As consumers increasingly seek fish alternatives, Nestlé has launched an exciting innovation: a range of plant-based alternatives to white fish.
The products, which include alternatives to breaded fish fillets, nuggets, and fingers, stand out for their strong nutrition credentials and their great taste and texture close to white fish. They are also certified vegan.
Torsten Pohl, Global Head of R&D for Nestlé's food category, said these new fish alternatives resulted from Nestlé's deep expertise in plant-based proteins and its strong commitment to continue delivering exciting innovations that meet consumers' expectations.
During consumer testing, Nestlé's products received high praise for the great taste and texture close to white fish. They also have strong nutritional credentials, making them competitive in the marketplace.
Leveraging its strong plant-based innovation expertise and global reach, Nestlé is launching three different types of fish alternatives across geographies and brands.
Under the Garden Gourmet brand in Europe, Nestlé will launch marine-style crispy fillets and marine-style crispy nuggets. Made with wheat and pea protein, the great-tasting and nutritious products are high in protein and low in saturated fat. They also come with a Nutri-score A in countries that use the Nutri-score front-of-pack labelling system. They will launch online and in-store in European countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In Asia, Nestlé has already launched crispy fish-free fingers for retail and out-of-home under the Harvest Gourmet brand in Malaysia and Singapore. Made from soy and wheat, the fish finger alternatives are a source of protein and fibre and come in a crispy coating infused with herbs like oregano and rosemary.
Massimo Zucchero, Global Category Lead for plant-based meals, Nestlé said consumers continue seeking plant-based options for their favourite dishes. These new alternatives to fish are a great addition at mealtimes and can also be shared as an appetiser or small meal.
“They are tasty, nutritious and can also help to reduce overfishing and protect the biodiversity of our oceans," Zucchero stated.
The new launches complement Nestlé's Garden Gourmet Vuna, an alternative to tuna fish in Europe since 2020, and Nestlé's wide-ranging plant-based portfolio. Moreover, Nestlé is actively exploring cutting-edge technologies for animal-free products, such as precision fermentation and cultured meat, to expand its offerings further.
Nestlé remains committed to helping people achieve balanced and sustainable diets. Recently, the company announced a sales target for more nutritious foods, including efforts to innovate more products made with plant-based ingredients.
