UK sees record sales of plant-based foods

By Liz Wells in Industry News 13th January 2021

Sales of plant-based food increased 50% year-on-year in the first week of January, as many consumers switch to meat and dairy alternatives for Veganuary, new research reveals.

The latest Dunnhumby Beyond data, taken from the past week’s shopper receipts across the top nine UK grocery retailers, shows sales represented a record £12m. The increase has been largely driven by shoppers exploring new ranges, with nearly 31% more shoppers buying foods from the ‘meat and dairy alternatives’ category for the first time.

David Halls, director of Dunnhumby Beyond, said: “These early results from the first full week of the year suggest we’re on for a record month for plant-based food in UK supermarkets. The high level of new shoppers in this category sets a strong platform for continued growth in 2021.”

In addition, the research finds the longer-term prospects for meat and dairy alternatives look promising, with 94% of people participating in Veganuary saying they intend to cut back on eating meat and dairy beyond January.

Toni Vernelli, head of communications at Veganuary, added: “Whether driven by concerns for animal welfare, the planet or health improvements, one thing is certain — veganism is a trend that keeps on trending. This new data shows that businesses which do not embrace the plant-based revolution risk becoming increasingly out of touch with what shoppers expect.”