Plant-based meat industry may find footing in developing markets

Five years ago, plant-based meat alternatives garnered attention after major U.S. fast food chain Burger King added the Impossible Whopper to its menu. Soon, other restaurants followed suit. McDonald's, Starbucks, Panda Express and KFC all dished out meat items branded as “impossible” and “beyond” and, for a while, consumers ate it up, not just in drive-thrus, but at grocery stores as well. Plant-based meat sales — and outside investment — took off, especially gaining attention in the early days of the pandemic when some slaughterhouses were shut down.