Squeaky Bean, which is known for its ready to eat vegan meat alternatives, has launched its first ever frozen range with a selection of chicken-style pieces that aim to not compromise on taste or texture.
The three-product range, which includes Chicken Style Breaded Nuggets, Breaded Dippers and Hot & Spicy Poppers, provides the familiar flavours and textures of traditional chicken in a vegan format that flexitarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike will appreciate.
The launch comes as increasing numbers of consumers seek out solutions that can help them to manage their bills, with the total frozen sector seeing accelerated growth in value in the past 12 weeks of +14.9% [1]. Squeaky Bean is looking to tap into this category trend, as well as the growth in frozen breaded chicken which is up by 17.7% in the last year, by launching a plant-based alternative for the increasing number of consumers following flexitarian diets. [3]
Squeaky Bean’s plant-based chicken style pieces boast irresistible textures that mimic their meat counterparts, holding their crispy exterior whilst remaining tender inside. Using a blend of wheat, soy, and pea proteins, these vegan alternatives are low in saturated fat and high in protein and can be oven-cooked from frozen in just ten minutes.
The Nuggets have a crunchy coating and a soft centre, making them a great side or main dish for easy, weekday dinners. The Dippers on the other hand, are shaped and coated in golden breadcrumbs, ready to be dunked into your favourite sauces. The final recipe in the range, the Hot & Spicy Poppers, are seasoned with an aromatic blend of pepper, garlic, cayenne and paprika that give them a bold and punchy kick of flavour, providing a great addition to a party platter or at-home snack.
Rebecca Youseman, Marketing Controller at Squeaky Bean, which is part of The Compleat Food Group, said: “At Squeaky Bean, we’re on a mission to create plant-based meat alternatives that are so incredibly delicious, they’ll leave meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans craving more. Our ready-to-eat range has already accomplished this, but we regularly hear from Squeaky fans that they’d love an option they can keep stocked in the freezer for easy meals and snacks.
“That’s why we’ve entered the frozen category with our delectable chicken-style breaded nuggets, dippers, and poppers that not only match but beat their meaty counterparts in terms of taste, texture, and appearance. This range is just the start of an exciting pipeline of NPD, as we aim to continue to innovate and expand into new categories so that consumers can always have Squeaky’s tantalizing flavours at their fingertips.”
[1] Kantar Category Gold data, 12 weeks up to 22nd Jan ’23
[2] Kantar Category Gold data, 52 weeks up to 22nd Jan ’23