“There’s a sweet spot in developing a plant-based product that is packed with important nutrients like protein, has the perfect texture and tastes delicious,” says Tara Haddad, CEO Modern Meats. “Our chefs don’t stop tweaking recipes until they’ve reached that optimal spot.” Modern Meat, based in Vancouver, which has created a selection of nutritious, vegan food made from natural ingredients derived from plants. Modern Meat’s simple ingredient profile sets them apart from other meat alternative products on the market today. It all began when Tara found herself looking for healthier and sustainable ways of eating for herself and her family. As she researched protein alternatives available, she couldn’t find anything with an ingredient list she could trust. “While many plant-based products taste great, a huge ingredient used is gluten, while Modern Meat products are free from gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. They are made with no artificial preservatives or additives; something I would eat all the time.” says Tara. “I felt that by creating a nutritious, high protein food without the chemicals and additives was helpful for me trying to make the switch to a plantbased lifestyle,” says Tara, “My dad has had some health issues recently attributed to eating too many red meat products. Just looking at how his health has changed by reducing his meat consumption has been dramatic.” Modern Meat began its R&D in 2019 creating recipes for the Modern Burger, Crumble and Meatballs, and at just over a year old they have a portfolio of nine core products including three sauces. “We did numerous tastings with chefs, friends, and industry people to solicit feedback in order to refine and perfect our products,” explains Tara. “It’s all part of the process.” In January 2020, Modern Meat began selling to food service and were hitting their stride when restaurants were forced to closed due to COVID -19. Fortunately, they were working on another revenue stream, a pre-made delivery service in partnership with PlantX, an online community and lifestyle platform for all things plant-based. This initiative was put in place to allow people to access nutritious vegan meals without having to leave their homes, which was timely particularly during the pandemic. This past spring, they’ve launched into retail and are now offering Modern Meat products at over 20 retail stores and independent grocers throughout BC as well as a one location in Winnipeg. “Our goal is to expand our distribution reach across Canada in the coming months and penetrate the US and international markets thereafter,” says Tara.
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The all-female management team truly embrace the Modern Meat mission and philosophy of creating healthy alternatives and are passionate about reducing their environmental footprint by contributing to a sustainable food supply. “At Modern Meat we want to change the way food is produced and consumed for the benefit of people, animals and the environment, doing our part to live more sustainably. Equally important is to give back to our communities which for us means providing warm meals and food for those in need,” says Tara. This year, Modern Meat partnered with the Cause We Care Foundation, a Vancouver-based initiative that helps support vulnerable single mothers and children. They provided a Mother’s Day package of prepared plant-based food, a true gift from the earth.
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To learn more about Modern Meat or to find out where to buy their products visit: themodernmeat.com