The plant-based meat producer is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings Feb. 27.