While whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza remains a hot-button issue of the modern world, one thing is for certain—everyone enjoys a good slice. For those who follow a vegetarian diet or just enjoy eating plant-based, there is exciting news as Hormel Foods has announced that it will be partnering with Papa Murphy’s to roll out its new Happy Little Plants® pepperoni-style topping at locations nationwide. Building off of its Number one selling Hormel® Pepperoni brand, the company is adding a plant-based twist to provide customers of all backgrounds the delicious flavor of the classic topping.
"We are excited for people to try our game-changing Happy Little Plants brand pepperoni style topping and our other plant-based pizza toppings," said Robbie Koons, Happy Little Plants Brand Manager. "For anyone that wants to add more plant-based foods to their diet, our new Happy Little Plants brand pepperoni style topping is the perfect addition to any pizza at Papa Murphy's. Made with the same spice blend as our beloved traditional Hormel pepperoni, it's a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy the great taste and benefits of plants."
The Happy Little Plants brand was initially introduced by Hormel in 2019, and is now making its official foray into restaurants with the Papa Murphy’s partnership.
According to a press release, the brand celebrates the power of plant protein, giving those who follow a plant-based diet more options to partake in. Now the brand has moved into the world of pizza toppings, allowing plant-based followers to have more options when it comes to the consumer-favorite dish.
"Chefs and restaurateurs are very aware of today's dynamic food landscape and consumers' desire to add more plant-based foods to their diets, and we are very excited to bring this great-tasting, plant-based option to our partners at Papa Murphy's," said Anthony Panichelli, Foodservice Pizza Toppings Brand Manager at Hormel Foods. "The new Happy Little Plants brand pepperoni style topping was developed with foodservice operators to ensure pizzeria-level taste, convenience, and quality, so much so that many people may have a hard time tasting the difference between Happy Little Plants brand pepperoni style topping and traditional pepperoni. Our team worked closely with pizzerias, chefs, foodservice operators, and pizza experts to develop a plant-based pepperoni style topping that cooks and tastes exactly like traditional pepperoni."
The new plant-based pepperoni will make its debut appearance later this month at select Papa Murphy’s eateries. Locations that will get the first look include those in Austin and Dallas, Texas, Duluth, Minnesota, Fargo, North Dakota, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
"We know our customers are looking for plant-based options to shake up their normal pizza routine and incorporating the benefits of plant-based foods into meals they're familiar with," said Kim McBee, Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Brand Marketing at Papa Murphy's. "The new Happy Little Plants brand pepperoni style topping is perfect for our Cowboy pizza or as a switch to our traditional pepperoni pizzas."
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to sampling this tasty new option, and I’m sure plant-based shoppers everywhere can relate. If you want to get your hands on this new topping, be sure to hop to it, as consumers will come running.
