'Verky' is the name of a new vegan jerky product from Dr. Amy’s Organics that is entirely raw, organic, unprocessed and free from animal products. The snack is made with a base of dehydrated eggplant that is then flavored with olive oil, mesquite powder and agave—Verky is offered in both an Original and a Spicy flavor, which is enhanced with a kick from piquant cayenne pepper. In all, the jerky-inspired eggplant strips are low in fat, sodium and calories, as well as free from wheat and sugar.
As an alternative to adding to the junk food category with salty, unhealthy dried meat strips, a number of brands are now exploring the many ways in which simple, nourishing vegan jerky can be produced with everything from soy and mushrooms to coconuts and bananas.
Jerky-Style Eggplant Snacks
Dr. Amy’s Organics' 'Verky' is an All-Vegan Jerky Made from Eggplant
Trend Themes
1. Nourishing Vegan Jerky - The trend of creating nourishing vegan jerky snacks using plant-based ingredients like soy, mushrooms, coconuts, and bananas presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the snack industry.
2. Raw and Organic Snacks - The trend of introducing raw and organic snacks like 'Verky' jerky-style eggplant snacks highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the healthy snack market.
3. Vegetable-based Meat Alternatives - The trend of using vegetables, such as eggplant, as the base for meat alternatives like 'Verky' vegan jerky opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the plant-based food industry.
Industry Implications
1. Snack Industry - The snack industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by developing nourishing vegan jerky snacks using plant-based ingredients.
2. Healthy Snack Market - The healthy snack market can benefit from disruptive innovation by introducing more raw and organic options like 'Verky' jerky-style eggplant snacks.
3. Plant-based Food Industry - The plant-based food industry can leverage disruptive innovation by creating vegetable-based meat alternatives, such as 'Verky' vegan jerky, using ingredients like eggplant.