According to the latest research by Mintel, the share of meat-free products carrying a vegan/no animal ingredients claim nearly doubled between 2014 and 2017. The research shows that the share of vegan/no animal ingredients products in the meat-free foods market almost doubled between 2014 and 2017.
According to Mintel Global New Products Database, the share of new vegan/no animal ingredients products in the meat-free foods market was 28% in 2014, while this number in 2017 surged to 52%.
The research shows that the growing availability of vegan foods in the meat-free market appeal to 26% of consumers who prefer meat-free products to be completely plant-based. It also highlights that meat-free foods appeal to a much wider range of consumers than vegan/vegetarian shoppers only.
In the period of 6 months to July 2018, reportedly as many as 56% of UK adults have eaten meat-free foods, which is a significant increased from the 50% in the period of six months to March 2017.
The sales of meat-free foods, including vegan products, have risen by 22% between 2013 and 2018 and the value of sales is estimated to reach £740 million in 2018. This sales value is forecast to increase by further 44% by 2023, to £1.1 billion.
This research comes at time when a third of UK consumers claim to follow vegan or flexitarian diet.
