Continuing Veggi boom Market share of meatless foods continues to rise

Vegetarian and vegan foods on trend: sales doubled in three years
Vegetarian and vegan foods have experienced a veritable boom in recent years. Spending has almost doubled within three years. The meatless movement arrived in the middle of the society, according to experts. The proportion of pure vegetarians and vegans is still relatively low.

Meatless foods are becoming increasingly popular
According to estimates by the Vegetarian Federation (Vebu), more and more Germans refrain from animal products such as meat, milk and eggs, but they remain in the minority. Only about ten percent of the population are vegetarian or vegan. About 1.1 percent of the German population lives vegan for moral and ethical reasons. In the past there was meat substitute, which tastes like meat, almost only in the health food store or health food store, today are vegetarian schnitzel and sausages in almost every well-stocked supermarket to have. This is also reflected in the sales figures. As the finance news agency dpa-AFX reported, vegetarian and vegan foods are also becoming increasingly popular in 2016.

Vegetarian and vegan foods are growing in popularity. Sales of meatless products have almost doubled in three years. (Image: PhotoSG / fotolia.com)

Sales doubled within three years
The magazine "Focus", referring to the market research company GfK, writes that the "veggie boom" continued in the first quarter. According to data, 14.5 percent more meatless foods were purchased between January and March than in the same period last year. Spending on meatless food increased to € 310 million in 2015, nearly doubling within a few years. As it is further said, the success is also due to private labels, which are cheaper than the classic branded products and now come to a market share of almost one-fifth. In addition, GfK had recently stated that the meatless movement had arrived in the middle of society. More and more consumers who are not principally against meat reduced their meat consumption for animal welfare, environmental and health reasons. Especially younger consumers today buy considerably more veggie products than a few years ago.

Positive effects of meatless nutrition
Recently, scientists published the results of a study that once again demonstrated the benefits of meatless nutrition. The physicians reported in the journal "The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association" that vegetarians live almost four years longer than meat eaters. Pure vegan diet is often controversial among experts. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) has recently published a position on the vegan diet based on current scientific literature. The experts report that in a purely plant-based diet "an adequate supply of some nutrients is not or only with difficulty possible". "The most critical nutrient is Vitamin B12."

Reduce health risks
Nutrition and health professionals have long been advised to inquire about which foods contain the most nutrients and how vegans can prevent a vitamin B-12 deficiency. And there are plenty of reasons for a meat-free diet. Several scientific studies have come to the conclusion that this may reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. And: Vegetarians are less likely to get colon cancer. (Ad)