Strome Business Minute With Dr. Jeff Tanner

Beef substitutes Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have really taken off this spring. Impossible’s first big breakthrough was at Burger King with the Impossible Whopper, followed by products sold through Starbucks, White Castle, Red Robin, and Little Ceasar’s, and grocery distribution through Kroger. Now the brand has partnered with Yelp, another company that has done well during COVID, to provide free Impossible breakfast sausage and free marketing help from Yelp services like Connect and Waitlist to top independently-owned diners across the country. Locally, Anchor Allies in Virginia Beach made the list of Yelp’s Top Thirty diners and will participate in the program. Beyond Meat took the opposite approach by gaining grocery distribution first, then restaurants. It’s now available at Dunkin, Carl’s Jr, and TGI Fridays. Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis says plant-based meats are a top trend at Yelp. This has been Strome Business Minute, presented by the Strome College of Business, Old Dominion University.