Donatos is ready to help customers with a very achievable New Year’s resolution: eat more vegetables. The family-owned pizza brand announced it will introduce plant-based pepperoni in partnership with Field Roast in nearly 170 Donatos locations starting in January.
Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni is authentically crafted using pea protein and traditional Italian seasonings—like garlic, black pepper, fennel, anise, cayenne and paprika—and delivers on the same craveable taste of traditional pepperoni. The savory topping has 50 percent less sodium, fat, and saturated fat compared to traditional pepperoni, made from a mixture of pea, potato, and fava bean proteins with the same amount of protein as traditional pepperoni. The new Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni pairs perfectly with Donatos’ fan-favorite, crispy, golden cauliflower crust, making for a must-try new menu item that’s guilt-free and delivers on the taste of traditional pepperoni.
“There is no better time for us to introduce plant-based pepperoni to our menu, particularly at the start of a new year when many people resolve to make smarter food choices,” said Carol Pasquariello, senior vice president of marketing for Donatos. “We have a really special way of crafting our signature pizzas, and the new Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni on our cauliflower crust will give even more people—from vegetarians to flexitarians—a reason to taste that magic for themselves and fall in love with us as so many others have. While this addition is a delicious alternative to our traditional pepperoni topping, it absolutely goes toe-to-toe in both flavor and substance, and we can’t wait for people to try it.”
The newest menu item is a first-time collaboration with Field Roast, a plant-based artisanal meat and cheese brand that pioneered the pea protein Plant-Based Pepperoni in 2021. Owned by Greenleaf Foods, SPC, Field Roast products contain an ideal blend of vegetables, grains, legumes, and fresh herbs and spices, resulting in mouth-watering plant-based foods that deliver on taste and bold flavors across its product portfolio.
About Donatos
Donatos features the Edge to Edge pizza, created by Jim Grote who founded Donatos in 1963. With 377 locations in 22 states, Donatos and its franchise partners operate 169 traditional restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Donatos’ products are also proudly served in 208 non-traditional locations (197 locations with Red Robin, 10 sports and entertainment venues, and one REEF Kitchen).
About Greenleaf Foods, SPC
Greenleaf Foods, SPC, is transforming plant-based protein with a wide array of delicious and innovative products that satisfy consumers interested in adding protein variety to their diets. Our leading brands include Lightlife and Field Roast. Together, these brands are delighting loyal, longtime fans and enticing new ones who never knew plant-based protein could taste so good. The Lightlife and Field Roast portfolios feature nearly 50 products and represent a leading market position in the refrigerated, plant-based protein category in the U.S. Greenleaf Foods, SPC is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
