Is Veganism the new Mega-trend of the next decade?
Did you know that 13% of Australians consider themselves Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian? What is a flexitarian you may ask? It’s the new buzz word for meat-eaters who are happy to try vegan alternatives. A vegetarian does not eat meat. A vegan does not eat any part of animal or animal product like honey, eggs and leather.
I found this statistic interesting in that it reflects the importance people place on “lifestyle choices”.
The popularity of veganism is undeniably rising. It appears more people want the food options even if they aren’t vegan.
So how does this lifestyle choice affect food related businesses in the future? What do we need to think about to meet consumer expectations?
The reality is that plant based food is not boring anymore. Salad cannot be the only thing on the menu.
Kip Anderson, the co-director of the Cowspiracy documentary believes that ‘veganism is no longer viewed as giving something up but is now being reframed as “what you gain”.
The choices that today’s consumer makes everyday about what to buy, where to live and what to eat
is no longer limited by the influences of the vicinity of their homes and the Social Media plays a big role in how we are influenced. Britain and the US have also observed the same trends.
Celebrity Chefs, like Jamie Oliver, have acknowledged and understood the importance of listening to people’s needs and developed You Tube shows to cater to this growing popularity. (put link here).
Peoples curiosity is leading them to explore and experiment with cuisines, flavours and produce thereby influencing where they choose to buy their food.
In response, big chains are also adopting a different approach to the production of their goods. Last year Guiness stopped using fish bladders in its brewing process after more than 2 centuries.
This interest in plant-based healthy eating presents a chance for new business and competitive advantage. There is a growing demand to provide high quality, great tasting plant-based food options.
We need to start looking at our menus and find new imaginative ways to cater to the needs of these people.
Based on the previous trends in the 1980’s of the vegetarian movement, milk and dairy alternatives, and the more recent Gluten Free alternatives, it appears that the lifestyle choice of Veganism looks like the next mega-trend that is here to stay.
We at Simply Fresh Food constantly aware of consumer behavior and food trends. We are currently experimenting with a range of plant-based foods. Contact us to discuss how we can work with you to create your next food menu options to meet the demand of the customer.
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