Expansion of range of fish alternatives

Vegan Fishless Burger - Schouten expand range of fish alternatives with Fishless Burger

After introducing its vegetable tuna and fish sticks earlier this year, family business Schouten Europe is now launching a ‘Fishless burger’. By adding fish substitutes to its range, Schouten is giving its customers worldwide the opportunity to purchase fish alternatives in addition to meat alternatives. As such, Schouten confirms the international pioneering role of Dutch companies in the field of plant-based meat and fish alternatives.

Arjaan van der Giessen - Commercial Director

Interest from the fish industry

Commercial director Arjaan van der Giessen of Schouten notes that increasingly more companies in the fish industry are closely following the developments in plant-based products. “We regularly speak with large parties from the fish industry, who are quite interested in our products as well as the developments in the field of plant-based fish. Many of these companies want to offer plant-based options but do not know how to go about it”.

“This fish burger is really tasty, it’s been a long time since I had fish. However, I immediately recognize this from the past.”

Remco van Veluwen – Journalist at Trouw newspaper
R&D plant-based product development. Schouten breidt assortiment visvervangers uit met Burger zonder Vis - Schouten expand range of fish alternatives with Fishless Burger

Specific texture

Imitating fish is not easy. Schouten’s R&D Manager Anke van Eijk talks about a completely different process than replacing meat. “Different techniques are involved because the texture of fish is quite different from that of meat. We are getting better and better at mimicking this particular texture. Of course, the recognisable fish taste is also quite important. If these aspects are not correct, consumers are unlikely to make the structural switch to plant-based fish'”.

Schouten Europe: specialist in plant-based protein products: Plant-based Tuna sandwich

Promising category

Plant-based fish is one of the most promising categories within plant-based food. This is stated by ProVeg International based on the Smart Protein Report 2021, which is supported by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme of the EU. Research firm AC Nielsen found the strongest growth in the German market: between 2018 and 2020, the plant-based fish category grew by 623% to €1.9 million*.

*Total market incl. discounters, Germany, sales value in €, plant-based fish, MAT CW39 2018 vs 2020 – AC Nielsen Market Track.

Schouten breidt assortiment visvervangers uit met Burger zonder Vis - Schouten expand range of fish alternatives with Fishless Burger

Fishless Burger

The Fishless Burger by Schouten is based on rice and wheat and weighs 80 g. In the near future, Schouten will present the product worldwide to its customers in the retail, out-of-home, and food industry channels. It can be eaten with a hot meal, in a salad, or on a sandwich.

Tempeh gehakt van reststromen

The first Dutch company

Schouten started in 1990 as the first Dutch company to develop meat alternatives with plant-based proteins. The company markets one of the most extensive and varied ranges in the world and supplies its products, primarily under their private label, in more than 50 countries. Schouten also develops many products according to customer demands.

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    Our experts

    Arjaan van der Giessen - Commercial Director
    Arjaan van der Giessen
    CCO
    Anke van Eijk, Product Development Manager.jpg
    Anke van Eijk
    R&D Manager
    Remco Nijssen - Account Manager
    Remco Nijssen
    Account Manager

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