LAST UPDATED: 26 Sep 2005

Market Growth
Market analyst, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), currently value the meat free market at £626 million, a 2% rise year on year. According to the TNS Food Panel, the most significant group of vegetarian consumers are women aged 17-34 years old. Mintel estimate that the UK market for meat free foods will reach £780 million by 2009.

Meat Reducers
Leatherhead Food International (LFI) estimates that the number of true vegetarians has remained static for a number of years at around 5% of the population. Despite this, the market for meat free products is growing as a rising number of people reduce their meat consumption. LFI estimate that as much as 45% of the population fall into this meat reducers category.

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Key Market Drivers
According to the TNS Food Family Panel, the main reasons consumers give for NOT eating meat are:

• 44% for moral and animal welfare reasons
• 22% for health reasons
• 9% as a result of food scares

Convenience and Quality
Another key market driver in the meat-free sector is convenience and product quality. With consumers leading increasingly busy lives, the food industry is manufacturing a broader range of frozen and chilled prepared and semi-prepared convenience products. Through technological development and product innovation, the food industry is now manufacturing meat-free products that offer consumers both the taste and texture of meat.

Mintel's latest research indicates that products such as meat free burgers, sausages and vegetarian nut cutlets account for around 53% of the meat free market by value and continue to grow steadily. However, meat free snacks and deli type products now account for 16% of the meat free market and are growing more rapidly in line with wider convenience and on-the-go consumption trends.

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Soya Health
Soya protein is a key ingredient in many meat-free products. The most recent Gallop Realeat Survey confirms that as many as 64% of the population believe that soya has health benefits, particularly in terms of cholesterol reduction and maintaining a healthy heart. In July 2002 the Joint Health Claims Initiative approved the following health claim for soya protein:

“The inclusion of at least 25g of soya protein per day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat, can help reduce blood cholesterol levels”.

Retail Developments
All the major food retailers now give meat free foods a high profile. They offer consumers both own label and branded meat substitute and vegetable-based products, in both frozen and chilled formats. Wholefood and health-food stores also continue to be an important outlet for meat-free foods.

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Widening Consumer Base
With the number of true vegetarians static or slightly declining, the key to further market growth in the meat-free sector will be the meat reducers. To be tempted to buy products, meat eaters are demanding high quality meat-free products which can deliver on both taste and texture.

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