Much of the world is trending towards plant-based eating — and this global shift could be here to stay.
Millennials and Gen Z are central drivers of this worldwide shift away from consuming animal products. But the plant-based movement is bigger than any one generation.
Everyone from celebrities to athletes to entire companies including Google and countries as big as China are supporting the movement to eat more plant-based foods.
Plant-based eating may not be entirely mainstream yet. But it’s becoming more accepted every day. And this trend is having far-reaching impacts.
Key Takeaways
Food Revolution Network Statistics
While those who go vegan or vegetarian tend to do so for the animals, the planet, their health or some combination thereof, consumers start out choosing their foods based on different criteria.
Taste, price, and convenience are the key factors consumers consider when making food choices, said Caroline Bushnell, senior marketing manager at the Good Food Institute.
Converting Meat Lovers
People say the burger alternative smells and tastes like real meat. In many grocery stores, you can find Beyond Burgers in the meat section alongside traditional meat products.
The company, based in Los Angeles, has won over numerous investors — including Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, and The Humane Society. Even Tyson Foods, America’s biggest meat processor, bought a 5% stake in the meat alternative company.
Beyond the U.S., Germany is often known for bratwurst and schnitzel. But in 2016, German companies launched more vegan food products than in any other country.
Big Brands Are Changing Strategies
British-Dutch consumer goods behemoth Unilever announced the acquisition of Dutch meat-substitute company The Vegetarian Butcher.
Founded by a former cattle farmer, De Vegetarische Slager - “the vegetarian butcher” in Dutch - acquired the sort of a cult status among vegans thanks to its plant-based burgers, nuggets, and hotdogs.
Unilever declared that the acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, “fits its strategy to move into healthier plant-based foods with a lower environmental impact.” Unilever’s acquisition of The Vegetarian Butcher fits also in a larger trend that sees vegan “junk food” replacing traditional meat-based staples of fast-food menus.
The Netherlands-based vegan fast-food company Vivera recently brought to the UK supermarket chain Tesco its plant-based steak. As reported by Vivera, just under 40,000 steaks had been sold within just a week of being stocked.
In the following months, the vegan Dutch company brought its steaks to dozens of other supermarkets across The Netherlands and Belgium.
Veganism Is Here To Stay
It is clear that veganism is not going anywhere. Perhaps, the name of the movement will change instead. Although lab-manufactured meat is not seen as vegan, the values and morals behind it are the same in context, and different in detail.
It is also important to note that the rise in veganism doesn't mean that meat will go away completely. For some, it is about sustainability and not taking more than you should.
