# Plant-Based Deli Slices 'This' Has Added New Ready-To-Eat Deli Slice Products By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2026-04-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/readytoeat-deli-slice References: [foodbev](https://www.foodbev.com/news/this-expands-plant-based-portfolio-with-ready-to-eat-deli-slices) & [this.co](https://www.this.co/products)  The plant-based food brand 'This' is looking to expand its lineup of high-protein meat alternatives with two new ready-to-eat deli slice products. Prep-free and designed for immediate consumption, the new ready-to-eat deli slice products offer consumers a quick way to enjoy plant-based meats. The first of the new products is This Isn’t Roast Chicken Slices, which replicates the taste and texture of chicken deli meat. On the other hand, This Butter Bean, Garlic and Paprika Slices offer a more distinctive flavor profile. Both options are high in protein, low in saturated fat, and serve as a good source of iron and B12. Both products come in 95 gram packs and can be found in [Morrisons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-products) stores this April (later expanding to [Waitrose](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-this-products) and [Sainsbury's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frozen-plantbased-meat)). Image Credit: This ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.5/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Ready-to-eat Plant Proteins:** Convenience-focused, shelf-stable plant-based deli slices create opportunities for substituting traditional refrigerated meats with ambient or minimally chilled protein products. - **High-protein Low-fat Alternatives:** Growing demand for nutritionally dense plant proteins opens scope for reformulated products that deliver comparable protein and micronutrient profiles to animal counterparts with reduced saturated fat. - **Flavor-forward Plant-based Meats:** Consumers seeking distinctive taste experiences encourage development of bold spice- and legume-based formulations that redefine expectations for meat analog textures and seasonings. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail Grocery Chains:** Supermarkets and national grocers stand to reshape deli and grab-and-go sections by prioritizing ready-to-eat plant proteins as mainstream refrigerated SKUs. - **Food Manufacturing and Ingredients:** Ingredient suppliers and co-manufacturers may pivot toward novel plant protein isolates and binders optimized for sliceability, shelf life, and nutrient fortification. - **Foodservice and Ready Meals:** Cafes, delis, and meal-prep companies could incorporate pre-sliced plant meats into cold sandwiches and prepared salads to broaden vegetarian and flexitarian menu offerings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pre-Flavored Tofu Slices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tofu-slices.md) - [Ready-to-Eat Plant-Based Meat Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-this-products.md) - [Versatile Plant-Based Protein Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-is-super-superfood.md) - [Plant Protein Cheese Slices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hard-cheese-slices.md) - [Mycelium-Based Deli Meats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-deli-meats.md) - [Meat-Free New Year Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-product.md) - [Juicy Plant-Based Steak Cuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-plantedsteak.md) - [Chilled Ready-to-Eat Plant-Based Meats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-this-product.md) - [Snackable Steak-Style Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantedsteak-bites.md)