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It is important to recognize that plant-based menu options appeal to a wide range of consumers. You've likely heard of the dietary category called"flexitarians"? More and more people are choosing vegetarian and vegan options.They appeal to almost everyone. They taste good, they're good for us, and by golly, we like 'em!
Some polls and information on consumer demand for vegetarian options may be found on the following websites:
- Check our Facebook page or our blog for mentions of relevant media stories and recent polls
- Select from a number of polls/reports conducted by the Vegetarian Resource Group.
- Go to the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA): Soyfood
Sales and Trends
- Daily headlines and payable reports on natural food markets are also available through SPINS
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We last updated the citations below in 2005. Please check our Facebook page and blog for more recent references.
Note that Veggie Happy has highlighted certain sentences below
in red, for emphasis.
 One
Out of Every Four College Students Wants Vegan Meals; Campuses Across
Country Offer 'Vegan' menus
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2005--ARAMARK nationwide
research has revealed that, out of more than 100,000 college students
surveyed, nearly a quarter said finding vegan meals on campus --
which contain no meat, fish, poultry or other products derived from
animals such as dairy, eggs or honey -- was important to them. |
More
Americans Consume Soy in their Daily Diet.
Ease and Taste of Current Soyfoods Considered Major Factors
According to A Recent Supermarket Guru Survey
WASHINGTON, DC - October 10, 2003 /PRNewswire/ -- Soyfoods are
further emerging into the mainstream as more health-conscious consumers
search for foods with nutritional benefits that are convenient and
taste great. As evident by a recent, self-selected survey conducted
by Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, an expert analyst on consumer
behavior and food trends and editor and contributor to NBC's Today
Show, 68 percent
of respondents consume soyfoods as a regular part of their diet. The survey, that Lempert states "shows how important healthy
eating has become to the U.S. consumer," was conducted through
Lempert's Web site, SupermarketGuru.com.
ALSO FROM SUPERMARKET GURU AND CONSUMER ANALYST,
PHIL LEMBERT:
Is Soy Mainstream
at Last? June 14, 2003
Known for its health benefits, soy has been popping up as an ingredient
in more and more products on the supermarket shelves lately. In
an exclusive SupermarketGuru.com Quick Poll, we discovered that more than two-thirds of our users have made
soy a regular part of their diets, with more than eight
out of ten people buying their soy products in the local supermarket
- a sure sign that it is becoming a diet staple.
A Fall 2003 consumer
survey conducted by Phil Lembert:
37% consumers eat soy products weekly
27% of consumers eat soy products once a day
15% of consumers eat soy products twice a day
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Consumers Fight Obesity with Healthy
Alternatives
New Issue of GMA/IRI Times & Trends Examines Growth Of 'Better-for-you' Products - Washington, D.C., August 12,
2003. Excerpt:
Products geared toward healthful eating including
lower-fat, no-fat and reduced sodium meals, snacks and drinks
experienced significant growth over the past few years,”
said Mike Diegel, director, communications for the Grocery Manufacturers
of America. “This is clearly a sign that consumers are more
aware of the importance of nutrition and a balanced diet. The
food industry will continue to address this demand by offering
more of these alternatives.”
The increased public
attention to health and nutrition is evident in the sales of products
containing soy, which has grown an impressive 60.7 percent over
the past five years.
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Mintel
Consumer Intelligence :
Vegetarian Food Market (The)
-
US Report Date: November, 2001
Chicago,
IL, January 2002 -- Are Americans looking for ways to make their
diets healthier? In a new report from Mintel Consumer Intelligence, research shows that the vegetarian food market will continue to
grow for the next five years at a rate of 100% - 125%. This due to the fact that more Americans are moving into
their middle years and become more proactive about their own health
and the health of their families.
While only 2.5% of American consumers are consistent vegetarians, it is estimated
that 25% of consumers replace meat with meat alternatives at least
for some meals. These
"occasional vegetarians" may be making the switch for health purposes
and may never intend to change their diets completely. Nonetheless,
they are a major force in the growing interest in vegetarianism.
According to Mintel's exclusive consumer research, most respondents are meat eaters. Although many of
them have cut back on their red meat intake for health purposes,
and many are actively using meat alternatives, the majority of respondents
show little interest in making a more permanent commitment to meat-free
eating.
It is the occasional
non-meat eaters who are worthy of more attention. They run the gamut from those with a high school education
or less to post-college educated. They are young and old, and can
be found in all regions of the country. What these "semi-vegetarians"
need is the option to access more meat free prepared meals and/or
some sort of educational program to teach them how to prepare other
meat-free alternatives. |
The
following statistics are from 1999. These numbers have only increased!
In
fact, fake meat's current 48 percent growth rate makes it one
of the top ten fastest growing categories in U.S. supermarkets.
So who's buying this stuff? A growing number of shoppers, 80 percent
of whom are not strict vegetarians.—Green Living Consumer
News, November 1999
Over
half of the population (57%) sometimes, often, or always orders
a vegetarian item [when eating out].—Zogby International
Poll, March 1999
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