Supermarkets

Plant-based milk shelf at Albert Heijn

Image: ProVeg Netherlands
Studies & Numbers

Report: Dutch Supermarkets Are Expanding Their Plant-Based Ranges, But Adoption Remains Slow

Data from the Protein Monitor 2024, an annual study conducted by Wageningen Social & Economic Research on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, has assessed the progress of the protein transition at Dutch supermarkets. The research indicates that availability is increasing rapidly; in 2024, 38% of online supermarket ranges consisted of plant-based protein products, compared to just 32% in 2023. However, the amount of plant-based protein consumed by the Dutch population has increased by just 1%. Currently, 60% of consumers’ protein intake comes from animal sources, while 40% comes from plants. The Netherlands has set a policy goal of achieving 50% plant-based and 50% animal protein intake by 2030 to improve public health and sustainability. “Although the protein transition …

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Carrefour partners with Vida Veg

© Carrefour
Retail & E-Commerce

Carrefour Brazil Announces Strategic Partnership With Plant-Based Brand Vida Veg

Carrefour Brazil has announced it will be expanding access to plant-based food through a partnership with Vida Veg, a leading Brazilian vegan food brand. As part of the collaboration, Carrefour will add three of Vida Veg’s cashew-based products to its range — mozzarella cheese, traditional cream cheese, and cream cheese with fine herbs. The products will be sold under Carrefour’s own brand, making Vida Veg the retailer’s first supplier of plant-based products for its private label range. Carrefour will be able to offer the dairy alternatives at a relatively affordable price point, making them accessible to more consumers. The idea for the collaboration arose when Vida Veg founder Álvaro Gazolla visited Carrefour in Spain and noticed the chain’s plant-based range. The news comes as Carrefour …

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S Group

© Ronnie Hole/S Group
Retail & E-Commerce

Finnish Retailer S Group Reports Increase of Over 10% in Plant-Based Milk & Cheese Sales in January

Finnish grocery retailer S Group has reported a significant increase in sales of plant-based products following a successful campaign in January. This year, the group expanded its collaboration with Vegaanihaaste (the Vegan Challenge) to all its grocery stores, including S-market, Prisma, Sale, and Alepa. The challenge reportedly attracted a record number of participants. As a result, sales of plant-based milk and cheese products increased by more than 10 percent in January compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, sales of fava protein brand Härkis and alt dairy brand Oddlygood were up several dozen percent. Demand for fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, and plant-based cooking products also rose compared to January last year; this was encouraged by the “Alle euron hevi” concept, which highlights produce that costs less …

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ProVeg International

Image: ProVeg International
Retail & E-Commerce

The Case for More Plant-Based Foods in Retail

In some supermarkets, plant-based foods have been losing shelf space due to concerns over a perceived slowdown in growth. But is this really the end of the plant-based movement? Not at all, says ProVeg International. While some retailers hesitate, others are doubling down – and reaping the benefits. Lidl GB, for instance, recently introduced 28 new plant-based products and aims for 25% of total protein sales to come from plant-based sources by 2030. Their strategy reflects a broader reality: the plant-based market is evolving, not disappearing. As consumer habits shift and sustainability becomes an ever-greater priority, expanding your plant-based range is a smart business move. The market is maturing, not declining Despite economic challenges, the plant-based food sector continues to grow. In 2023, European plant-based …

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

© Lidl
Retail & E-Commerce

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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Monoprix

Image: Monoprix
Retail & E-Commerce

Monoprix Announces Commitments to Improving Visibility & Accessibility of Plant-Based Foods

Earlier this year, major French supermarket chain Monoprix partnered with vegetable-based food companies Bonduelle and Céréal Bio to conduct a consumer consultation on the theme of making diets more plant-based. Almost 15,000 people took part in the consultation, and Monoprix has now published the results. They indicate that many French people are in favour of promoting plant-based foods, with over 60% supporting measures such as sharing easy plant-based recipes and increasing information about the nutritional and health benefits of plant-based products. Currently, Monoprix and convenience store chain Franprix (owned by the same parent company) promote plant-based foods during Veganuary and the barbecue season. This involves in-store promotions and the sharing of recipes and information via social media, newsletters, and websites. Following the survey results, the …

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Dutch retailerJumbo replaces gelatin with plant-based alternatives

© Jumbo
Retail & E-Commerce

Dutch Retailer Jumbo Swaps Gelatin in Pastries for Plant-Based Alternatives

Dutch retailer Jumbo has removed gelatin from all its fresh pastries, replacing the animal-derived ingredient with plant-based alternatives. The chain claims to be the first in the Netherlands to make the change. Modifying the recipes took 18 months, with solutions varying depending on the product. For example, the tompouce — a popular cream-filled iced pastry — now contains alginate and gellan gum instead of gelatin. While many of the pastries still contain dairy or eggs, the recipe changes will reportedly reduce the amount of gelatin used by Jumbo by 13,000 kilograms per year, as well as making the products suitable for vegetarians. The reformulated pastries have received very positive feedback on taste and quality after being tested by consumers, and are now available at all …

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REWE to open fully vegan supermarket

© REWE
Retail & E-Commerce

Germany: REWE to Open First Vegan Supermarket in Former Veganz Store

German retailer REWE is set to open its first fully vegan supermarket, called REWE voll pflanzlich, in Berlin. The store is on the site of the former Veganz supermarket at Warschauer Brücke in Berlin-Friedrichshain, which closed in December after the company decided to focus entirely on product manufacturing. REWE has declined to comment on the news, which was shared by Supermarktblog from an insider source. The publication notes that while a sign with the name of the store is visible on the building, this name has not yet been trademarked. However, Supermarktblog believes the store will open this spring. Notably, REWE Group owns the Austrian supermarket chain BILLA, which has opened two fully vegan stores in Vienna and Graz in recent years. The retailer has …

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New vegan supermarket opens in Sydney

© Greens Supermarket
Market & Trends

Latest News From Australia: New Vegan Supermarket & Alt Dairy Developments

As plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity in Australia, we take a look at the latest vegan and alt protein news from the country. New vegan supermarket A vegan supermarket called Greens has just opened its doors in the Sydney suburb of Newtown. It is said to be the city’s first fully plant-based store, and the largest in the country. The retailer stocks products that are usually difficult to find in Australia, such as vegan cheeses from Italy, no-salmon sashimi made by Netherlands-based Vegan Zeastar, and egg alternatives from New York’s Simply Eggless. A range of pantry staples, fresh produce, bakery products, and confectionery is also available. Additionally, there is an on-site canteen serving sandwiches, bowls, and more. The canteen operates on a zero-food-waste …

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Image: Nedjet Kaya
Retail & E-Commerce

Vegan Supermarket Opens in Nottingham, UK, in Response to Requests by Locals

A vegan supermarket called Lime Green Organic Vegan has opened its doors in Sneinton, a suburb of Nottingham, UK. The founder is Nedjet Kaya, who also operates another local supermarket called Murat Food Centre. According to Nottinghamshire Live, Kaya received repeated requests for vegan products, and eventually decided to open a dedicated store to meet demand. Hundreds of products are reportedly on offer, including fruits and vegetables, snacks, cereals, alcoholic drinks, cleaning products, and a frozen section. Gluten-free options are also available. “Incredible new food space” The number of vegan stores in the UK is on the rise, from bakeries to butchers and cheesemongers. In 2021, London’s GreenBay — which claimed to be the country’s first brick-and-mortar vegan supermarket — celebrated its fifth anniversary. So …

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BILLA plant-based range

© BILLA
Retail & E-Commerce

BILLA Offers “Largest Plant-Based Range in Austria” With 4000 Products

Austrian supermarket chain BILLA has claimed that it now offers the country’s largest plant-based range, with around 4,000 products verified as animal-free by the Vegan Society Austria. The chain has achieved this by significantly expanding its plant-based own-brand range, along with offering products by other brands. Last autumn, BILLA’s plant-based experts tasted around 3,000 alt meat and alt seafood products, using the results to revise the retailer’s Vegavita range. This has now been relaunched with additional products and updated packaging. BILLA has also begun offering products made by Spanish alt meat brand Heura and Slovenian plant-based whole-cut producer Juicy Marbles. Additionally, Billie Green products — made by Germany’s The Plantly Butcher — have been introduced. This marks the first time Billie Green has been available …

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A bag of plant-based salmon

©Hooked Foods
Products & Launches

Hooked to Launch Plant-Based ‘Salmoonish’ and ‘Fish-ish Sticks’ in Sweden

Hooked Foods, a Swedish company that develops sustainable alternatives to seafood, announces that from October 3rd two new plant-based fish products — Salmoonish and Fish-ish sticks — will be available at major grocery stores in Sweden.  Hooked Foods also reveals that its Toonish range of products (until now only available at restaurants) will join its Toonish Tomat, which has been on supermarket shelves since 2021. Hooked was born in 2019 after Tom Johansson and Emil Wasteson were challenged to create a sustainable alternative to seafood, tasty and nutritious made with plants. Recently the company raised €10M for product development and market expansion. The Hooked portfolio Hooked Foods explains that it offers consumers a new way to replace fish with sustainable alternatives that do not harm the …

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alt protien manufacturer La Vie's vegan bacon burger

©La Vie Foods
Fairs & Events

Announcing the 15 Finalists of the Carrefour Plant-Based Contest

French supermarket chain Carrefour created a contest this March called the Plant-Based Contest, designed to help innovative startups advance to market. The contest has three categories: plant-based protein products, strong concept, and service offering. More than 250 startups from all over the world participated, of which 15 have been selected for the final that will be held on June 9 in the heart of Paris. On this occasion, 10 winners will be selected as well as the “coup de coeur” of the jury. Here are the 15 finalist startups: Cocoriton Cocoriton is a French company created by farmers. The company has created vegetable patties based on legumes rich in fibre and grown in the fields of French farmers. EATIC The French startup EATIC, created in …

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The Vegan Kind

© The Vegan Kind
Company News

The Vegan Kind Rolls Out Big Plans for 2022 

The Vegan Kind reveals impressive growth markers and goals for the year ahead Following its recent collaboration with BrewDog, the UK’s biggest plant-based retailer The Vegan Kind shows no signs of stopping its unstoppable rise over 2022. vegconomist takes a look at what the online vegan supermarket and subscription box service has in store.  2021 Success The Vegan Kind listed 1,591 new plant-based products over the previous year, dispatching over 250,000 parcels and shipping over 3,100,000 vegan products. The company also completed a rebrand, aiming to “welcome a whole new audience”, as well as planting 71,935 trees via Ecologi, which equals 535 tonnes of carbon removal. A Series A fundraising was also competed of £3.5 million, the largest ever in UK vegan retail.  Business initiatives …

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Carrefour The Vegetarian Butcher

© Carrefour / The Vegetarian Butcher
Food & Beverage

Carrefour France Now Offering Plant-Based Meat at Traditional Butcher Counters

As a major first in France, Carrefour – the eighth-largest retailer in the world – has begun offering products from The Vegetarian Butcher, a Dutch brand owned by Unilever, in its traditional butcher’s shop. “Bringing these two types of products together simplifies the shopping experience for our customers who want to go vegan. The second big first is that Carrefour is the first major retailer to market these delicious products that have already won over Burger King,” Carrefour said on its various social networks. After the launch and extension of its Carrefour Veggie brand and the exclusive nationwide marketing of La Vie vegan products, Carrefour continues to see the potential of plant-based products in the European market. This vegan corner in the traditional butcher’s department …

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Squeaky Bean Egg

©Squeaky Bean

Products & Launches

Picnic Perfect: Squeaky Bean Brings “World’s First” Vegan Scotch Egg to Tesco in New Range

UK plant-based producer Squeaky Bean has launched what it claims to be the world’s first vegan supermarket Scotch Egg into Tesco. Made with Crackd – The No-Egg Egg – the new product is part of an unveiling of a plant-based summer eating range. After being awarded the Plant-Based Food Manufacturer of the Year, as well as introducing a Big Brother style vegan “influencer house”, Squeaky Bean will be rolling out the new range in 585 Tesco stores across the UK. The full range, ideal for picnics, summer meals, and packed lunches, includes:  Tomato, Red Pepper & Veta Tart, £3.00, 150g Creamy Coronation Tart, £3.00, 150g Chargrilled Memphis Style BBQ Mini Fillets, £3.00, 120g Scotch Eggs, £3.00, 210g  “You might have thought plant-based food lovers have …

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TVK planet

©The VeganKind
Sustainability / Environment

TheVeganKind Launches TVK Planet Initiative & Will Plant One Tree With Every Order Made

On Earth Day, TheVeganKind (TVK) announces it is expanding its sustainability initiatives to minimise the carbon footprint and become a climate positive shopping destination and create the lowest possible impact on the planet in its operations. TVK has partnered with Ecologi and says it is committed to planting a tree for every order made in the TVK Supermarket.

Planting trees and recovering forests have been proven to be one the most effective ways, after reducing meat consumption, to combat the climate crisis.

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Markus Thaller, Category Manager Sausages & Meat, METRO Deutschland © METRO Deutschland GmbH
Interviews

METRO Germany: “For the Wholesale Consumer Market, We Are One of the Pioneers, Especially When it Comes to Alternative Protein”

Markus Thaller is the category manager for sausage & meats at METRO Germany. Despite his proximity to animal meats, he is firmly convinced that alternative proteins will play an increasingly important role in wholesale and for commercial customers – especially against a backdrop of topics like sustainability and climate change.

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