Mushroom-based meat producer Fascin8foods announced it is expanding across Australia, its products now retailing in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Queensland.
The company is delivering its FROOM mince and balls to consumers through plant-based ready-made meal brand IKU.
“Supplying IKU has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the versatility and appeal of our FROOM products,” says Jenny Joseph, CEO of Fascin8foods. “Our expansion into the ACT, NSW, and QLD with the FROOM retail range is a testament to our commitment to providing sustainable and delicious plant-based alternatives.”
Founded in NSW in 2021, Fascin8foods recently brought its products to the Western Australia retail market with IKU. The company says its FROOM products are rich in essential nutrients and low in calories, without gluten, cholesterol, or saturated fats.
In a past interview with Future Alternative, Joseph described some of the unique advantages of mushroom-based meat compared to other plant-based alternatives.
According to Joseph, because mushrooms can be cultivated indoors vertically, they don’t need the vast agricultural land, water, and resources associated with meat production or the growing of other plant-based proteins.
She also emphasised mushrooms’ ability to absorb and carry flavour compared to other plant-based protein sources.
Russel Johnson, CEO of IKU, said, “We have been extremely happy with the mushroom products overall. The growth in our sales since we launched the range aligns with the unique selling points attributed to the product and overall market growth within this category.”
The potential for mushrooms as an alternative protein source is growing.
For example, the global market for mycoprotein – or a protein-rich foodstuff created from fermenting the root-like spores of specific mushrooms – is expected to hit US$ 720.7 million in 2024 and rise by 1.8 times from 2024 to 2034, according to research firm Future Market Insights.
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