Poke bowls are Hawaiian raw fish dishes served with rice that have become extremely popular over the past few years—to cater to consumers who prefer plant-based options, meal delivery service Veestro collaborated with Ocean Hugger Foods for an all-vegan poke bowl.
Ahi tuna is the fish that is often used as the feature meat in a poke bowl, and Ocean Hugger Foods has created its own plant-based version called 'Ahimi' that is made from tomatoes and a few other savory ingredients. In terms of look, taste and texture, the product is said to be a satisfying substitute for real tuna.
A rise in plant-based eating has inspired consumers to rethink all of the items on their plate. Although there are plenty of vegan-friendly versions of chicken, beef and pork that have been launched over time by innovative plant-based brands, raw fish substitutes remain largely unexplored.
Plant-Based Poke Bowls
Veestro Serves Vegan Poke Bowls with "Meat" from Ocean Hugger Foods
Trend Themes
1. Plant-based Poke Bowls - Opportunity for plant-based brands to develop innovative alternatives to traditional poke bowl ingredients, like raw fish substitutes made from sustainable, vegan-friendly ingredients.
2. Rethinking Plate - Increasing interest in plant-based eating encourages consumers to explore plant-based alternatives for all items on their plate, including traditionally meat-focused dishes like poke bowls.
3. Unexplored Raw Fish Substitutes - Market gap exists for plant-based brands to create innovative raw fish substitutes that mimic the look, taste, and texture of traditional options, providing vegan-friendly alternatives for poke bowls.
Industry Implications
1. Meal Delivery Services - Meal delivery services like Veestro have an opportunity to capitalize on the rising demand for plant-based meals and offer products like vegan poke bowls to cater to their vegan and health-conscious customers.
2. Plant-based Food Brands - Plant-based food brands have the potential to disrupt the traditional poke bowl industry by offering innovative and sustainable plant-based alternatives to fish, appealing to the growing number of consumers looking for plant-based options.
3. Alternative Protein Market - The alternative protein market can explore the development of plant-based raw fish substitutes to create new options for consumers who want to enjoy poke bowls without traditional animal-based proteins, contributing to the overall growth of the plant-based protein industry.