Gaining popularity during the pandemic, charcuterie boards were part of the “rise of crafting culture, where people find joy in creating something which has inherently aesthetic qualities and pleasing features,” according to a Platterful story. The story cites the curated plates as a creative and convenient endeavor, particularly for Millennials.
For the Richmond, Va.-based brand, Cohen explained that the idea for its alternative charcuterie board stemmed from convenience, nutrition and sustainability.
“[We made a] plant-based snack to make the plant-based industry more convenient with a focus on savory…instead of sweet, protein bar snacks.”
Cohen explained each pack contains 10 grams of protein and is high in iron and fiber content. The packaging, which features a compostable tray, displays vegan, non-GMO, kosher and eco-friendly messaging.
“The main reason why I started this business is to [make] a snack that is convenient and on-the-go, very much like Lunchables… so I took that opportunity to start something ... with cleaner ingredients and better packaging for the environment,” he added.
With an expected CAGR of 6.9% between 2022 and 2030, the $44 billion vegan snack market continues to expand as consumers seek snacks that are flavorful with health in mind. brands are challenged with differentiation through ingredients, messaging and catering to more nuanced usage occasions.
C’est La Ve features three varieties of plant-based charcuterie, all of which include mini bruschetta and nut-free trail mix: Smoked Charcuterie includes hickory smoked vegan deli meat, smoked vegan gouda; Peppered Charcuterie includes peppered vegan deli meat, vegan provolone cheese; and Italian Charcuterie includes Italian vegan deli meat and vegan mozzarella.
Cohen added that the brand’s cheeses are coconut oil based and the soy-based meat is “tofu that is sliced up and spiced.”
Plant Based World Expo featured more than 200 global companies, some of which were looking for distribution, including C’est La Ve. Currently the brand is DTC online and looking for distributors and stores on the national and regional levels.
