Unilever’s strategic priority is to cash in on the ‘explorable’ rise of plant-based foods by rolling out ‘attractive plant-based offerings’.
Unilever has described the rise of plant-based foods, an “inexorable” trend while admitting that ‘every single country in the world is shifting towards more plant-based diets’.
The comments have been made by its chief executive, Alan Jope, who also added that demand for plant-based foods is rising even in emerging markets as a growing number of people are reducing their meat intake or giving it up altogether.
Vegan trend at Unilever
This fastest-growing consumer trend has led Unilever to start expanding its range of plant-based foods as part of its ‘new strategic priorities’.
The group has set an annual global sales target of €1 billion for its vegan food products, by 2027.
In an interview with Bloomberg’s Emma Chandra, Jope said that plant-based products will be one of the top five global categories that the group will focus on in the coming future, alongside functional nutrition driven by the macro trend of health and wellbeing.
“As you’ll know there is a secular trend toward us all eating a little more of a plant-based diet and we see all our vegetarian and vegan offerings growing very quickly.”
Responding to whether the group is looking to roll out more plant-based protein products and expand into more markets through new partnerships, Jope said: “The first thing we’re concerned to do is to make sure that our big brands like Knorr and Hellmans have got attractive plant-based offerings.
So, that’s really the main course – making sure vegan and vegetarian consumers have got options in the Knorr and Hellman’s range.
“Those have been growing very quickly for us. Can you even believe that we got plant-based Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and a vegan magnum?”
He added: “we’ll continue to roll out the Vegetarian Butcher into more places both in retail and in partnership with our quick service restaurant partners.”
New product developments
Unilever has also invested $94 million in a food innovation center at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, to support the center’s research in developing new products, including plant-based meat, and sustainable food packaging.
Last year, it began working with bio-tech start-up Algenuity to develop a vegan substitute for eggs in products such as mayonnaise, baked goods, and pasta using microalgae.
Share this story: ‘Every single country is shifting towards more plant-based diets’, Unilever CEO says.
About The Author
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
UK’s Biggest Vegan Event, Vegan Camp Out Returns for 2025 at a New Location!
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 6th November 2024
UK’s biggest vegan event, Vegan Camp Out, is gearing up for its 9th annual gathering, showcasing an impressive lineup of performers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and activists. Started in 2016 with just 412 people by Jordan Martin and his sister Ellis Goodridge, the festival has grown significantly year by year and now anticipates welcoming 7,500 attendees from …
Continue reading “UK’s Biggest Vegan Event, Vegan Camp Out Returns for 2025 at a New Location!”
F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Invests In Plant Based Pet Food Company Bramble
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 14th October 2024
Lewis Hamilton, the renowned Formula One champion and a vocal advocate for veganism, has expanded his influence into the pet industry by investing in Bramble, a New York-based company that produces vet-formulated vegan pet food. This venture aligns perfectly with Hamilton’s personal and professional commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, reflecting his belief that the …
Continue reading “F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Invests In Plant Based Pet Food Company Bramble”
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. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
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. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
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. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God