Chefs Sau Del Rosario and Josh Boutwood join the plant-based movement

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The fast rise of plant-based alternatives has led to a cultural shift in the global food industry. This has been especially evident in Asia where a growing number of people, young and old, are turning to plant-based foods to boost their health. Another reason it has caught consumers’ attention so quickly is because the growing concerns about climate change have made them more mindful about eating sustainably. According to a recent survey by GlobalData, over 40% of consumers in the region are shifting to plant-based meat and diets, with 11% opting for vegetarian and vegan food, and a third are cutting down on their meat consumption by going ‘flexitarian’, centering their diets on plant-based foods without totally eliminating meat.

With diners already demanding healthier and nutritious food products and making better-informed choices - putting more plant-based foods on their menus make practical business sense for food operators. Answering the call, Nestlé Philippines has made the first step into the plant-based meat alternatives market with its HARVEST GOURMET® brand. The new range provides a close similarity on taste and texture to that of meat products, while offering the nutritional benefits of plant-based proteins. The variety of options have also been adapted to the Asian palate and popular menu choices, including meat-alternative burgers, nuggets, and mince ingredients made from non-GMO soy, wheat, and other plant-based ingredients. This revolutionary line is meant to support restaurateurs, cafe owners, hoteliers, and other out-of-home industry partners by helping them opt-in to adding more plant-based menu options as it opens up more business opportunities to not only provide more choices for health-conscious consumers, but also ‘normalize’ the consumption of meat-alternatives.

“As more people turn to meat-alternatives to achieve healthier lifestyles and to satisfy their taste buds, we welcome our out-of-home industry partners to strongly start taking plant-based menu offerings into consideration as it attracts a different type of customer, while also providing exciting, new taste experiences for loyal customers. This is a recipe that makes good business sense,” said Alexander Ong Oh, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Professional, the foodservice unit of Nestlé Philippines.

Most recently, two of the country’s esteemed chefs - Sau Del Rosario and Josh Boutwood - made the choice to join the plant-based movement. In collaboration with Nestle Philippines’ HARVEST GOURMET® brand, they both created a pair of burger dishes for their respective restaurants in an effort to test out the appeal of plant-based meat among their customers.

For Chef Sau, he created a plant-based Adobo Burger with Pinakbet Okoy & Buffalo Wings with Calamansi Aioli and a Korean-inspired plant-based Burger with Ssam Jang, Kimchi and Nori flavored fries. The latter is currently available to order from his Cafe Fleur restaurant menu. These flavorful creations were made using HARVEST GOURMET® Sensational Burger and HARVEST GOURMET® Chargrilled pieces

Chef Josh, on the other hand, made his own creation of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat Burger made with HARVEST GOURMET® Sensational Burger, Colby Jack cheese, charcoal grilled cucumber relish, burger sauce, chipotle sauce, and micro greens.

He also made a plant-based Honey Buffalo (chicken) Sandwich made with HARVEST GOURMET® Schnitzel, coleslaw, and secret sauce, available for a limited time at his renowned Test Kitchen.

Whether as a chef or a diner, both Chef Sau and Chef Josh lauded how HARVEST GOURMET® has made it easier for them to incorporate a plant-based food into their life and work.

“I keep a very busy schedule, but I make sure I eat nourishing and healthy meals to keep my body energized and ready for the long hours in the kitchen. Eating healthy has never been this easy when I started incorporating Harvest Gourmet into my diet and this is something I would like for my diners to also experience. That’s why I included it in our Café Fleur menu. You will love how it is not only good for your wellbeing but for our environment as well,” said Chef Sau.

When people hear vegetarian, vegan, plant-based alternatives, or anything related to healthy food, there is an automatic connotation that it would be an inferior product; and while some might still have reservations over plant-based food, Chef Josh can attest to the quality of HARVEST GOURMET®.

“As a diner, if I change my mindset, what’s important to me is that it has to taste good, and I have to enjoy it. Is it good enough for me to create a memory that I will remember? Yes, and that’s what’s important. With Harvest Gourmet, these are wonderful base products that we can build up on as chefs and incorporate it in our menu to give that extra option to our guests to choose from,” said Chef Josh.

For a limited time only, Nestlé Professional Philippines is offering HARVEST GOURMET® products at a special discount of up to 36% on both e-commerce and wholesale platforms.

HARVEST GOURMET® products are available through Nestlé Professional Philippines and e-commerce partners: Rare Food Shop, Lazada, Shopee, and Wholemart PH.

For more information on HARVEST GOURMET® products, please visit the official Facebook page of Nestlé Professional Philippines and follow @harvestgourmetph on Instagram.

Nestlé introduces plant-based HARVEST GOURMET ® in PH, pursuing sustainability commitment

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Nestlé Philippines has announced its first move into the plant-based meat alternatives market with the launch of its plant-based HARVEST GOURMET® brand initially in its foodservice business. Launched on World Vegan Day, Nestlé Philippines is embracing the market’s growing appetite for healthier and tastier plant-based foods and invites the country’s leading restaurants and hotels to join the plant-based movement. With a spotlight on the environmental impact of meat consumption as well as an emphasis on health and balanced nutrition, Nestlé brings its plant-based food expertise to the Philippines via the HARVEST GOURMET® brand to satisfy conscious consumers looking to reduce their meat intake with delicious, nutritious, and sustainable food options, as well as, allowing it to pursue its sustainability commitment.

“Switching to plant-based food and beverages is not only beneficial from a health point of view, but also helps in the fight against climate change. As a Kasambuhay for the Environment, accelerating consumption of plant-based alternatives will help us attain our company’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, contributing to the aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C,” said Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki.

With over 40% of consumers in Asia consciously reducing their meat intake and shifting to plant-based alternatives, HARVEST GOURMET® arrives in the Philippines at the perfect time as more consumers are recognizing the benefits of exploring plant-based options. The plant-based market is no longer limited to vegans but includes a growing consumer base called “flexitarians,” who are increasingly replacing meat with plant-based products in their diet. They are doing so for health reasons as well as greater awareness of sustainable products, expanding the market and growth potential of the category.

“What we are seeing is that the demand for plant-based food is not just a food trend, but really a growing social movement for sustainability,” said Alexander Ong Oh, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Professional, the foodservice unit of Nestlé Philippines. “Every menu replaced with plant-based offerings and every plant-based meal served and consumed in restaurants and hotels will be a step closer towards promoting not just a healthier lifestyle, but the sustainability of our planet, and we feel the foodservice industry has a leading role to play in driving this change.  And we are excited to leverage our global knowledge and latest technology in plant-based food to bring to our customers and to Filipino consumers products that deliver on both taste and texture, so they get to enjoy plant-based food without compromise.”  

HARVEST GOURMET® will be introduced in the Philippines with initial three gourmet formats: Sensational Burger, Schnitzel, and Chargrilled Pieces, in two-kg institutional packs, with mince, nuggets, balls and other formats to be rolled out by next year, giving restaurants and hotels many options to add plant-based products to their menus.

In line with Nestlé’s global commitment to sustainability and its global mandate on responsible sourcing, the HARVEST GOURMET® range uses only the highest-quality plant-based ingredients. Each is made with non-GMO soy and wheat that promises taste, texture, and a cooking experience as close as possible to that of meat products while offering the full nutritional benefits of plant-based proteins. Nestle also uses High Moisture Extrusion Technology developed by its food technologists and scientists, in collaboration with chefs, to optimize the product performance in commercial kitchen equipment, ensuring that products deliver a gourmet-quality experience in terms of texture, appearance, aroma and taste.

HARVEST GOURMET® is now available through Nestlé Professional (https://www.facebook.com/nestleprofessionalphilippines), and our e-commerce partners: Rare Food Shop (https://rarefoodshop.com/collections/harvest-gourmet) and Prime Pacific Foods Corporation (https://wholemart.com.ph/#/).