Plant-Based Milk And Meat Are Now Mainstream In Europe, Report Finds

Plant-based milk and meat alternatives have become mainstream staples in the UK, Spain, and Germany, according to a recent report by the Good Food Institute (GFI). The analysis, based on Circana retail sales data, revealed a growth of 5.5 percent in plant-based sales across key European countries in 2023, reaching a total of EUR €5.4 billion. The report highlighted that 37 percent of households in Germany, 33 percent in the UK, and 19 percent in Spain purchased plant-based meat, while over 33 percent of households in Germany and the UK, and 40 percent in Spain bought plant-based milk in the last year.

The report also pointed out that certain plant-based categories are progressing towards price parity with animal products. For example, plant-based cream products in the UK are typically cheaper than dairy, while private-label plant-based milk in Germany is 13 percent cheaper than its dairy equivalent. GFI emphasized the need for policymakers and manufacturers to invest in innovation and infrastructure to develop tastier and more affordable plant-based products, in order to build a more sustainable and resilient European food system. The report also highlighted the growth of smaller plant-based categories such as plant-based cream, vegan cheese, and alternative seafood in Germany and the UK.