The Vegetarian Butcher (De Vegetarische Slager) meat alternatives

De Vegetarische Slager, known internationally as The Vegetarian Butcher, was founded in 2010 by Jaap Korteweg in Utrecht, Netherlands. As a 9th-generation farmer, Korteweg sought to create a 'new meat' that satisfied the cravings of carnivores while utilizing plant-based proteins. The brand quickly gained prestige for its high-quality mimics of chicken, beef, and pork, aiming to become the largest butcher in the world without using animals.

In 2018, the brand was acquired by the British-Dutch multinational Unilever. This acquisition allowed the brand to scale globally, significantly expanding its distribution into supermarkets and fast-food partnerships, most notably with Burger King for their Plant-Based Whopper. While the heart of its innovation remains in the Netherlands, manufacturing has expanded to meet international demand through Unilever's global supply chain infrastructure.