Restaurant chain Nathan’s Famous has launched plant-based hot dogs in collaboration with alt-meat brand Meatless Farm.
Plant-based meat brand Meatless Farm has partnered with legendary fast-food giant Nathan’s Famous to develop vegan hot dogs.
The partnership will see Nathan’s Famous combine its over 100-year-old secret recipe with plant-based ingredients made from cutting edge technology. These include pea protein, natural hardwood smoke and colour from vegetable juices. The plant-based hot dog took over a year to develop.
The companies aim to reduce people’s meat consumption with this product, which is also high in protein, low in saturated fat and sodium, and gluten- and soy-free. Nathan’s Famous sold more than 700 million hot dogs across the US in 2020. The chain will be offering a free Meatless Farm hot dog with every purchase of a regular menu item during the first week of launch.
Having started in April, the plant-based hot dogs will be available exclusively on Nathan’s Famous’s online portal on Shopify as a kit for $44.99. This will include six vegan hot dogs, buns and a bottle of the Nathan’s Famous Deli Style Mustard. The kit is available for nationwide delivery and the hot dog will be rolled out in select restaurants in the tri-state area and Florida, with further expansions planned in additional restaurants.
This follows a series of other collaborations and developments for Meatless Farm. In March, it announced the opening of a new plant-based protein ingredient facility in Calgary as well as a partnership with Spanish football club Real Madrid. Earlier this month, it also began a collaboration with Certified Master Chef Daryl Shular.
Morten Toft Bech, founder of Meatless Farm, said: “We’re working with the most iconic hot dog company in the US, turning this American favorite into a Meatless favorite. Increasingly, more people are aware of the impact intensively farmed meat has on the planet and are now looking for fresh, good quality food that tastes amazing and not only helps protect our health, but the environment too.
“This exciting partnership with Nathan’s Famous provides the opportunity to inspire a new generation of carbon-conscious consumers to eat more meatless. More people making smaller changes will have a greater impact than a few making drastic ones.”
James Walker, senior vice-president at Nathan’s Restaurants, added: “As plant-based menu items continue to grow in popularity, we are excited to launch the first-ever gourmet, plant-based hot dog, a product created not just for our flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan customers, but all who enjoy a healthier diet.
“We’ve spent a great deal of time perfecting this hot dog and making sure that those who know and love Nathan’s one-of-a-kind flavor, as well as those that might not have tried a Nathan’s hot dog due to diet, can now enjoy an option that fits their lifestyle.”
