Hybrid Food: Albert Heijn's Smart Step Towards More Sustainable Eating
Zaandam, maandag, 16 juni 2025.
Albert Heijn is introducing fifteen innovative hybrid products that combine traditional dairy and meat with plant-based ingredients. This strategic move aims to gradually entice consumers towards more conscious food choices without abrupt behavioural change. The range includes two dairy drinks with plant-based proteins, seven meat products enriched with sugar beet fibre, and six meat products. The products offer significant benefits: lower CO₂ emissions, reduced saturated fat, and maintained flavour. By offering the renewed products at comparable or lower prices, Albert Heijn wants to make the transition to more sustainable food accessible and invite consumers to eat more consciously without compromising on taste experience.
Composition of the Hybrid Range
Albert Heijn has introduced fifteen new hybrid products containing an innovative mix of animal and plant-based ingredients. The range includes two dairy drinks combining milk and plant-based proteins, seven meat products such as burgers and minced meat enriched with sugar beet fibre, and six meat products including grilled sausage and sandwich sausage [1][2].
Sustainability Objectives
The introduction of these hybrid products fits into Albert Heijn’s strategy to increase the proportion of plant-based proteins. By the end of 2024, 44.2% of sold proteins were plant-based, with the goal of reaching 60% in 2025 [1]. The new products contain less saturated fat and have a lower CO₂ footprint compared to traditional variants [3].
Strategic Approach
Nienke Tjerkstra, responsible for sustainability and health at Albert Heijn, emphasises that the hybrid products have been developed to gradually accustom consumers to more plant-based food. The products are priced at the same or lower costs than traditional variants while maintaining the taste experience of regular products [1][2].