Salisbury, Maryland-headquartered Handy Seafood, America’s oldest seafood processor with roots dating back to 1894, has entered the faux seafood sector with the introduction of Plant-based Crabless Cakes. The frozen product, which is produced at its BRC-certified plant in Crisfield, Maryland, is now being distributed to grocery retailers and foodservice operators across the United States.
This debut from Handy targets the growing demand for plant-based foods propelled by the rise of flexitarianism among consumers who are actively restricting animal-based products, but have not fully eliminated such inputs from their diet.
It is estimated that the plant-based foods could account for approximately 7.7% of the global protein market by 2030, with a value of over $162 billion, up from $29.4 billion in 2020, according to a recent report from Bloomberg Intelligence entitled “Plant-Based Foods Poised for Explosive Growth.”
“We’re proud to elevate the category by delivering a savory and delicious plant-based product that consumers crave,” said Lion Gardner, director of product development at Handy Seafood. He added that Handy’s Plant-based Crabless Cakes are made with responsibly sourced vegan ingredients and provide 10 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
The product is entrée-sized with a crab cake like texture and a savory Maryland-style flavor complemented with red and green peppers, and onions. Each serving contains 10 grams of Handy’s proprietary pea and wheat protein blend, with two cholesterol-free cakes per 170-gram retail package.
