Shopping in a LIDL grocery discount supermarket in the meat aisle

©Hamik-stock.adobe.com

Retail & E-Commerce

European Private Label Sales Reach €340Bn as Retailers Cater to Consumer Lifestyle Changes

European private label sales reached a record €340 billion in 2023, according to data from the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). Private label sales accounted for 54% of total market growth last year, and now make up 38.5% of the grocery market’s total value. The turnover of private label brands grew by 13% in 2023 — more than double the rate of manufacturers’ brand sales. Citing a a McKinsey report, vegan trademark V-Label argues that this is partially because supermarket brands are catering to consumer lifestyle changes. While the first wave of private label products mainly aimed to provide a budget option, the second wave involved launching product lines such as vegan, organic, and free from, along with premium ranges. By targeting health-conscious consumers, many …

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Eroski

© Eroski

Products & Launches

Eroski Launches Own-Brand Vegan Range as 44% of Spanish Consumers Buy Meatless Foods

Spanish supermarket chain Eroski has introduced its first own-brand range aimed at vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. The Eroski Veggie line has initially launched with around 20 products, including falafel, tofu, seitan, hummus, and several varieties of plant milks. Meat alternatives such as burgers and chicken nuggets are also available, along with ready meals such as lasagne, Spanish omelette, and risotto. More plant-based products are expected to be added later in the year. The range has been certified as animal-free by V-Label, with some products also certified organic by the EU’s Euroleaf logo. “Commitment to health” According to Eroski, 44% of Spanish people buy vegetarian products, while 7.8% of over-18s say they are eating a plant-forward diet. With around 10% of Spanish consumers reportedly reducing their …

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ProVeg NFH businesspeople in office

Image: ProVeg International

Retail & E-Commerce

Leverage the Cost-of-Living Crisis and Grow Your Plant-Based Business

Upon entering a new year, there will be things we want to leave in the past and others we want to bring into the future. Unfortunately, last year’s cost-of-living crisis has stepped into 2023 with us and it looks set to stay for a while yet.  Food inflation is having an immediate impact on grocery prices, affecting everyday consumers and businesses alike. According to Statista, the inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages in the European Union reached a staggering 17.9% in November 2022. Consumers are reacting by purchasing fewer treats and reducing their overall budgets and consumption. Additionally, people are changing what they are buying and from where, including switching supermarkets and cutting back on purchasing meat products. Plant-based products less vulnerable to inflation …

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Lidl Vemondo Vegan Food Award PETA

© Lidl / PETA

Company News

Lidl’s Own-Brand Vegan Range Vemondo Wins PETA Vegan Food Award

Update Jan 2024: Following the company’s recognition as Best Vegan Private Label at the PETA Vegan Food Awards in 2022, Vemondo’s Helado Vegano Sabor Cheese-Cake was named one of the world’s ten best vegan ice creams by abillion. International V-Label Awards took place later in the year with the Vemondo range winning the Special Consumers’ Award, and in 2023, the company also took home a V-Label Award for marketing and branding.  In a significant move to promote the adoption of meat alternatives, Lidl Germany dropped the price for Vemondo products in October 2023 by 20%, achieving price parity with their animal-based counterparts. Lidl Germany representatives spoke to the decision at the ProVeg International New Food Hub the following month, stating, “We have taken steps to …

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Publix GreenWise chicken tenders

©Publix Super Markets, Inc

Products & Launches

Publix Launches Pea Based Chicken Tenders & Burgers Under GreenWise Range

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the US, today announced the company’s first pea-based chicken tenders and burger patties. The GreenWise Chickenless Tenders land on shelves this week, and the GreenWise Meatless Burger was released in April, in addition to the black bean burger veggie burger already existing under the GreenWise brand. As we reported last August, Publix has been steadily increasing its vegan offerings, and currently stocks brands such as Impossible Foods, BFree Foods, Beyond Meat, and plant-based products from Don Lee Farms. “Customers are requesting more plant-based options to incorporate into their diets,” said Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous. “By developing these meatless products under our trusted private-label GreenWise brand, we are offering our customers high-quality options to support their lifestyle.” Publix …

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Lidl Vemondo triangles

©Lidl

Products & Launches

Lidl Continues at Forefront of Plant-Based Grocery as it Rolls Out Budget Vegan Range

German supermarket Lidl has launched a new budget vegan range of 17 plant-based products to UK stores. The plant-based range, called Vemondo, including vegan fish fingers, vegan burgers, and dairy-free ice creams, launched yesterday (Aug 5) with prices starting at 99p. The range is also available in Lidl France as well as Lidl Germany. The budget range is a positive step for the plant-based movement as consumers can purchase vegan products for low prices with ice creams for £1.99, burgers for £1.49 and fish fingers for £1.99. In addition to the budget range, Lidl will stock products such as ready meals, vegan gnocchi, tofu, vegan pizza, vegan tortillas, and vegan medaglioni – a medallion shaped pasta stuffed with fillings. The new non-dairy ice cream range …

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Target Good & Gather Plant Based

©Target

Products & Launches

Target Launches 30 Own-Brand ‘Good & Gather Plant Based’ Products For Under $5

Target Corporation, the eighth-largest retailer in the US, this week announces the introduction of Good & Gather Plant Based, featuring more than 30 products spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, stating that most items will retail at under $5. The new items will include: non-dairy chocolate-flavored mousse dip, crispy chick’n tenders, savory buffalo-style cauliflower wings, spreads and creamers. Target states that the Good & Gather Plant Based dips and meat alternatives are already available, and other products like creamers and salad dressings will roll out between now and fall. “Good & Gather Plant Based reinforces the brand’s commitment to products that prioritize great taste and quality, with the value only Target can offer,” says Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer, …

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LIVEKINDLY Iceland

Image: LIVEKINDLY/Iceland

General

UK Supermarket Iceland Doubles Plant-Based Offerings With Launch of LIVEKINDLY Brands in 1000 Stores

Following the LIVEKINDLY Co’s acquisition of No Meat, Iceland’s vegan meat alternative brand, the UK discount supermarket announces today it has doubled its meat-free offering in almost 1,000 stores, with the rollout of Fry’s, Oumph! and LikeMeat products. Andrew Staniland, Trading Director at Iceland Foods, stated: “We’ve seen substantial growth in meat free sales”. The products to be launched into Iceland and The Food Warehouse include: Fry’s – Chicken Burger, Chicken Nuggets, Big Fry Burger, Curry Pie and Fishless Fillet. Oumph! – Oumph! Kebab Spiced, Pulled Oumph!, Oumph! Balls, Oumph! Mince and Oumph! Smoky Bits. LikeMeat – Like Chicken Nuggets and Like Breaded Chicken. Domenico Speciale, General Manager, LIVEKINDLY Collective UK says: “Partnerships are crucial across the whole value chain to help deliver our mission …

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Earth Grown Burger Aldi

Earth Grown Burger © PRNewsfoto ALDI

Food & Beverage

ALDI USA’s Earth Grown Products Awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal

The list of ALDI-exclusive foods bearing the Good Housekeeping seal continues to grow, this time with the addition of 34 Earth Grown products. Customer favourites such as Vegan Macaroni & Cheese, Meatballs without Meat, Coconutmilk Strawberry Yogurt and Meatless Chicken Tenders are among the new products awarded by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

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Marks and Spencer vegan kiev

©Marks & Spencer

Products & Launches

Marks & Spencer Adds Over 100 Vegan Products to Plant Kitchen Range

Multinational retailer Marks & Spencer launched over 100 new vegan products to its Plant Kitchen range this Thursday amongst a huge Veganuary drive taking place internationally. The range now includes a variety of dishes, sandwiches to go, desserts, ready meals, snacks, healthy dinners, and drinks.

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LIDL Next Level Burger

LIDL

Interviews

Lidl: “As the Vegan Market is Becoming Increasingly Important, it Was a Matter of Course For us to Expand our Range”

The discount giant Lidl has been expanding its vegan range for a long time and now also successfully offers vegetable meat alternatives under its new private label Next Level Meat. After the vegan “Next Level Burger“, Lidl recently expanded its product line to include the Next Level mince, which is based on pea, wheat and soy protein.

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Plant Pioneers

©Sainsbury's

Products & Launches

Sainsbury’s Reponds to Tesco’s Huge Vegan Expansion With Plant Pioneer Line

UK supermarket giant Tesco last month made a widespread announcement about the expansion of its Wicked Kitchen line, created by chef Derek Sarno, as well as its new affordable line Plant Chef, and the launch of dedicated veggie areas in the supermarket. Sainsbury’s is now responding with affordable products including steak and bacon.

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