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 analysis considered the lowest-priced plant-based alternatives and their animal-based counterparts in comparable packaging sizes across 30 supermarket locations in nine federal states. Data was collected from August to September.
Hope for 2025
The study reveals some major differences between the retailers: at Lidl, a plant-based shopping basket is now cheaper than its animal-based counterpart, meanwhile at Rewe it is only slightly more expensive. At the other end of the scale is Edeka with a strikingly high price difference of 60 percent, due to the fact that own-brand products are not yet available for pizza, mince and fish fingers. Nevertheless, together with Lidl, Edeka sets the benchmark for the lowest price in 7 product categories, closely followed by Kaufland.
“A plant-based shopping basket at no extra charge compared to its animal-based counterpart is a novelty,’ summarises project manager Virginia Cecchini Kuskow. “For 2025, a single-digit average value is certainly conceivable in Germany,” explains Kuskow.
Price equalisation continues in most categories
In 9 out of 12 product categories analysed, prices for plant-based alternative products have fallen compared to the previous year. In the sliced cheese category, prices fell by more than 40 percent. The study assumes a strategic strengthening of the category by retailers. As in the previous year, plant-based milk alternatives are cheaper than cow’s milk at all retailers, despite being penalised with additional taxes.
“The price equalisation of plant-based alternatives has demonstrably continued,” says Kuskow, adding that only fish fingers and cooking cream bucked the trend.
Amidst high inflation, there is a glimmer of hope for German households. Food prices have increased by a third since 2020, with the Federal Statistical Office reporting a 2.3% rise in October 2024 compared to the previous year.
“Plant-based alternatives are now cheaper than animal products in several categories. In view of the ongoing inflation, they represent a real ray of hope for hard-pressed households,” summarises Cecchini Kuskow.
More on the study at this link.
