Even Jamie Oliver has included many more vegan recipes…
With a growing consumer interest in plant-based healthy eating, vegetarian and vegan options present a chance new business and competitive advantage.
“In 2013 the UK meat-free food market hit £625m in sales, a figure forecasted to rise to £657m in 2014. Today, some 12% of the UK population identify as either vegan or vegetarian, and 20% of 16-25 year olds self-identify this way.
Jennifer Pardoe, founder of London plant-based food consultancy Zest says businesses are slowly recognising the ‘mega trend’. Recently we have seen brands like Birdseye introduce plant-based meal options and Sainsbury’s create clearer vegan and vegetarian product labelling.
“With more people becoming plant curious, restaurants and supermarkets are realising they need high quality plant-based food options to satisfy consumer demand,” explains Pardoe.”
Published in the Guardian. Read more here.
VLA response:
Over the past year we’ve seen an exponential rise in the number of vegan businesses setting up or expanding, as well as other businesses introducing vegan options. It’s never been easier to adopt a whole plant-based lifestyle and that’s what we’re all about as well – pointing people in the right direction and taking the (perceived) hard work out of it all!
Our research showed that people think a vegan lifestyle is difficult and restrictive, when in fact these days it’s quite the opposite – it’s easy and totally liberating from a boring routine of the same old meat and animal products; There’s a whole world of great new foods and products out there to discover and try.
Give it a go for a week or a month and we know it’ll be a revelation.
veganlifestyleassoc.com @itseasy2bvegan