At the New Food Forum conference held in Prague on April 18, retailers such as Tesco Czech Republic announced plans to make more plant-based alternatives available at affordable prices.
The news comes as Czech consumers become increasingly interested in plant-based foods; according to ProVeg Czechia, data from consumer research agency GfK indicates that 4 out of 10 Czech households have purchased plant-based alternatives within the past year, with three-quarters making repeat purchases.
Speakers at the conference emphasised the importance of certifications such as V-Label to help consumers identify plant-based foods. They also discussed supporting local plant-based producers through strategies such as minimising labelling restrictions and providing government support for innovation in food production. Initiatives such as the ProVeg Czech Export Alliance, which helps members who produce plant-based products enter foreign markets, could also play an important role.
The New Food Forum culminated in an awards ceremony for outstanding plant-based products. Emco’s Pan Hrášek was named Most Popular Czech Plant-Based Brand, BEL’s Vegan Happy Cow received Most Popular Plant-Based Milk Alternative, and Good Calories was recognised as Most Popular Plant-Based Meat Alternative.
Advancing alternative proteins
The event builds on the success of last year’s New Food Forum conference, where Upfield committed to making all its products fully plant-based within three years and Tesco pledged to increase its plant-based range by 300% by 2025.
Since then, there have been other positive developments in the country. In November, the Czech Chamber of Deputies hosted a seminar to discuss advancing alternative proteins, with particular emphasis on the importance of price parity. Meanwhile, ProVeg Czechia told vegconomist last year that V-Label was seeing “unprecedented” interest in the country, with demand constantly growing.
“Customers look for health benefits, taste profiles, and affordability in plant-based products,” said Katarína Navrátilová, CEO of Tesco Czech Republic, at this year’s New Food Forum. “At Tesco, we have an influence on reducing prices when it comes to our private label products, and we utilise promotional activities for the rest of the range.”
