Jan 30, 2020 - Economy & Business

Fake meat may have some real problems

Beyond Meat food packaged

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Beyond Meat's stock price fell by 4.3% on Wednesday after Canadian fast food giant Tim Hortons announced it was pulling Beyond burgers from its menu.

Why it matters: Beyond Meat was one of 2019's biggest success stories — at its peak the stock rose 840% from its IPO price.

  • Tim Hortons is less popular in the U.S., but a powerhouse in Canada and the top asset for fast food giant Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King and Popeyes.

What they're saying: "Ultimately, the product was not embraced by our guests as we thought it would be," Tim Hortons said in a statement. "We may offer plant-based alternatives again in the future, but we have removed it from the menu for now.”

Yes, but: Beyond Meat's stock is still up by around 50% year to date and well above its $25 IPO price, even though it has fallen significantly from earlier highs.

Between the lines: The announcement came just two weeks after Beyond announced its Beyond D-O-Double-G breakfast sandwich collaboration with Snoop Dogg for Dunkin.

  • It offers a "classic Snoop twist on a plant-based hit."

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