RAPS has developed vegan BBQ product concepts

The product range includes a variety of analogues of MEAT products based on pea protein: from burger cutlets and traditional German sausages to shish kebabs and barbecue dumplings. The developer promises customers the same richness of taste sensations that would be delivered to them by natural meat products cooked on an open fire.

RAPS GmbH & Co. KG, founded over 95 years ago in Kulmbach, Germany, is widely recognized as an expert in spices, high quality raw materials and other ingredients for the meat industry. The brand's entry into the market with technologies and formulations of plant-based meat analogs based on pea protein concentrate meets the needs of manufacturers who will be able to profitably complement their range of barbecue products.

The production of meat substitutes for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians has become one of the fastest growing segments of the food industry. According to the latest report from the organizers of the pan-European Smart Protein Project, sales of alternative plant-based products in Germany increased by 97% in 2018-2020.

The nutritional ingredients and functional concepts of RAPS prove that it is now possible to forego natural meat without sacrificing the taste experience. There are a myriad of culinary techniques that allow pea protein concentrate manufacturers to target large target groups and offer them snacks that rival meat dishes in taste and aroma.

A wide range of applications of RAPS developments makes it possible to produce all kinds of vegetable analogues of meat products: burger patties, chopped sausages for frying, quenelles with spicy sauces (for example, jalapeno cheese with hot peppers), skewers for frying on a skewer, cevapchichi. 

In terms of organoleptic characteristics, each of the proposals is as close as possible to the original, the company promises to barbecue fans. In the process of production on standard equipment for meat processing, the necessary elasticity and texture can be achieved. The consistency of such products remains stable when frozen and thawed. 

Consumer demands are diverse and changing, they are becoming more and more individual, and this whole process should be reflected on the grocery retail shelves. Thanks to the versatility of pea protein, the company will make barbecue enjoyment accessible to a wide range of people, including vegans, according to RAPS New Product Line Manager Josefine Schneider. 

When developing the line, special attention was paid to the list of ingredients and the composition of the products in terms of the nutritional value of the products, Ms. Schneider emphasized. Of course, all data will be placed on the label. In the Nutri-Score labeling system, RAPS sentences correspond to the A and B positions in the green part of the scale.

In addition to the BBQ line, RAPS offers manufacturers other product concepts for vegetarians and vegans: sausages, imitation cold cuts and fish fingers, schnitzels, spreads and cold appetizers.