Thanks to an overwhelming demand from vegan and vegetarian customers, 4 Rivers Smokehouse has debuted new plant-based Beyond Burnt Ends at its Central Florida locations. As the Founder and CEO of 4R Restaurant Group John Rivers explains, "As a brand, we’re constantly evolving and listening to consumers and right now there is definitely a demand for plant-based barbecue."
For those unfamiliar, burnt ends are flavorful pieces of meat cut from a specific part of smoked brisket. The new Beyond Burnt Ends are a vegan version of the beloved barbecue dish. Like the meat version, the Beyond Burnt Ends are double hickory-smoked and then slow-roasted so that the sauce can caramelize. To keep the dish vegan, the burnt ends are served with a plant-based 4R sauce on a vegan-friendly brioche bun.
Image Credit: <i> 4 Rivers Smokehouse.</i>
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Plant-based Barbecue
- The increasing demand for plant-based barbecue options presents opportunities for the development of innovative and flavorful meat alternatives.
- Vegan Barbecue
- The rise in popularity of vegan barbecue dishes calls for the creation of plant-based versions of traditional favorites to cater to the growing vegan market.
- Menu Innovation
- The introduction of plant-based burnt ends showcases the potential for menu innovation in the barbecue industry by offering unique and inclusive options for all customers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Plant-based Food
- The plant-based food industry can capitalize on the demand for innovative and authentic alternatives to traditional meat dishes, such as plant-based barbecue options.
- Restaurant and Hospitality
- The restaurant and hospitality industry can explore the inclusion of plant-based dishes on their menus to cater to the increasing number of vegan and vegetarian customers.
- Food Service
- Food service providers can take advantage of the plant-based barbecue trend by offering ready-to-eat plant-based barbecue options for consumers seeking convenient and delicious meat alternatives.
