China: Haofood makes foray into Shanghai restaurants

Haofood uses its proprietary extrusion technology and formulation to create chicken products with a peanut protein base

Haofood, a China-based start-up developing plant-based chicken products from peanut protein, has secured partnerships with five restaurants in Shanghai. Starting from this month, Haofood’s products will be used as part of their menus.

Chief executive Astrid Prajogo founded Haofood 12 months ago, at a time when the popularity of plant-based meat was rapidly growing in China. In 2020, 39% of the population were attempting to reduce their meat consumption, and 65% of them were willing to try plant-based meat to help them in this. However, many are dissatisfied with the plant-based meat options in China.

Haofood recognised the low uptake of plant-based meat products was down to the tofu-like quality of the products available in the market – it entered the market to offer an alternative that mimic the texture of chicken in a more realistic manner.

The company was the first in the world to use peanut protein as a base for chicken products, taking advantage of its potential for a strong and elastic texture. Haofood uses proprietary extrusion technology and formulation to create affordable and tasty plant-based chicken made from sustainable, non-GMO peanuts.

 We want to unite the past, present, and future,” said chief Prajogo. “The past being traditional menus by dedicated chefs, the future being plant-based meat, and the present being customers’ experiences today.”

The five restaurants using Haofood’s products to revitalise their cultures’ dishes are Green Friday (Xujiahui Station), Topolino (Changping Rd Station), STYX (Hengshan Rd Station), Wrap and Roll (Jiangsu Rd Station), and The Pawon (Yili Rd Station).

Each of Haofood’s partners brings something unique to the table. Wrap and Roll turns Haofood’s chicken into practical, tasty, and healthy food, which can be incorporated into everyday life such as mini burger, wrap and bowl.  Green Friday, specialising in plant-based dishes, marries popular Chinese dishes la zi ji and gong bao ji ding with peanut-based chicken made using Haofood’s products. 

The Pawon presents authentic Indonesian chicken dishes sate ayam, ayam rendang, and dabu-dabu grilled chicken. STYX brings to life memories of travelling through Southeast Asia with dishes from their street food scene such as chicken satay, chicken curry rice, chicken bites, and fusion tacos. Meanwhile, Topolino offers a variety of authentic Sicilan comfort foods from pizza and pasta to salads and paninis.

Astrid Prajogo describes one of Haofood’s aims in working with these restaurants as being part of their mission to make eating good food forever possible. “We all know eating meat is less sustainable, but it’s an important part of so many traditional menus,” she explains. “So plant-based meat is one one of the ways to preserve this, because we can continue our culinary heritage but also respect the Earth.”