European plant-based consumption grows by 49% in two years

Plant-based consumption has increased by 49% in two years across Europe, according to Nielsen data, the first and only report of its kind, published by the Smart Protein project

Produced in partnership with ProVeg International, the report examined supermarket data from 11 European countries over the past three years.

Every country in the survey has reported an increase in its plant-based consumption, with a staggering 49% growth across Europe, reaching a total sales value of €3.6 billion.

Other key findings of the report:

• The German plant-based meat sector has grown by 226%, reaching a total sales value of €181 million (only vegan meat included).
• Sales of plant-based milk lead the sector in most countries, followed by plant-based meat.
• Oat milk leads the plant-based-milk sector, with the highest growth rate in most countries.
• Plant-based-cheese purchases have grown by 140% in the Netherlands and 77% in Germany.

“Finally, we see the tremendous growth of plant-based food in Europe over the last few years reflected in numbers. This report clearly reveals the huge increase in sales of plant-based food and offers a green light to the food industry in terms of pursuing more plant-based options,” said Dr Kai-Brit Bechtold, Senior Consumer Research Scientist at ProVeg International.

“This report by Nielsen validates that demand for plant-based meat is on the rise and we aim to meet this growing demand by offering consumers the nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based proteins through our products.” Bram Meijer, Regional Marketing Director EMEA of Beyond Meat

Country highlights:

Austria: Austria has experienced incredible double-digit growth of 57% in terms of sales value over the past two annual periods, with growth even more pronounced in discount stores. Plant-based meat has seen tremendous sales-value growth, at 82%.

Belgium: All categories showed growth, but plant-based yoghurt has skyrocketed in discount stores, with triple-digit growth over the past two annual periods (497%).

Denmark: Denmark has a very high discounter-share of sales value, at 48%. Plant-based meat showed 50% growth over the past two annual periods.

France: France showed an incredible growth rate for discount stores, at 90%, and was even stronger in terms of plant-based meat (100%). Almond variants lead the plant-based-milk sector.

Germany: Plant-based fish and plant-based cheese both showed tremendous triple-digit growth over the past two annual periods, at 623% and 150% respectively.

Italy: Plant-based milk leads the sector in terms of sales value and growth rate.

Netherlands: The plant-based sector experienced strong double-digit growth, especially in discount stores. Plant-based cheese showed dramatic triple-digit growth over the past two annual periods, at 400%.

Poland: The sales value of plant-based-milk increased by 62% over the past two annual periods, with triple-digit growth for discount stores.

Romania: Plant-based milk and plant-based meat both showed double-digit growth.

Spain: All categories experienced double-digit growth, with plant-based milk leading the market in terms of sales value (€318m).

UK: Plant-based milk (107%) and plant-based cheese (165%) both showed triple-digit value-sales growth over the past two annual periods. Plant-based meat (€502m) leads the plant-based market in the UK.

The Smart Protein Plant-based Food Sector Report can be downloaded here.