Retail & E-Commerce

Hodo tofu

© Hodo

Tofu Brand Hodo Announces Retail Expansion Into Meijer, Harris Teeter, and Giant Martin’s

US tofu brand Hodo has announced an expansion into leading grocery retailers Meijer, Harris Teeter, and Giant Martin’s, as consumer demand for minimally processed plant-based proteins continues to rise. Hodo’s tofu is made with non-GMO soybeans and is rich in protein and calcium. The brand offers more than 20 retail products, including entrees, dips, flavored tofu blocks, tofu scramble, tofu veggie burgers, and nuggets. Hodo also recently introduced Saucy Tofu Kits, aimed at busy families and those who are new to tofu. The products available as part of the retail expansion are: Meijer: Extra Firm Tofu (Hodo’s top-selling item), Organic Miso Tofu, Organic Indian Spiced Tofu, and Thai Curry Nuggets. Giant Martin’s: Organic Miso Tofu, Thai Curry Nuggets, and Vegan All-Day Egg Scramble. Harris Teeter: …

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V Label launches advisory board

© V-Label

Insights from V-Label and YouGov Reveal Rapid Growth of Plant-Based Purchases in Germany

The V-Label strengthens the analysis of plant-based consumption in Germany. Since late 2024, YouGov‘s Consumer & Shopper Intelligence Shopper Panel (formerly Consumer Panel Services, part of the GfK Group until 2023) has incorporated all products labeled as vegan with the V-Label into a new “Vegan” category. To facilitate this, ProVeg – the organization responsible for issuing the V-Label in Germany – provides market researchers with a comprehensive list of all V-Label licensed plant-based products in the country. Plant-based purchases in Germany outpace overall FMCG market The FMCG market includes products that consumers purchase frequently and regularly, such as food and beverages, as well as cosmetics and cleaning products. According to YouGov’s consumption analyses, this market is currently undergoing significant changes. A YouGov Shopper Panel study …

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Waitrose expands PlantLiving range

© Waitrose

Waitrose Adds New Products to PlantLiving Range, Reports Surge in Searches for Vegan Ready Meals

Upmarket British supermarket chain Waitrose has expanded its plant-based PlantLiving range with nine new and improved products, including Aubergine, Mushroom & Edamame Pillows with Soy & Ginger and Vietnamese Style Vegetable Pancakes with a Lime and Chilli Dip. The products’ packaging has also been updated, after research conducted by Waitrose reportedly found that 46% of consumers are trying to eat, or interested in eating, 30 different plants per week. 87% agreed that indicating the number of plant varieties in a product on the label would help them achieve this goal, so Waitrose has set out to make this change. “With customers looking to incorporate more plants into their diet, we have added the new ‘plant varieties’ logo to the packaging of 14 of our PlantLiving …

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Rewe vegan superstore interior

© REWE group

Benchmark Protein Transition: The Shift to Plant-based in Dutch Supermarkets is Steadily Progressing

Dutch supermarkets are clearly focusing on selling more plant-based and less animal-based food. They are actively experimenting with measures, such as reducing meat portion sizes. However, acceleration is needed to meet their goals of 60% plant-based protein sales by 2030. Meat and dairy products still feature as prominently in promotional flyers as in previous years. This is highlighted in the Protein Transition Benchmark by the think tank Questionmark, conducted with support from World Animal Protection. The benchmark compares the efforts of the seven largest supermarkets in the Netherlands to promote plant-based over animal-based products. Shift to plant-based underway Over the past year, major Dutch supermarkets have set ambitious goals. While these remain largely on paper, they are visibly taking steps to promote plant-based products at …

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Chunk Foods

© Chunk Foods

Chunk Foods Expands Consumer Access with Nationwide Availability Through Vegan Essentials

Chunk Foods, a leader in plant-based whole-cut meats, has announced a major expansion of its consumer reach through a retail partnership with Vegan Essentials. This collaboration will make Chunk Foods’ products available to households across the United States via the Vegan Essentials online retail platform. Previously, Chunk Foods’ offerings were limited to foodservice partnerships and select independent retailers in Los Angeles and New York City. This new distribution channel enables consumers nationwide to enjoy Chunk’s protein-packed products, including their steaks, steakhouse cut, slab, and pulled options, all crafted to provide both flavor and versatility. “Our mission has always been to make delicious and nutritious plant-based options accessible to everyone,” said Amos Golan, CEO and founder of Chunk Foods. “We’ve listened to the demand from consumers …

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Aldi UK No Chicken Smash Burgers

© Aldi UK

Aldi UK Launches Largest Ever Veganuary Range, Including No Chicken Smash Burgers & Plant Based Egg

Aldi UK has announced the launch of its largest ever plant-based range for Veganuary 2025, with prices starting at £1.49. New options include the Plant Menu Kimchi Kofta, said to contribute to gut health, and the Plant Menu Tempura Frickles. Consisting of deep-fried pickles in batter, this snack is becoming popular on restaurant menus and has gone viral on social media. Aldi’s version features a tempura batter and is paired with dill mayo. The retailer is also set to launch Plant Menu Tempura Vegetables. Another new product likely to prove popular is the Plant Menu Plant Based Egg, a liquid whole egg replacer that can be used for scrambling, baking, or making omelettes. The egg alternative can be cooked in just minutes in an oven, …

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Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Christmas Strategy for Plant-Based Brands

The festive season is here – a key opportunity for brands to tap into the rising demand for plant-based foods, according to ProVeg International. With consumers embracing flexitarian and plant-forward diets, now is the time to position plant-based products as essential components of holiday celebrations. Plant-based at Christmas Christmas remains a cornerstone of global holiday celebrations, with food playing a central role. Increasingly, plant-based dishes are making their way onto festive tables. In the UK, for example, 27% of households will serve or prioritise vegetarian or plant-based options this Christmas, according to Tesco’s Annual Christmas Report.[1] Younger consumers, particularly those aged 26-35, are leading this shift, with one in four British households planning alternatives to traditional turkey.[2] Brands are responding with innovative products like no-turkey …

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Tesco Christmas main dishes

© Tesco

Tesco to Prioritise Veg-Led Christmas Mains as Over 27% of Brits Consider Serving Meat-Free Options

Tesco’s 2024 Christmas Report, based on two surveys that polled 6375 UK adults, has found that 27% of people plan to serve or will consider serving meat-free Christmas main dishes this year. Figures also indicate that consumers are increasingly seeking plant-rich options made from pulses, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. These veg-led foods now account for 40% of Tesco’s plant-based sales, according to IRI/Circana figures (data 41 weeks to 12 October 2024 versus last year). This means the retailer has sold almost 600,000 more veg-led dishes this year than in the same period in 2023. With this in mind, Tesco is focusing on vegetable-based Christmas centrepieces this year. Vegan-friendly options include: Finest Roasted Vegetable and Cranberry Star — Seasoned roasted butternut squash and parsnip with cranberries …

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Beyond Meat Beyond sun sausage

© Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat Boosts Access to Health-Focused Beyond Sun Sausage with Whole Foods Rollout

Beyond Meat announces the nationwide release of its latest plant-based offering, Beyond Sun Sausage, at Whole Foods Market locations across the United States. This expansion follows an initial regional launch at Sprouts stores in late July, where the product achieved strong sales performance, positioning itself among the top-selling plant-based items in the natural grocery category, according to the company. Not just another meat substitute The introduction of Beyond Sun Sausage comes as a key part of Beyond Meat’s recent return-to-growth strategy, which the company discussed in its Q3 earnings report last week. The report highlighted that the company has achieved growth by implementing operational cost reductions, selective price increases, and shifts in its product sales mix, despite a reduction in total sales volume. Beyond Sun …

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Interior, Rewe vegan supermarket

© REWE group

Plant-based Alternatives Now Cheaper Than Animal Products Across Several Categories in Germany

Plant-based alternatives “represent a real ray of hope for hard-pressed households” in Germany, according to a new ProVeg study which finds that, for the first time, the cost of a plant-based shopping basket has fallen below that of its animal-based counterpart. On average, the price difference for a varied basket of goods now stands at 16%—a reduction of 9 percentage points compared to last year. For the third consecutive year, ProVeg compared plant-based and animal-based shopping baskets with staple items across twelve categories at Germany’s six leading grocery chains: Aldi Nord, Aldi Süd, Edeka, Kaufland, Lidl, and Rewe. The baskets include items such as cold cuts, bratwurst (including sausages), burgers, fish fingers, cream cheese, mince, yogurt, sliced cheese, cooking cream, milk, pizza, and schnitzel. The …

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© REWE group

REWE Confident About Success of its Berlin Vegan Supermarket 6 Months After Launch With 5,500 Weekly Shoppers

With the statement, “We’re a real supermarket, just entirely plant-based,” Dennis Henkelman, the operator of REWE voll pflanzlich and REWE Group Management Board member Peter Maly, launched Germany’s first fully vegan supermarket this April. The chain now provides insights into the success so far of the Berlin vegan superstore, revealing that around 5,500 customers are taking their weekly food shopping at the new location, which was previously a supermarket operated by Veganz. With over 2,700 vegan products in a 212 square-metre space, the store offers fresh vegetables, baked goods, refrigerated items, confectionery, and personal care. Henkelman describes how convenience foods top the sales charts at REWE voll pflanzlich, in particular baked items, with around 6,000 chocolate croissants and cinnamon rolls sold in just six months. …

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encouraging retailers to shift

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

How Retailers Can Lead the Shift to Healthy, Sustainable Protein Choices

The private sector can play a vital role in advancing a societal shift toward healthier and more sustainable diets. Key to this is rebalancing plant and animal protein food sales to ensure that consumption aligns with evidence-based health recommendations and planetary boundaries. In a call to action on the New Food Hub, ProVeg International is urging food companies to set clear targets to rebalance their protein sales. The goal is for retailers to drive positive dietary change aligned with global and EU health and sustainability goals. By tracking progress toward protein split targets, food companies can uncover opportunities, develop and evaluate interventions, comply with regulatory expectations, and contribute significantly to a more sustainable food system. Rebalancing protein sales ProVeg International, partnered with WWF and the …

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Chunk Foods steak retail

© Chunk Foods

Chunk Foods Arrives in US Retail for 1st Time, Sets Prices Similar to Animal-Based Counterparts

Chunk Foods, a producer of plant-based whole cuts, has officially announced its entry into retail with four new products, marking its first direct-to-consumer availability. Until now, Chunk Foods products were available only through foodservice partnerships, including venues such as Jajaja Mexicana and Pastrami Queen in New York City, and a recent co-branded partnership with Better Balance in Latin America and Spain. The new retail products will be introduced in independent natural and organic retailers across Los Angeles and New York City in the coming weeks. The company has also hinted at further growth in 2025, with plans to partner with larger retailers to reach a wider US audience. Chunk Foods’ CEO and founder, Amos Golan, stated, “Our retail strategy is focused on a phased approach. …

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woman with food basket at grocery or supermarket

© Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com

New Report by PBFI and Kroger Sees Plant-Based Food Sales Increase for 4th Year, Driven by Health and Price Concerns

A new report from the Plant Based Foods Institute (PBFI), Kroger, and data insights firm 84.51° reveals a continued shift in consumer spending from animal-based to plant-based foods in the USA, now observed for the fourth consecutive year. The “Plant-Based Migration Analysis”, which studied approximately seven million households between 2022 and 2023, documents a growing preference for plant-based alternatives across key food categories. This research builds on data collected since 2019, offering a comprehensive view of the evolving consumer landscape and its potential implications for retailers. The report highlights a consistent trend: consumers who begin purchasing plant-based foods, or expand their plant-based selections, are steadily reducing their spending on related animal-based products. The categories most affected by this shift include milk, cheese, and fresh meat. …

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© M&S

Relaunch of M&S Plant Kitchen Range Features Significant Changes, With In-Store Relocation to Entice Omnivores

In recent weeks, customers at UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) have noticed that the chain’s plant-based food range, Plant Kitchen, is mostly absent from some stores. After many customers took to social media to complain, media outlets contacted M&S to enquire about the apparent disappearance of the products. In response, the retailer explained that it was making changes to the Plant Kitchen range. The Sun reports that some Plant Kitchen products will no longer be located in a dedicated vegan section; instead, they will be spread throughout the store, with the hope that they will catch the eye of more meat-eaters. For example, the No Beef Steak Pies will be placed with the other chilled pies. In some respects, the move does makes sense …

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Supermarket shelves with alt milk courtesy ProVeg

Image courtesy ProVeg

As Plant Milk Tax Affects Sales, Aldi and Lidl Shrink Price Gap with Dairy in Netherlands

At Aldi and Lidl, you now pay almost as much for a litre of plant milk as for a litre of cow’s milk. This is the result of a price analysis by Wakker Dier for the Netherlands. “Many consumers choose a product based on price. Aldi and Lidl are therefore helping their customers to make a better choice,” says Collin Molenaar from Wakker Dier. At the beginning of this year, the price of plant-based milk rose due to the introduction of the oat milk tax. Wakker Dier sounded the alarm when sales of plant-based milk plummeted by seven percent. In May, a litre of cow’s milk was on average 91 cents cheaper than plant-based milk. Now the difference is smaller at 76 cents. At DekaMarkt, …

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Lidl becomes first UK retailer to set plant-based protein targets

© Lidl

Lidl GB Sets “Industry-Leading” Plant-Based Protein Targets After Category Sees Double-Digit Growth

In what has been described as an “industry-leading target”, Lidl GB has announced that it will work to make plant-based proteins account for 25% of its total protein sales by 2030. The supermarket chain has also committed to doubling the proportion of plant-based protein sales from dairy alternatives in the same period. Lidl says the announcement makes it the first UK retailer to set specific targets to increase the proportion of plant-based proteins sold. The news comes as the discounter works to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve its goals, Lidl has revealed it will more than triple the number of plant-based products it offers, with an expanded range launching from this month and rolling out nationally by January 2025. Called Vemondo Plant!, …

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Lidl Netherlands announces results of pilot study placing meat alternatives in meat aisle

© Lidl Netherlands

Lidl’s Targeted Climate Targets Put Pressure on Other German Retailers

Lidl’s climate targets, supported by its protein diversification scheme, puts other German retailers, such as Rewe, under pressure in the race to reduce emissions, according to Madre Brava‘s climate and food system experts. In its latest sustainability report, Lidl announced its goal of reducing the emissions of products it sells (so-called Scope 3 emissions). Lidl makes it clear that meat and dairy products play a prominent role in its Scope 3 emissions. Supermarkets cannot tackle Scope 3 without tackling the emissions of meat and dairy products in their supply chains, and only Lidl has taken the necessary steps: clear commitments to diversify its protein supply. Florian Wall, Senior Associate at Madre Brava in Germany, says: “Lidl is now on both front leaders: their commitment to …

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Tiba Tempeh gains Morrisons listing

©Tiba Tempeh

Tiba Tempeh Rolls Out into Morrisons as Tempeh Continues to Enter the UK Mainstream

It’s been a good news week for plant-based at UK supermarket chain Morrisons, which operates around 500 stores across England, Wales, Scotland, and Gibraltar. HAPPIEE! this week rolled out its frozen plant-based seafood into 327 Morrisons locations, and One Planet Pizza landed its second major UK supermarket launch through the same chain, with its frozen category first vegan Tex Mex pizza. Now, Tiba Tempeh announces its launch into 327 Morrisons stores with its Original Tempeh Block and Plant-Based Mince. Tiba Tempeh’s new Plant-Based Mince is described by the company — founded in 2019 by Alex and Ross Longton, with experience at Kraft Heinz and other food industry leaders — as the only 100% natural and organic plant-based mince on the market. The mince rolled out …

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Blackbird Foods wings

© Blackbird Foods

Blackbird Foods’ Seitan-Based Wings Land at 100+ Wegmans Stores Nationwide

Blackbird Foods, a New York City-based plant-based food company, has announced the launch of its plant-based wings in Wegmans stores. The brand’s Buffalo and Korean BBQ-flavored wings are now available at over 100 Wegmans locations nationwide. The expansion into Wegmans represents a key step in Blackbird Foods’ growth. Emanuel Storch, CEO of Blackbird Foods, highlighted the alignment between the two companies, stating, “Partnering with Wegmans is especially exciting, as it highlights our shared dedication to providing high-quality, plant-based food options.” The plant-based wings, made from seitan, a wheat-based protein, are designed to mimic the texture and taste of traditional chicken wings. Each 12 oz package includes a separate sauce packet to enhance flavor. The Buffalo wings offer a spicy and tangy profile, while the Korean …

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