For half a century, MorningStar Farms® has been making plant-based and vegetarian eating more delicious and accessible. Today, the brand reflects on this legacy, celebrating decades of flavorful innovation.
The journey began with early attempts at plant-based meat alternatives in the late 1800s, when a product called Protose offered a meat substitute from peanuts and grains. Fast-forward to 1974, when Miles Laboratories—a subsidiary of Worthington Foods and the first company to create frozen meat alternatives—founded MorningStar Farms. From the beginning, MorningStar Farms set out to create great-tasting products, starting with items like Breakfast Strips, Links, Grillers, and Scramblers.
In the following decades, MorningStar Farms expanded its portfolio to include items like Chik’n Patties and Nuggets, as well as innovative flavors like the Spicy Black Bean Burger, a fan favorite that remains on shelves today.
By 1997, MorningStar Farms held over half of the market share in the meat alternative category, with products available in nearly all U.S. supermarkets. In 1999, Kellogg—now Kellanova—acquired Worthington Foods, fueling further growth and enabling MorningStar Farms to support people’s needs throughout the day.
Now, MorningStar Farms can be found in over 20,000 grocery stores nationwide and offers a variety of plant-based options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Through Kellanova’s Away From Home business, the brand also appears on menus at restaurants, K-12 schools, and universities.
While many new brands have entered the plant-based food space, MorningStar Farms remains dedicated to its core mission of providing delicious, approachable plant-based foods. Earlier this year, the brand reintroduced Riblets, a category-leading innovation, and launched the “It’s Good on the Farms” campaign to keep MorningStar Farms top-of-mind for consumers.
“MorningStar Farms’ 50th anniversary is a celebration of the brand’s long history of innovation and commitment to supporting wellness,” said Joe Beauprez, Senior Director of Marketing, Frozen Foods, Kellanova. “As the food landscape has evolved, we’ve stayed true to making plant-based and vegetarian foods tasty and approachable. Moving forward, we’ll continue bringing back beloved items like Riblets and building new connections through partnerships with figures like Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson East and Chef Mitchell Aboujamra. This milestone is a testament to our team, customers, and consumers who’ve been with us on this journey.”
