Brandwave

Beyond Meat vs Tonzu:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Tonzu had more branded searches than Beyond Meat among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand. Tonzu had about 260 branded searches, while Beyond Meat had 190. Tonzu made up 13.8% of all plant-based meat brand searches we track, and Beyond Meat accounted for 10.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plant-based meat brands, Beyond Meat and Tonzu each appeared in two of the five answers. Beyond Meat and Tonzu were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Tonzu, about 37% more searches than Beyond Meat

Tonzu 260 searchesBeyond Meat 190 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Beyond Meat in 2 of 5Tonzu in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Beyond Meat first in 2Tonzu first in 2

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Top plant-based meat brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Beyond Meat was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Tonzu was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Beyond Meat and Tonzu were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Plan*t1st
  2. Harmless Food Co2nd
  3. Vegie Delights3rd
  4. Sunfed4th
  5. Tonzu5th
  6. Bean Supreme6th
  7. Quorn7th
  8. Impossible Foods8th
  9. Beyond Meat9th
  10. v2food–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Sunfed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bean Supreme4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Plan*t4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Harmless Food Co3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vegie Delights3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Impossible Foods2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Quorn2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tonzu2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Beyond Meat2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • v2food0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about plant-based meat brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Beyond Meat or Tonzu more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Beyond Meat and Tonzu by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten plant-based meat brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Beyond Meat and Tonzu among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Tonzu, Beyond Meat. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthImpossible FoodsQuornHarmless Food CoTonzuBeyond MeatSunfedBean SupremeVegie DelightsPlan*tv2food
Oct 202514.9%3.5%2%5.8%65.6%2.9%3.8%0.91%0.36%0.18%
Nov 202524.8%7.2%5%14.4%33.3%6.3%6.3%1.8%0.45%0.45%
Dec 202531%8.6%3.7%13.9%21.9%7%11.2%1.6%0.53%0.53%
Jan 202628.8%10.4%11.7%14.4%18.5%5.4%7.7%2.3%0.45%0.45%
Feb 202626.2%8.6%11.2%13.9%21.9%7%7.5%2.7%0.53%0.53%
Mar 202632.6%10.6%7.8%14.7%18.8%7.8%5%1.8%0.46%0.46%
Apr 202632.3%12.6%8.6%16.2%17.2%6.1%4.5%1.5%0.51%0.51%
May 202633.3%13.6%7.1%16.2%17.7%5.6%3.5%2%0.51%0.51%
Jun 202636.2%11.7%10.7%13.3%15.3%5.6%3.6%2.6%0.51%0.51%
Jul 202630.9%12.9%18%14.6%10.7%5.6%3.9%2.2%0.56%0.56%
Aug 202635.2%10%13.9%13.9%16.1%5.2%2.2%2.2%0.87%0.43%
Sep 202636.5%14.8%13.8%13.8%10.1%4.8%2.6%2.6%0.53%0.53%

How has the Beyond Meat and Tonzu comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Tonzu took it in July 2026, Beyond Meat took it in August 2026, Tonzu took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Beyond Meat’s share of searches among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand moved from 65.6% to 10.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.6K to 190.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tonzu’s share of searches among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand moved from 5.8% to 13.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 260.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand plant-based meat brands in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Quorn overtook Beyond Meat and 2 others to rank 2nd among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand, with 14.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Beyond Meat lost share of searches among plant-based meat brands in New Zealand, from 16.1% to 10.1%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Tonzu in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 260 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Beyond Meat’s and Tonzu’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Beyond Meat

4 branded search terms

  • beyond meat
  • beyond meat burger
  • beyond meat vegan
  • beyondmeat

Tonzu

1 branded search term

  • tonzu

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among plant-based meat brands

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