(LOS ANGELES – Nov. 16, 2022) — ASM Global has announced a multiyear partnership with innovative plant-based food provider Wicked Kitchen to increase the selection and availability of vegan food options throughout its network of arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention centers.
The announcement establishes Wicked Kitchen, a 100% plant-based, flavor-forward global food brand, as the “Preferred Plant-Based Food Partner” of ASM Global venues and “Exclusive Plant-Based Food Provider” across all catering, suite and concessions managed by SAVOR, the industry-leading, chef-driven culinary division of ASM Global.
Wicked Kitchen also becomes an official partner of the ASM Global Acts Foundation, the corporate social responsibility platform of ASM Global.
With the addition of this strategic partnership, ASM Global is poised to continue its trajectory of becoming the global leader in sustainability in the entertainment, sports and convention industry.
Featured menu items in concessions, catering and suites will include a diverse range of sandwiches, sausages, burgers, pizzas, pastas, appetizers, main dishes and ice cream, made entirely of plant-based ingredients and packed with mouth-watering flavors. The chef-created menu offerings appeal to a wide variety of palates, while also following the momentum of more guests, athletes and performers globally seeking plant-based foods enticed by a healthier choice and reducing environmental footprint.
“We’re proud to be a part of the solution for ASM Global’s large-scale venues to meet their sustainability goals and to provide plant-based foods that appeal to everyone,” said Pete Speranza, CEO of Wicked Kitchen. “With the product variety and insights that Wicked Kitchen brings, we see this as a major game-changer for the food service industry.”
Wicked Kitchen menu items have recently been made available at the SAVOR-managed Toyota Arena in Ontario and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre with select U.S.-based venues set to participate in the initial rollout, including PayCom Arena, home of the Oklahoma Thunder; Long Beach Convention Center in California; Wintrust Arena; and McCormick Place Convention Center, located on the McCormick Campus in Chicago; and many more.
“This partnership between ASM Global, SAVOR and Wicked Kitchen is an integral part of ASM Global’s commitment to establishing the most sustainable venues in the world,” said Shaun Beard, SAVOR senior vice president. “Our plant-based food offerings will immediately increase, providing our guests with more diverse choices that have also a positive impact on our planet. Additionally, Wicked Kitchen’s product offering is delicious, and we are confident that all of our guests, no matter their food preference, will be drawn to these menu items.”
Chef Chad Sarno, chief culinary officer and co-founder at Wicked Kitchen and a highly regarded pioneer of plant-based cuisine, applauds ASM Global and SAVOR for their commitment to sustainability by choosing plant-based foods for their venues. “We are so excited to partner with ASM Global and SAVOR to push the boundaries of traditional venue favorites for bold-flavored, plant-based offerings that are good for the planet and provide tasty options for both meat eaters and vegans alike,” said Sarno. “As a culinary-first brand, we are especially thrilled to partner and work with the incredible culinary team at SAVOR that prioritizes taste and experience for all customers.”
In addition to its recent launch into food service, Wicked Kitchen has the largest variety of any plant-based CPG brand in the U.S. with a portfolio of products available in more than 8,900 retail stores in the U.S.