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The Spoon

Daily news and analysis about the food tech revolution

Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean Launches Plant-Based Patty Sandwiches at Sam’s Club

Jimmy Dean, a US-based pork producer owned by Tyson Foods, announced today the launch of its new plant-based patty breakfast sandwiches at Sam’s Club and other undisclosed retailers. The company will be launching two different breakfast sandwiches with one already available in stores, and the other launching in Spring 2021.

The breakfast sandwich launched at the end of December 2020 is the Plant-Based Patty, Egg & Cheese Croissant Sandwich. Jimmy Dean is known for its breakfast patties and links, and this new product provides a meat-free breakfast alternative that still maintains a high amount of protein. The plant-based patty is made from soy protein, and egg whites, and the sandwich also includes American cheese and eggs, clocking in at 13g of protein.

Launching sometime in Spring 2021, the Plant-Based Patty & Frittata Sandwich totals 15G of protein and features a vegetable and grain patty made from black beans, quinoa, brown rice, soy protein, and egg whites. This sandwich uses an English muffin base, and also includes a spinach and egg frittata and American cheese. Although the sandwiches are not vegan friendly, they are suitable for those who follow a flexitarian or vegetarian diet.

Jimmy Dean is certainly not the first large meat producer to launch plant-based options. With the plant-based meat category being valued at $939 million in 2020 and a survey showing that 50% of consumers have tried plant-based meat, it makes sense for meat producers to add plant-based options to their portfolio. The largest producer of meat in the world, JBS, owns Planterra, which created a brand called Ozo that has an entire line of meatless burgers, grounds, and meatballs. Smithfield Foods, one of the largest pork producers in the world, launched a line of plant-based proteins through the brand Pure Farmland. Other meat producers such as Tyson, Hormel, and Cargill have also produced meatless products.

Located in the frozen aisle within Sam’s Clubs, the Plant-Based Patty, Egg & Cheese Croissant Sandwich comes in a pack of 12 and retails at $11.65. The Plant-Based Patty & Frittata Sandwich comes in a 4-count pack has a suggested retail price of $7.29, and it is currently undetermined which retailers this sandwich will launch in this upcoming spring.

Oscar Mayer and Tyson Jump Into the “Is it a Sandwich” Debate

The debate over what makes a sandwich a sandwich is a tried and true one. And while we all may have our own personal breaded hill on which we’ll die, two food giants jumped into the fray recently to re-ignite the debate just in time for family bickering gatherings at Thanksgiving.

First up is Oscar Mayer which declared earlier this week that hot dogs are a sandwich. As you turn green and potentially hulk out with rage, it’s just that type of reaction that Oscar Mayer seems to be, err, relishing.

As part of it’s bold, divisive proclamation, Oscar Mayer doubled down and practically said “Come at me, bro!” as the company taunted people on twitter set up a hotline for those riled up to call and argue about it. (The hotline was only open for 24 hours).

Of course, you have to take this sort of corporate rabble rousing with 420 mg of salt. This is, after all the company that released “Bacoin,” the bitcoin knock-off earlier this year.

While I don’t agree with Oscar Mayer’s take, at least a hot dog comes wrapped with bread on either side. Jimmy Dean, a division of Tyson Foods, just decided to chuck that notion altogether with its bit or corporate stuntery.

In a blog post yesterday, Tyson announced the launch of Jimmy Dean Delights Egg’wich. Think of it as a triple-layered-package of protein. This vegan nightmare has turkey sausage nestled between two slices of… egg frittatas.

The blog post goes on to petition Merriam-Webster to update their definition of sandwich, but honestly that feels like a step too far and just joking the joke at that point. We get it, Tyson.

Both bits of corporate tomfoolery were in advance of yesterday’s National Sandwich Day, a real thing, btw, and were meant to drum up some free PR. So well played, giant meat corporations, well played. Your move, Subway.