Jacksonville, FL — Citing health as the key motivating factor, 40 percent of shoppers report buying plant-based meat and/or dairy products, according to Acosta, Inc.’s Plant-Based Eating: Trend or Fad? report.
“Consumers’ focus on healthy living increased significantly since the onset of COVID-19,” says Kathy Risch, senior vice-president, business intelligence at Acosta. “Larger conversations about the importance of health and wellness have alerted many consumers to the potential long-term benefits of meat and dairy alternatives, and plant-based product sales are rising as a result. Bloomberg reported $7 billion dollars in plant-based sales in 2021, a 27 percent increase from 2019. We expect to see steady growth in this category through the next decade, as consumer awareness continues to expand.”
Key finding include:
Plant-Based Shopping Habits
- Forty percent of consumers surveyed in March 2022 purchased plant-based meat and/or dairy products within the last six months, with over half of those surveyed (60 percent) purchasing plant-based products several times a month.
- 77 percent of consumers surveyed buy plant-based foods at traditional grocery stores.
- 20 percent of consumers surveyed buy plant-based foods online.
- Consumers typically buy plant-based meat and dairy alternatives to replace beef, pork and traditional milk.
Product Loyalty
- 64 percent of plant-based buyers purchase within this category at least several times a month.
- 57 percent of plant-based buyers say they intend to consume plant-based alternatives throughout their lives.
- Nearly 20 percent of plant-based buyers say they follow a fully plant-based lifestyle.
Lingering Hesitancy
- While 50 percent of plant-based buyers claim it is important for restaurants to offer plant-based options, only about 20 percent usually buy these alternatives when eating out.
- About 33 percent of all U.S. shoppers claim to perceive plant-based foods as a fad, despite growing interest and demand.
