The irony is that there is no reason these plant based alternatives should be priced higher than meat. The raw ingredients are dirt cheap.

You can get pound of TVP or soy protein is like $3-4; and certainly less at wholesale prices. It comes dehydrated, so back of the napkin I'd guess the cost for a company producing fake meat products is like $1/lb or less.

I paid $8.50 at a gas station for 2.47 oz of "Noble Jerky." Ingredients: soy protein, sugar, black bean paste, spices.

I imagine the profit margins for these products approaches that of soft drinks.