London is one of the fastest growing capitals for plant-based dining and there is a huge demand for high-quality food offerings, according to Moving Mountains Founder, Simeon Van der Molen. Moving Mountains is the food-tech company behind the UK’s first “bleeding” meatless burger and has teamed up with not-for-profit vegan institution, Unity Diner, for the world exclusive launch of its new foot long meatless hot dog, which will debut in London later this month. The London launch will be followed by other launches in several countries across Europe in the not so distant future, Van der Molen tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

Unlike other plant-based hot dogs on the market, Moving Mountains has used food technology, scientific processes, specialized machines, local natural ingredients and tested “countless” recipes over the past year to create the brand’s newest product. The Moving Mountains Hot Dog is touted as being identical to its pork counterpart in taste, smell and texture. UK-based consumers can sample the hot dog from May 10 onwards in London, at Unity Diner. 

According to Van der Molen, the demand for plant-based foods continues to increase. “We’ve exceeded all our sales forecasts by three times. The market is continuing to grow for high-quality plant-based food alternatives throughout Western Europe and the Middle East,” he adds. 

At a foot long, the Moving Mountains Hot Dog is larger than the average hot dog and will be available in Unity Diner in London. It will sell for £6 (US$7.83) at 50 percent off the regular price of £12 (US$15.67) during the launch weekend with a Classic American serve of caramelized onions, mustard and ketchup in a bun.

The food-tech brand also plans to offer its products in supermarkets for the first time with a retail version of the Moving Mountains Hot Dog that will be available in different sizes and flavors. The business is also currently in talks with unnamed supermarkets for a potential retail roll out later this year, according to reports. 

By using natural ingredients and modern food technology, Moving Mountains has turned sunflower seeds into a vitamin-rich and gluten-free hot dog to replicate a pork hot dog: 

• Sunflower Seeds, which make up the base, are rich in B complex vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin E and a high source of protein.

• Carrots are used to give the authentic coloring of a hot dog.

• onion helps to provide a “satisfyingly firm and bouncy” texture when biting into the hot dog.

• Paprika adds flavor and is rich in antioxidants.

• Coconut oil provides a juicy consistency and helps keep the structure of the hot dog. Unlike the unhealthy saturated fats found in pork hot dogs, coconut oil contains zero trans-fat, zero cholesterol and is rich in antioxidants. Coconut oil contains beneficial medium chain fatty acids including lauric acid, which has been scientifically proven to provide an immediate source of energy and helps boost good cholesterol.

“Everyone was expecting our follow-up product to be meatballs or mince, but neither of these were sufficiently different and game-changing from the burger to interest us,” Van der Molen notes. “We explored locations wher our burger was selling well and in most American style diners ‘Dogs’ sit well alongside burgers on the menu. The Hot Dog seemed a perfect market for our restaurant customers that already serve our burger and no one has ever succeeded with a fully plant-based option that’s indistinguishable to the animal meat version.” 

The company then developed a completely different base entirely. No technology was carried over from the burger, Van der Molen reveals. “It was a challenge to create the perfect emulsion and then develop countless recipes and ingredients, but that was exciting for us. Climbing the mountain is often more enjoyable that reaching the top,” he says. 

“We do believe that with ingredients such as sunflower seeds, coconut, carrot and onion we have created, quite possibly, the healthiest and most realistic plant-based Hot Dog on the planet,” Van der Molen adds. 

Renowned for “pushing boundaries in plant-based innovation and fostering positive change through delicious not-for-profit vegan comfort food,” the company says Unity Diner is an ideal location to get a first taste of the Moving Mountains Hot Dog. All of the profits from Unity Diner go directly towards funding the animal rights organization Surge as well as the development of a brand new rescue sanctuary for animals just outside of London.  

“Unity Diner is a good fit for us as they align with our values as promoters of plant-based innovation and we want to generate sales for a not-for-profit restaurant, which gives us another chance to support animal rights and help make a difference to the world,” Van der Molen notes.

Following the success of the UK’s first meatless bleeding burger, the company’s second launch is set to make hot dogs desirable again, giving them a long deserved revamp, says Van der Molen. “Our latest food tech innovation proves that you don’t need a pig to make a dog; we use sunflower seeds to deliver an identical taste and texture, which is a more sustainable food option for our health and the health of the planet.”

“We are currently in talks with supermarkets regarding launching a retail version of the Moving Mountains Hot Dog. As our debut into the grocery market, it will represent a significant development for the business,” he concludes.