Meat substitutes for traditional meat derived from slaughtered animals are usually derived from plants, microbes and other sources of protein without slaughtering animals. Meat substitutes are generally used to replace meat in recipes and high-quality meat substitutes which mimic real meat in nutrients, flavour and texture are in high demand.
Shandi Global is a Singapore based AgriTech startup founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Reena Sharma. The company is active in Singapore, Indian, Canadian and Australian markets, and offer supremely high-quality meat substitutes.
The Product
Their products are plant-based, created from natural ingredients like beans, lentils, water, cold-pressed oils and other plant-based ingredients. The company uses natural processes instead of chemical reactions to saturate proteins, creating meat-like flavour and texture, and rejects artificial additives. However, their key selling point is the process that allows them to create functional meat substitutes. The protein content and amino acid profile of the substitute matches the meat itself, fulfilling the consumer’s nutrient and taste requirements.
The firm focuses on creating a plant-based meat substitute that is as identical to authentic meat in nutrition, taste and texture as possible. The goal is to be able to replace the meat in your food with a plant-based substitute without compromising the experience of taking away the benefits. Their line of products includes substitutes for patties, pieces, shredded meat, strips and their most recent one, drumsticks. Their naturally derived substitutes with in-built taste, texture and nutrients have set a high bar on clean, ethical meat substitutes worldwide.
The Pandemic Effect
Covid-19 has disrupted the global market, and the food and agricultural sector has taken a hit in many aspects. However, these impacts are not just detrimental, but disruptive, The pandemic has diverted people’s attention towards healthier and more ethical choices of consumption, including choosing meat substitutes. With plant-based substitutes facing a rising demand due to increased awareness, this has benefited companies in the sector. This continuous trend is a result of the increase in consumer awareness and is likely to lead to a surge in the substitute meat market as a whole.
Shandi Global -The Verdict
Shandi Global is backed by Brinc and Aurelia Ventures, two VC firms that find and invest in disruptive companies that help solve the world’s problems through innovation. Their 2 rounds of seed fund-raising gave them an undisclosed amount of starting capital.
The meat substitute industry has a tremendous global impact on the economy as well as the ecology. Meat substitutes are popular by being ethically sourced, use fewer resources to be created, and cause less pollution with waste and greenhouse gases. Shandi Global’s product is a plant-based substitute created using natural ingredients and processes. They are the healthier and more ethical option. They consume less water and resources for production when compared to an equal amount of animal meat, and are also cheaper, cause less pollution, and result in fewer greenhouse effect. The product has an overall higher positive impact on our health as well as the environment, which is what has led to their growing popularity.
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