New Report: Meat, Dairy Alternatives ‘Could Take Over the Mainstream’

Scanning the shelves of your average Safeway or Kroger, it’s obvious that vegan foods have made their way into the mainstream. From Gardein to Daiya to Silk, plant-based brands are creating products that even the most traditional of eaters enjoy.

This change in attitudes about meat, egg, and dairy alternatives has earned attention in a new, international report from Mintel, a global market research firm. “Global Food and Drink Trends 2016” highlights the exponential growth of these kinds of products, and their appeal to average Americans.

Here’s what the report had to say about meat and dairy alternatives:

“Veggie burgers and non-dairy milks have escaped the realm of substitutes primarily for people with dietary concerns and followers of vegetarian diets. Instead, the growing ranks of novel protein sources and potential replacements appeal to the everyday consumer, foreshadowing a profoundly changed marketplace in which what was formerly ‘alternative’ could take over the mainstream.”

The full report analyzes a total of “12 key trends set to impact the global food and drink market in 2016,” of which veg-friendly foodstuffs was one.

This is in line with overall trends towards reduced meat consumption, market growth for non-dairy options, and an increased interest in plant-based options by consumers. Clearly, people are starting to make choices that are better for their health, the planet, and the animals.