Bright outlook for plant-based food

The global plant-based food market is set to be worth US$34 B by 2030, according to Growth Market Reports.

Global Plant-based Food Market by Types (Seafood Substitute, Egg Substitute, Meat Substitute, Dairy Substitute, and Others), Sources (Pea, Wheat, Nuts, Soybean, and Others), Distribution Channels (Online Retail, Specialty Stores, Convenience Stores, Modern Groceries, and Others), and Regions: Size, Share, Trends, and Opportunity Analysis, 2021-2030 states that the market was valued at US$10 B in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% till 2030.

Research highlights:

- The modern groceries segment is expected to hold a major market share in the coming years, owing to the appealing discounts, shelf space, and bundling tactics.

- Athlete-led and celebrity awareness campaigns have encouraged the consumption of vegetarian products in order to have a healthy diet.

- High costs associated with the products and raw materials is anticipated to hamper the market growth during the forecast period.

- Collaborations between key players in the plant-based food market and restaurants, large chains, as well as industry titans including Beyond Meat, Oatly, and Impossible Foods will drive growth.

The dairy substitute segment is anticipated to expand at a sustainable CAGR during the forecast period, due to the nutritional advantages of plant-based dairy alternatives. Dairy substitutes are prioritised by many people due to lactose intolerance and concerns over animal cruelty in conventional dairy farming practices.

The soy segment is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period, due to the wide applications in various food and beverage sectors including bakery, meat, and dairy alternatives. Soy is less expensive as compared to other sources and is increasingly accepted by consumers.

Brands profiled in the report include:

- Plamil Foods 

- Sahmyook Foods

- Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company

- The Hain Celestial Group 

- Taifun –Tofu 

- Unilever 

- VBIte Food

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Ask for vegetarian food in 50 languages

Source: Veggoagogo page
on the Play Store.

Helsinki-based Agogo Apps has launched Veggoagogo, a 50-language travel translation app for vegetarians* that is available on both the iOS and Android platforms. The app is the first of a number of travel translation apps designed to use the same application architecture, Agogo Apps said.

Besides defining what a vegetarian is, Veggoagogo addresses many of the needs that the travelling vegetarian faces on a daily basis, from locating a restaurant that serves vegetarian fare, to choosing suitable items from the menu, down to thanking the chef, waiter, concierge, market-stall holder or friendly local.


The app can be used without Internet connectivity. The user chooses a question from a list, then selects from one of 50 languages available before tapping the translate button and being presented with their translation. The translation screen text has been optimised to be displayed at distance. It can be flicked between night and day modes for ease of reading in all lighting conditions.

Source: Veggoagogo page on the Play Store. Explaining what a vegetarian does not eat, and asking for dishes which have no meat, in Spanish.

Illustrator Cat MacInnnes created a range of animal icons that add to the usability of the app. Users can tap the animal icons atop the translation screen and be presented with full screen versions which can be swiped and used as a visual backup to the translated message. 

Said Paul Dodson, founder of Agogo Apps: "Often when travelling abroad it's hard to get across exactly what a vegetarian will and will not eat. In many countries it's a loosely defined concept where vegetarian dishes may still include fish or seafood. With Veggoagogo we aimed to do two things: one, to define very clearly what a vegetarian won't eat and two, to offer a range of questions that travelling vegetarians face on a daily basis. In version 1 of Veggoagogo, we do this in 50 languages.

"Veggoagogo has been designed with simplicity and usability in mind. The interface is uncluttered and hopefully, aesthetically pleasing. All of our translations have been professionally completed by native language speakers."

Veganagogo, a vegan version of the app is due on the market in June 2015.

Interested?

Download the app on iTunes
Download the app on Google Play

*As this app is for vegetarians, it is unlikely to help with asking for food that has been prepared without alcohol.

Vegetarian cosmetics maker LUSH adds third store in Lebanon

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, a manufacturer and retailer of ethical skincare, haircare, bath, and body products, officially opened a new store at ABC Achrafieh in Lebanon in early November.

Source: LUSH.

The newest LUSH store in Lebanon is the third in under three years. The other LUSH stores are at ABC Dbayeh and Beirut Souks. 

LUSH is known for its ethical and innovative approach to bath, body, haircare and skincare. LUSH pioneered beauty products such as fizzing bath bombs, bubble bars, and solid shampoo bars, and emphasises ingredients like fresh organic fruits and vegetables and the finest essential oils. LUSH produces high quality products that are vegetarian, preservative-free and free of wasteful packaging with absolutely no animal testing being done on LUSH products or ingredients. These ethics are at the heart of the brand and will remain there with every new shop that opens globally.

Vegetarian and vegan to be increasingly popular in health-conscious ANZ

Mintel's ANZ consumer outlook for 2015 includes observations on vegetarian and vegan food.  

People are becoming more informed about their health and are increasingly seeking out superfoods free from chemicals and additives, locally and seasonally sourced, observes Mintel.

“In 2014, we saw health becoming increasingly important in ANZ, and consumers are seeking out new ways to get healthier – a trend set to become even more important in 2015. Information and public health campaigns from governments about the importance of a healthy diet and exercise regime, along with personalities in mainstream and social media is creating sub groups of people subscribing to new lifestyles and diets, think Paleo, Vegan, Organic, Raw, Dukin and Atkins," said Mintel’s Senior Trends & Innovation Consultant Jane Barnett.



 
"Every month or so there seems to be a ‘superfood’ to end all superfoods, and consumers are buying them in droves, leading to world shortages of foods including kale and quinoa. In 2015, consumers will increasingly seek out natural options and local (according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database [GNPD] all natural product claims in new products have increased from 4% to 8% over the last 5 years) seasonal produce will only become more popular,“ said Barnett.

Barnett said the Australian almond industry had produced from 10,000 tonnes in the past 10 years to 78,000 tonnes in 2013 as Paleo and vegan consumers shunned dairy and soy in favour of nut and seed milks. "Almond milk has experienced growth of 93% and oat milk has risen 38%. New grain milks including quinoa, coconut and blends of different nuts and seeds are also increasing in popularity. The percentage of products with vegan and no animal ingredients claims have doubled, from 3% in 2009 to 6% in 2014. Conversely, vegetarian claims have increased at a similar rate, increasing from 4% to 9% in the last five years,” she said.

“Sourcing of food and drinks that consumers are increasingly demanding are leading to worldwide shortages. Furthermore, consumers are less trusting of big business and need to be assured that they are not being misled about sourcing or processes. Consumers will be buying less packaged foods, will demand more organic produce for a reasonable price, and will move beyond the supermarkets and towards farmers markets and the like if they can’t get what they want. Reduction of chemicals and additives is crucial, and the use of processes such as cold pressed and raw food will be more in demand.

“Detoxing, and in particular juice detoxes, have been increasing in popularity, off the back of numerous celebrities who advocate the fasts as a way to cleanse the body of impurities. Vegan, raw food diets are becoming much more mainstream, and ‘wellness warriors’ preaching their lifestyle choices are gaining more momentum and notoriety. While the extreme lifestyles have of course attracted some criticism, they have also gained support, which they have capitalised on.”

Barnett added that quitting sugar is the latest global trend, one that is particularly strong in Australia. "This trend is driving increased interest in natural sweeteners like stevia. According to Mintel’s GNPD low/no/reduced sugar claims have also increased, from 6% in 2009 to 8% in 2014," she said. “In 2015, there will continue to be huge interest in superfoods and more ‘alternative’ diets and lifestyles, but the issue will be sourcing. With quinoa and kale experiencing shortages, Australians will need to look elsewhere for their superfood benefits. Predictions are that cauliflower, brussel sprouts and amaranth will become some of the most in-demand superfoods for 2015.”

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Read the blog post about Mintel's vegetarian and vegan research here.

More foods globally carry a vegetarian or vegan claim

Mintel has found that 12% of global food and drink products launched in 2013 carried a vegetarian claim, up from 6% in 2009. Further to this, 2% of global food and drink launches carried a vegan claim in 2013, up from 1% in 2009.

Source: Mintel.

Laura Jones, Global Food Science Analyst at Mintel, said, “Globally, the outlook for the meat alternative market is positive and will continue to be driven by an emerging consumer trend towards meat reduction on a part-time basis, also called flexitarianism, entailing increased consumption of plant-based foods without completely cutting out meat. Indeed, many meat-reducing consumers have adopted a flexible attitude, choosing to limit meat, rather than eliminate it entirely. Launches of vegetarian and vegan products echo manufacturers desire to communicate the suitability of their products to the widest range of consumers.”

“Plant-based and other vegetarian protein sources align with consumer interest in reducing red meat consumption and growing interest in vegetarian products. Indeed, consumers are shifting towards more plant based diets,” Jones added. Despite this, in 2013 less than 1% of food and drink products launched globally carried both a ‘vegetarian’ and ‘high-protein’ claim, Mintel said.

In addition to the rise of vegetarian protein sources, there has also been considerable growth in the number of chocolate and sugar confectionery products launched carrying a ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ claim. Whilst just 4% of chocolate or sugar products launched in 2009 carried a vegetarian claim, this rose to 9% in 2013. The proportion of these products launched with a vegan claim similarly rose from 1% in 2009 to 2% in 2013.

Further to this, the number of chocolate and sugar confectionery products using a glazing agent boasted even larger growth with 32% of these products carrying a ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ claim in 2013, up from 13% in 2009.

“Among chocolate and sugar confectionery products there is increasingly demand for vegetarian ingredients, reflected by the increasing use of both vegetarian and vegan claims on new product launches. Ingredients will continue to be scrutinised by consumers and manufacturers need to be responsive and proactive to quell any consumer concerns.” Jones said.