Ingredion EMEA has released a market insights report titled: Planting Possibilities: Insights, which examines the rise of plant-based foods and how manufacturers can capitalise on the trend.
Demand for plant-based products rose between 2015-2019, with product launches featuring a plant-based claim reportedly increasing by a CAGR of 57% globally. Ingredion’s report explores the trends driving this growth, the impact of COVID-19 on consumer’s eating habits.
Declan Rooney, Strategic Marketing Manager Savoury and Savoury Alternatives for Ingredion EMEA, says: “15% of millennials are already meat-free and more consumers are changing their diets to become flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan. This trend has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people have become aware and taken a greater interest in the food they eat, how it affects their bodies and the environment they live in. The benefits of a plant-based diet are becoming increasingly more appealing to consumers for these reasons.
“However, for manufacturers of meat and dairy alternative products, there are some important considerations to ensure that their products are well-received and repurchased by consumers. For example, meat alternative products should include a good source of protein and good sensory experience, and dairy products should feature health claims that are most important to the customer, with ‘plant-based’, ‘vegan’ and ‘lactose free’ rated as the top claims.”
The report aims to detail trends impacting the plant-based market and the changing consumer behaviours which are driving market developments. It’s designed to provide manufacturers with insights, research and guidance, to enable them to develop and deliver meat and dairy alternative products that meet consumer expectations and allows them to thrive in a fast-advancing market.
