Swedish Retailer Ikea Will Debut Vegan Meatballs This Fall

"Known for its in-store cafeteria where shoppers often arrive ready to eat, this Swedish retailer expanded its plant-based offerings after introducing veggie meatballs in 2015. Noting rising demand for vegan options, its food-services team fast-tracked development of a meatlike vegan version of its iconic Swedish meatballs—moving testing up to this fall from an initial plan to start trials early next year—with a global rollout planned for 2020. A dedicated team of eight employees is working on formulations that could be based on wheat, soy, peas, or oats, aiming to imitate the texture and flavor of meat while building on the company's existing veggie-meatball experience." - Nikita Richardson