
With veganism entering mainstream, last year, nearly a quarter of all new UK food products launched were labelled vegan.
A Mintel report analyzing food trends highlighted that vegan food sales soared 40% to an estimated £816m in 2019.
According to analysts, nearly two-thirds of Britons chose to eat meat substitutes last year and the trend has been increasing since the past two years going from 50% in 2017 to 65% in 2019.

Also, 39% of meat eaters limited or reduced their meat intake in 2019 up from 28% in 2017.
The top reasons that drove customers to limit meat in the report were health (32%), environment (25%) and lesser food expenditure (31%).
Meat lovers
Although the vegan trend is fast catching on with numerous studies extolling plant food benefits, and growing concerns related to health, environment and animal welfare plaguing the meat and dairy industry, Mintel analysis found 88% of Britons still preferred to eat red meat or poultry and those following a vegan diet amounted to only 1% of the UK population
However, people are gradually transitioning towards a flexitarian diet consisting of predominantly plant-based food with some meat and fish.
Kate Vlietstra, Mintel global food and drink analyst, said: “The rising popularity of flexitarian diets has helped to drive demand for meat-free products.
“Many consumers perceive that plant-based foods are a healthier option and this notion is the key driver behind the reduction in meat consumption in recent years.”
New resolutions
In a separate poll commissioned by comparison website Finder, 23% Of Brits have resolved to go meat free by the end of the year.
The survey conducted in December 2019 reported that 12 million Brits intend to adopt a vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian diet by 2021.
“Although quite a lot of people seem to have struggled to make the permanent switch to a meat-free diet over the past 12 months, this year’s findings echo our previous research in showing that adopting a veggie diet is a high priority for the UK,” said Finder shopping and travel specialist, Georgia-Rose Johnson.
She added that veganism is poised to grow substantially in the coming months as “meat-free diets and being ‘flexitarian’ are getting more media exposure than ever.”
Vegan demand
With Veganuary throttling in full steam, food retailers, supermarkets and food corporations have released innovative vegan fare to encourage more customers to join the vegan bandwagon.
M&S churned out a massive and impressive vegan lineup with all kinds of vegan treats, ready meals, snack food, healthy dinners, curries and drinks for the new year.
KFC rolled out an original recipe vegan burger in its UK restaurants on January 2 after several limited time trials in different outlets.
Greggs followed up on its successful vegan sausage with a vegan version of is popular steak bake made from ‘savory flavor Quorn mycoprotein pieces and diced onions in gravy, and wrapped in crisp puff pastry’.
Meanwhile Colgate launched its first vegan-certified toothpaste line Smile for Good that features two cruelty-free toothpaste products in recyclable tubes and cardboard packaging just in time for Veganuary.
Where will veganism be 10 years from now? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Vegan Nottingham student creates budget-friendly oat milk machine to reduce carbon footprint and combat rising prices
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 30th May 2023
The invention is sustainable and cost-effective. A vegan undergraduate studying product design at Nottingham Trent University has developed a container that can help people create their own oat milk at home for just 20 pence per litre. “Oatilicious,” provides significant cost savings compared to store-bought oat milk for up to £2.20 per carton. The innovative …
Bear Grylls ’embarrassed’ by past vegan diet promotes meat, blood, and bone marrow for better health
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 15th May 2023
“I’ve tried to listen to my body more, tried to listen to nature, and I don’t miss vegetables at all. I don’t go near them, and I’ve never felt stronger, my skin’s never been better, and my gut’s never been better.” Adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls has become a die-hard carnivore fan after admitting …
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …