According to new data from consumer insight company Kantar Worldpanel, Brits have been ditching meat and opting for tofu at mealtimes amid lockdown.
In the 12 weeks preceding June 2020, UK consumers filled their trollies with tofu and sales boomed by 87.1 percent.
Meat alternatives are now increasingly appearing the meat aisle to tempt some of the UK’s 25 million flexitarians and offering customers a realistic alternative to meat, it’s no surprise that more people than ever are going meat-free.
A number of plant-based meat alternatives have also enjoyed rising sales amid lockdown with plant-based sausage sales growing by 21.3 percent, meat-free burgers by 37 percent and vegan mince by 50.1 percent.
Supermarket sales
Waitrose supermarket has also revealed that sales of plant-based products are booming on its website with searches for vegan bacon skyrocketing by an impressive 759 percent.
It’s not just meat alternatives that are enjoying a rise in demand, as according to the retailer, online searches for ‘oat milk’ are up 210% and the search term ‘barista oat milk’ is up a staggering 1,517% on Waitrose.com vs last year.
Waitrose also reports that sales of barista-style alternative milks which are designed especially to be used in coffees are up 64%.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meat-free meals
Earlier this year, The Vegan Society released a poll that revealed a staggering one in five Brits (that’s over 13 million people) have added more meat-free meals to their repertoire.
In in a statement sent to Plant Based News, The Vegan Society spokesperson said: “After the unprecedented success of Veganuary and the swathes of new vegan products hitting the shelves in recent months, it’s no surprise that many consumers have made the switch to plant-based alternatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that be for convenience, cost, or concern for their own wellbeing, the environment and the rights of animals.”
“Many Brits are trying these alternatives for the first time and enjoying them so much that they intend on keeping them in their shopping basket when we return to normal times.
“They are purchasing items that they wouldn’t have given a second look a few months ago, but are now seeing these brilliant vegan alternatives as the new normal.”
