Planted, a Swiss food tech company, has expanded to the Middle East and UAE foodservice sector with its meat alternative products in select restaurants and hotel chains. This expansion is part of Planted's strategy to expand its presence in UAE's foodservice and hotel, restaurant, and cafe/catering (HORECA) sector by the end of 2024.

Planted's partners in UAE consisted of local restaurants and supermarket chains. Nabati and Pizza Di Rocco had integrated Planted's plant-based meats into their menus, and premium supermarket Grandiose Supermarket was set to offer a range of Planted’s products by the end of June 2024. 

Analyst QuickTake: Planted's UAE expansion plans include product testing, improving brand awareness, and gaining significant market share in the plant-based meat sector in the UAE. The UAE's alternative meat sector has been expanding rapidly since 2021 and is expected to reach ~USD 380 million in the MENA region within the next couple of years.