Sales for vegan products have fallen into decline in the last year as meat makes its way back on the menu, according to the latest data.
Sales of meat alternatives are down 13.6% over the past year, with demand for UK vegan plant-based substitutes stalling as consumers turn back instead to meat
Plant-based vegan brand Beyond Meat revealed last week its revenues had plummeted by 9%, leading it to cut a fifth of its workforce.
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It comes as grocery giants such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have slashed their vegan ranges by 10%, as reported in the Grocer.
Sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger has likewise cut 75% of its vegetarian-only stores last year December.
In contrast, new recipe trends like ‘smashed burgers‘ have driven a boom in the UK’s meat consumption.
Consisting of patties flattened on the grill, the ‘beef boom’ is being charged by restaurants such as Supernova, Bleecker Burger, Black Bear Burger and Beefy Boys who have embraced the trend, and seen their establishments develop a loyal fanbase.
It has also seen the figures of the average Briton’s consumption of meat soar to 61.7kg in 2022, from 55.8kg in 2012, Statista data published in August revealed.
“What we’re seeing at the moment is a rise in the cult burger brands. It’s great to see more burger restaurants with strong ethos around sustainable, responsibly sourced meat,” said Annual meat festival Meatopia organiser, Molly Hutchinson to the Telegraph.
