The global market for plant-based foods has grown rapidly. Since 2012, the plant-based market in Western Europe has doubled in size, according to Euromonitor International, Europe as a whole accounted for 38.5% of total global revenue in 2017. Plant-based claims have increased 68% globally over the past five years as companies have seen an opportunity to tap into demand, according to Innova Market Insights – even though many of the products that carry such claims were always free from animal products. Manufacturers in categories like baked goods and snacks often use such claims to signal the use of less common, and often highly nutritious, plant-based ingredients, as they look for ways to capitalise on consumer interest in the health profile of plant-based diets.
The report examines the many ways animal-based ingredients are being replaced by their plant-based alternatives, as a response to rising consumer awareness and consumer demand to include more plant-based products in their diets.
