Australia is the third fastest growing vegan market in the world. Sales of packaged vegan food are predicted to reach $215 million by 2020, up from $136 million, according to research company Euromonitor International.
The country also had the highest global percentage of Google searches for the word “vegan” in 2018, further indicating a sharp increase in Australians exploring plant-based options. A new trend within the Australian market is emerging, with fast-food establishments cashing in.
This is being demonstrated by Hungry Jacks and Dominos Pizza, which have both recently introduced vegan options to their menus. Hungry Jack’s launched a vegan breakfast muffin on January 29 following the success of its new vegan cheeseburger, featuring two patties (made from corn, capsicum and carrot), vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise.
Dominos Australia unveiled its Vegan Summer BBQ Pizza this January, which uses a cheese substitute made from plant oils and starches. It is the fourth pizza in Dominos’ vegan range which launched 12 months ago to an “unprecedented demand” which saw all dairy-free cheese stock exhausted within a week. “It was initially added to the menu for a limited time only, but due to its popularity we decided to make vegan cheese a permanent item,” said Dominos’ chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, Nick Knight.
Dr Rohan Miller, a senior lecturer at The University of Sydney Business School stated: “Vegan is the new food fad and has taken over from organic, I’m not sure people want to become full-time vegans, but they certainly want the option to eat a couple of meals a week that are plant-based.”
