Exotic mushroom varieties drive the plant-based revolution, says Tesco

Demand is soaring for two obscure mushroom varieties that are taking the UK’s plant-based market by storm, the retailer highlights
Sales for Brown Oyster Cluster and King Oyster mushrooms have soared by almost 240 percent, because of their meat-like texture, UK retailer Tesco has revealed. They are also two of the key vegetables behind the supermarket’s exclusive, Wicked Kitchen vegan food range. The mushroom boom comes amid massive growth in plant-based ingredients, as more consumers are opting for foods that aren’t animal-derived.

As a direct result of the rising demand, the Brown Oyster Cluster mushrooms are now being commercially grown in the UK by Lancashire producer Smithy Mushrooms. Plans are also already underway for the company to start growing the King Oyster variety later this year.
The growing popularity of the mushrooms has been helped by the online recipes of Tesco’s plant-based food guru Derek Sarno, Tesco’s Director of Plant-based Innovation, who created the Wicked Kitchen and Plant Chef ranges.

Foodingredients First