Impossible Foods selling direct-to-consumer alternative meat

Plant-based meat is available for two-day shipping online

Impossible Foods meat alternatives are now available for nationwide shipping to consumers amid ongoing meat shortages.

Impossible Foods is shipping its plant-based burgers and patties direct to consumers in 48 sites via its website, in bulk, the startup announced Thursday.

Impossible Foods Inc. has been ramping up its production efforts during the COVID-19 crisis. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images) 

The Redwood City, California-based maker of plant-based meat substitutes partnered with San Francisco-based food wholesaler Cheetah in April to sell its meatless patties in retail stores after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration temporarily updated its food- labeling guidelines to let food makers redistribute products meant for food service during the coronavirus crisis.

WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOODS?

The Impossible plant-based patties cost between $49.99 for four, 12-ounce packages to $69.99 for a grilling pack of 20 quarter-pound patties.

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Meat and pork producers like Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods temporarily closed facilities in April to curb the spread of the virus after a number of employees tested positive. Since then, demand for vegan alternatives to beef and pork has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales of fresh meat alternatives went up 178.5 percent in the week ending May 23, while fresh meat sales increased 24.4 percent, according to market research firm Nielsen.

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