Industry News

Impossible Burger enters MLB ballparks

Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Oakland Athletics have announced that their Oakland Alameda Coliseum will become the first sports stadium to serve the plant-based Impossible Burger.

The Impossible Burger’s manufacturer, Impossible Foods, worked with venue manager Spectra Food Services and Hospitality, managers of the Coliseum (pictured), to provide the plant-based burger to fans.

The burgers will make their debut on the MLB season’s Opening Day on Thursday, when the Oakland A’s play against the Los Angeles Angels.

“The quality and variety of food offerings at the ballpark is a key part to the fan experience,” A’s president Dave Kaval said. “We love the story behind the Impossible Burger. It is not only cutting edge and innovative in its approach to food production, but it is also the best plant-based burger currently on the market. We are thrilled to be the first team to offer it to our fans.”

In development since 2011, the Impossible Burger cooks, tastes and smells like ground beef from cows – but is made entirely from plants. The Impossible Burger is produced without hormones, antibiotics, cholesterol or artificial flavours. It uses about 75 per cent less water, generates about 87 per cent fewer greenhouse gases, and requires around 95 per cent less land than conventional ground beef from cows.

While the Coliseum will be the first sports stadium to serve the Impossible Burger, more than 800 US restaurants are already serving the dish. Impossible Foods launched production in September at its first large-scale manufacturing plant, in Oakland.

After the Oakland plant is fully ramped up, Impossible Foods plans to launch retail sales. The company is also developing additional plant-based meat and dairy products.

Following the A’s announcement, fellow MLB team the San Francisco Giants have said they will also serve the Impossible Burger at their AT&T Park home.

Image: Amy K Posner