Interview with Tara Haddad, CEO, Modern Meat with Lizbeth Wall, Past President CCA BC, August 2020
What is your / Modern Meat’s background? When did you start? What products do you sell? Where can they be found?
Modern Meat is a Canadian food company based in Vancouver, British Columbia that offers a portfolio of plant-based meat products. I started the company in June 2019 as I was looking to create and bring to market a line of nutritious meat alternatives made free gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. Modern Meat is unique in that its recipes are created by local chefs in a kitchen and all products are made using real whole food ingredients with no additives or preservatives.
Modern Meat is a Canadian food company based in Vancouver, British Columbia that offers a portfolio of plant-based meat products. I started the company in June 2019 as I was looking to create and bring to market a line of nutritious meat alternatives made free gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. Modern Meat is unique in that its recipes are created by local chefs in a kitchen and all products are made using real whole food ingredients with no additives or preservatives.
Our current selection of products includes the Modern Burger, Mini-Burger, Crumble, Crab Cake and Meatballs as well as a line of vegan sauces. Modern Meat products are currently available for purchase at numerous retail stores and independent grocers across Western Canada as well as several top restaurants and e-commerce sites.
For information on where to purchase Modern Meat visit our website www.themodernmeat.com
What prompted you to start your gluten-free business?
Interestingly, many plant-based meats contain gluten and I was determined to create products that were safe and enjoyable for the growing population of people who are gluten intolerant. All Modern Meat products are made free of gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. I felt it was important that there was a healthy meat alternative available on the market that did not contain these common allergens. There are millions of Canadians living with food allergies, and while most have mild or minor symptoms it is still a cause of great discomfort to those affected. Over the years there seems to be a growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten intolerance which is driving the gluten-free food market. We remain committed to developing chef inspired restaurant quality products with unique flavors that do not contain gluten.
Where are your products produced? Is the facility dedicated?
We produce all our products in the only gluten-free kitchen facility on the North Shore. It is completely dedicated to vegetarian and gluten-free products.
What have the challenges been? What successes have you had?
Worldwide there has been a surge in meat alternative companies, from start-ups like us, to established meat companies that realize the plant-based meat trend is here to stay. These large meat companies already have the extensive reach and capability with a network of distribution facilities and production plants.
Our long-term goal is to be a leader in the plant-based market, and our advantage is that we offer only premium products that meet high standards in nutritional value. We will not put any product to market that doesn’t reach our benchmark levels in important nutrients like protein and iron.
We are expanding our reach and distribution capabilities. It will take time, but our reputation of creating quality products will drive the demand from retailers and consumers allowing us to further penetrate other markets.
Consumer questions surrounding health claims of meat alternatives can be an issue but one which we can quickly overcome. There are many companies that offer plant-based products that are highly processed, high in saturated fat, additives and have a long list of ingredients that are unfamiliar. We can’t forget that these foods aren’t automatically healthy just because they are plant-based and good for the environment. People need to be aware of the ingredients and nutritional content when they make their purchasing decisions.
We want consumers to know that Modern Meat is the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to health and nutrition. All our products are free of gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. We are unique in that we have developed gourmet products that nourish your body and satisfy like traditional meat but without the health implications.
Successes
Since starting Modern Meat, there has been tremendous interest in our plant-based products and how we choose to develop our recipes. We have gained much traction throughout Western Canada with growing interest nationally and in the US. Our products have been well received by retailers, food service and consumers alike.
Earlier this year, we won gold for Outstanding New Product at an industry conference which further supports strategy of using only real whole food ingredients.
What do you wish other people knew about Modern Meat?
We are laser focused on health, nutrition and taste and don’t rely on science in a lab to manipulate food. The kitchen is our lab. We have a team of chefs who develop recipes using premium quality, natural food to create a favourable culinary experience. We are not lab designed or highly processed.
What do you see in the future for your business?
My long-term goal is for Modern Meat to be a leader in the plant-based food space, and I know we will get there. Our clear advantage lies in our simple ingredient profile. I believe we will gain consumer confidence by only offering products that meet high standards in nutritional value.
We have an aggressive sales and distribution plan which will see us rollout our core products throughout Canada in the coming months and the US and internationally thereafter. Our aim is to introduce one new product each quarter to food service and retailers.
What is “special” about your products?
Our clean ingredient profile is what makes our products special. We craft our products using simple real ingredients from the earth. Nothing is highly processed, or lab created. We avoid using many of the common food allergens in our ingredients which makes our products more appealing to those concerned about maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet. Of great importance is ensuring all our products are high in protein and low in fat. The desire to be as authentic as possible to clean eating, using protein from plants to fuel the body became the foundation of Modern Meat’s philosophy.
For information on where to purchase Modern Meat visit our website www.themodernmeat.com
What prompted you to start your gluten-free business?
Interestingly, many plant-based meats contain gluten and I was determined to create products that were safe and enjoyable for the growing population of people who are gluten intolerant. All Modern Meat products are made free of gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. I felt it was important that there was a healthy meat alternative available on the market that did not contain these common allergens. There are millions of Canadians living with food allergies, and while most have mild or minor symptoms it is still a cause of great discomfort to those affected. Over the years there seems to be a growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten intolerance which is driving the gluten-free food market. We remain committed to developing chef inspired restaurant quality products with unique flavors that do not contain gluten.
Where are your products produced? Is the facility dedicated?
We produce all our products in the only gluten-free kitchen facility on the North Shore. It is completely dedicated to vegetarian and gluten-free products.
What have the challenges been? What successes have you had?
Worldwide there has been a surge in meat alternative companies, from start-ups like us, to established meat companies that realize the plant-based meat trend is here to stay. These large meat companies already have the extensive reach and capability with a network of distribution facilities and production plants.
Our long-term goal is to be a leader in the plant-based market, and our advantage is that we offer only premium products that meet high standards in nutritional value. We will not put any product to market that doesn’t reach our benchmark levels in important nutrients like protein and iron.
We are expanding our reach and distribution capabilities. It will take time, but our reputation of creating quality products will drive the demand from retailers and consumers allowing us to further penetrate other markets.
Consumer questions surrounding health claims of meat alternatives can be an issue but one which we can quickly overcome. There are many companies that offer plant-based products that are highly processed, high in saturated fat, additives and have a long list of ingredients that are unfamiliar. We can’t forget that these foods aren’t automatically healthy just because they are plant-based and good for the environment. People need to be aware of the ingredients and nutritional content when they make their purchasing decisions.
We want consumers to know that Modern Meat is the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to health and nutrition. All our products are free of gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs. We are unique in that we have developed gourmet products that nourish your body and satisfy like traditional meat but without the health implications.
Successes
Since starting Modern Meat, there has been tremendous interest in our plant-based products and how we choose to develop our recipes. We have gained much traction throughout Western Canada with growing interest nationally and in the US. Our products have been well received by retailers, food service and consumers alike.
Earlier this year, we won gold for Outstanding New Product at an industry conference which further supports strategy of using only real whole food ingredients.
What do you wish other people knew about Modern Meat?
We are laser focused on health, nutrition and taste and don’t rely on science in a lab to manipulate food. The kitchen is our lab. We have a team of chefs who develop recipes using premium quality, natural food to create a favourable culinary experience. We are not lab designed or highly processed.
What do you see in the future for your business?
My long-term goal is for Modern Meat to be a leader in the plant-based food space, and I know we will get there. Our clear advantage lies in our simple ingredient profile. I believe we will gain consumer confidence by only offering products that meet high standards in nutritional value.
We have an aggressive sales and distribution plan which will see us rollout our core products throughout Canada in the coming months and the US and internationally thereafter. Our aim is to introduce one new product each quarter to food service and retailers.
What is “special” about your products?
Our clean ingredient profile is what makes our products special. We craft our products using simple real ingredients from the earth. Nothing is highly processed, or lab created. We avoid using many of the common food allergens in our ingredients which makes our products more appealing to those concerned about maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet. Of great importance is ensuring all our products are high in protein and low in fat. The desire to be as authentic as possible to clean eating, using protein from plants to fuel the body became the foundation of Modern Meat’s philosophy.
