Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Meatless Jack

  1. #1
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,214

    Meatless Jack

    This Company Is Getting Rich by Turning Jackfruit Into Pork

    By Anuchit Nguyen and Randy Thanthong-Knight (Bloomberg)
    October 14, 2020, 4:00 AM GMT+7


    • The country is seeing demand expand for plant-based meat
    • Millions of people in Thailand are going meatless this month


    NR Instant Produce product range. Source: NR Instant Produce Pcl

    Thai food producers are betting on growing plant-based meat trends at home and abroad for future expansion.

    Food exports from Thailand are one of the few areas that have increased during the pandemic, while sales of other products have struggled because of the disruption to international trade. The government wants to make Thailand a food production hub, and plant-based meat can help it achieve that ambition.

    Among growing Thai companies is NR Instant Produce Pcl, a food exporter that started making plant-based protein in 2016 by turning jackfruit into mock pork. The company raised about 1.6 billion baht ($51.4 million) in its initial public offering this month and the stock doubled in intraday trading on its debut on Oct. 9. The producer is expanding facilities in the U.S., China and Thailand.

    “Consumer focus on health is a huge megatrend right now. The growth potential is massive,” said Danai Pathomvanich, the chief executive officer. He said about 7% of NR Instant’s revenue comes from plant-based products and expected the contribution to jump to 30% within four years.

    NR Instant Produce isn’t alone. The country’s largest meat producer controlled by one of the richest families, Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl, is also looking at producing plant-based meat from soy protein. One of the top oil refiners, Bangchak Corp Pcl, also plans to diversify into the faux meat industry.

    Vegetarian Festival


    The plant-based meat market is expected to be worth $27.9 billion globally by 2025, more than double the $12.1 billion value last year, according to a MarketsandMarkets report. North America and Europe are currently the top markets, but increased demand from Asia Pacific and South American countries is expected to drive sales, the report said.

    For Thailand, the trend is rapidly catching on, fueled by social media. Every year, millions of Thais in the Buddhist-majority country stop eating animal products during the nine-day vegetarian festival -- which starts on Oct. 17 this year -- and more people are going meatless for longer and more frequently.

    “One of the most telling indicators of Thailand embracing the plant-based lifestyle is the number of Thai entrepreneurs coming up with plant-based products,“ said Mika Apichatsakol, who started a vegan diner in Bangkok this year with her husband and long-time vegan Gareth Sheehan.

    “We’re already at that stage where Thais are producing their own products and not relying on expensive western products,“ she said. “That’s a game changer. It means plant-based is for everyone.”
    Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    It's already quite huge in India and I've had it in Malaysia. We are Pescatarians (95% of the time) and jackfruit meat substitute is quite tasty.

    Yup, why not

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,214
    ...the poor in Sri Lanka (and probably elsewhere) make jackfruit curry when meat is too expensive...I'm told the fruit is a popular meat substitute...

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...the poor in Sri Lanka (and probably elsewhere) make jackfruit curry when meat is too expensive...I'm told the fruit is a popular meat substitute...
    Interesting that you mention that. Here in NZ we buy the canned variety from Fiji. Jackfruit curry . . . with rice . . . excellent

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last Online
    30-04-2022 @ 02:44 AM
    Posts
    11,204


    Why?

    because it's not meat.

    you want meat, eat meat.

    you want jackfruit, then eat jackfruit.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,214
    ...however, if you can't afford meat, jackfruit is an alternative...

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last Online
    30-04-2022 @ 02:44 AM
    Posts
    11,204
    ok, point taken. or mushrooms?

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,214
    ...or tofu, etc...the op mentions jackfruit as an alternative, not the alternative...

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    41,562
    I'm still really curious about these meat substitute products and quite keen to try them.

    I'm also very lazy so haven't.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat
    katie23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    PI
    Posts
    6,588
    I've used this meat alternative product, called Meat Magic. It's made of dehydrated soy/ tofu and needs to be rehydrated before cooking.

    It tastes awful! I've used it as a meat sub in adobo (vinegar + soy sauce mix) and in sweet & sour (Chinese style). Both were bleh. I bought it because there's a vegan in my ofc and she encouraged us to try the product.

    Another colleague was sales-talked into buying it too. She used it for caldereta (a kind of beef stew) and it was also bad - her kids & husband didn't like it. Only she (the mom) ate it, because she didn't want to throw food away. Some months ago, I asked her if she has used the product again - her reply was negative.

    However, I'll be willing to try this jackfruit curry or jackfruit meat sub. Here in PI, we also eat the young jackfruit meat - it's usually cooked with coconut milk.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRealKW View Post
    Why?

    because it's not meat.

    you want meat, eat meat.

    you want jackfruit, then eat jackfruit.
    No-one said it's meat, baboon-butt. It's jackfruit. Sheesh . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...or tofu, etc...the op mentions jackfruit as an alternative, not the alternative...
    Willy is going through his carnivore-testosterone surge period

    Quote Originally Posted by AntRobertson View Post
    I'm still really curious about these meat substitute products and quite keen to try them.
    Try not to think of them as meat substitutes, just another new food to try

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    41,562
    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Try not to think of them as meat substitutes, just another new food to try
    No issues on that front, I'm legitimately keen to try them, it's just that...

    I'm also very lazy so haven't.

  13. #13
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    สุโขทัย
    Posts
    10,149
    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...however, if you can't afford meat, jackfruit is an alternative...

    And enough protein content to make it a viable alternative.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRealKW View Post
    Why?

    because it's not meat.

    you want meat, eat meat.

    you want jackfruit, then eat jackfruit.
    William, are better now?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •