- Many restaurants in South Africa have been offering their own vegan or vegetarian burger variations for some time.
- But it’s been the arrival of Beyond Meat that’s effectively catapulted it into the mainstream locally.
- It has also seen the price of plant-based burgers skyrocketing.
- For more visit Business Insider South Africa.
Meat-impersonating fast food has surged in popularity, and South African restaurants and fast food chains have been quick to capitalise on the movement.
Many restaurants in South Africa have been offering their own vegan or vegetarian burger variations for some time. But it’s been the arrival of Beyond Meat - the U.S. celebrity-backed faux-meat company, expected to earn more than R323 billion in revenue this year - that’s effectively catapulted it into the mainstream in this country.
The Beyond Burger is entirely vegan, and made using a variety of ingredients such pea protein isolates, canola oil, and beetroot “blood” - in order to give non-meat eaters the experience of biting into actual meat.
Beyond Meat, imported to South Africa for the restaurant market by Infinite Foods, has also seen the price of plant-based burgers skyrocketing to sometimes nearly double that of their beef equivalents.
Beyond Burgers are not available in national supermarkets, yet. But they are now on restaurant menus across the country - including in once predominantly meat-only establishments, such as steakhouse chain Spur, and their burger joint operation RocoMamas. It’s also available in other national restaurants like Doppio Zero and Woolworths Cafes.
Business Insider South Africa compared the price of these meatless burgers at restaurants across the country. They varied in price depending on how the establishment wraps them up; but in all cases they were more expensive than their beef equivalents - often significantly so.
Take a look:
Spur - R129.90
No sides included.
Comparable beef burger: R76
Plant-based premium: R53.90
Doppio Zero - R148
Side of salad or chips included. All burger patties substitutable with Beyond Meat patty at R38 surcharge.
Comparable beef burger: R95
Plant-based premium: R53
Hudsons - R129
Vegan cheese but no sides included. All burger patties substitutable with Beyond Meat at R35 surcharge.
Comparable beef burger: R99
Plant-based premium: R30
RocoMamas - R125
Burger with garnish. No sides included.
Comparable beef burger: R64
Plant-based premium: R61
Woolworths WCafe - R145
Burger with garnish and cheese. Side of fries included.
Comparable beef burger: R92
Plant-based premium: R53
Lupa Osteria - R139
Burger with garnish, avocado and vegan cheese.
Comparable beef burger: R110
Plant-based premium: R29
Turn ’n Tennder - R150
Bun-less vegan burger with choice of side.
Comparable beef burger: R95
Plant-based premium: R55
Jackson’s (Johannesburg) - R145
Burger with garnish and vegan cheese. Chips included.
Comparable beef burger: R89
Plant-based premium: R56
Lekker Vegan (Cape Town) - R115
Burger with garnish and vegan cheese. No sides included.
Comparable beef burger: N/A
Plant-based premium: N/A
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