Starfield launches frozen buns with plant-based meat

Plant-based meat startup Starfield debuted its first product in the Chinese market on June 10, putting its plant-based meat frozen buns up for sale on major Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Tmall, JD and Freshippo.

The buns, which cost 25 yuan for a pack of four, will also be available on the shelves of Ole Supermarkets across the country starting from June 18.

The buns come in four flavors: BBQ, Tom Yum Kung, cheese pumpkin and green pepper.

Before releasing its first product in the market, Starfield had been supplying plant-based meat to fast food chain Dicos, popular milk tea chain Heytea, and the Charoen Pokphand Group.

"We want to be closer to customers and learn about their preferences," said Wu Yanzi, CEO of the company. "Plant-based meat is not just environmental friendly - it can be delicious and fun as well."

Wu pointed out that the company has built a factory in Hubei province that can produce 50,000 metric tons of the plant-based meat from soybeans, red beets, wheat and vegetable oil.

"Large scale production can bring down the price of plant-based meat to the same level of chicken," she said.

Founded in 2017, Starfield received three rounds of investment last year, with the latest one in October raising more than $10 million from Lightspeed China Partners, Joy Capital and Sky9 Capital.