Plant-Based QSRs Boosting Consumer Trial

A growing number of plant-based burger chains are cropping up across the country as more younger consumers flock to quick service restaurants

Millennials, Gen Z Key to Plant-Based Advancement

Despite industry-wide challenges, both dairy and meat plant-based alternatives are forecast to grow through 2024, driven almost entirely by Millennials and Gen Zers. According to a recent report by The NPD Group, these plant-based consumers …

Breaking Down Plant-Based Egg Advancements

The projected size of the plant-based egg market continues to rise. Here are a few noteworthy advancements across this emerging segment.

COLUMN: Why the Climatarian Movement is Gaining Momentum

A relatively new sustainability model should be taken into consideration by most food businesses these days, according to one industry analyst.

Analysis: Weighing Nutritional Value in Plant-Based Products

Although the nutritional merits of plant-based food have faced mounting scrutiny by consumers in recent months, discrepancies by variety suggest that not all alternative products are created equal.

Coffee Shops Embracing Plant-based Options

CHICAGO – Oat milk and other plant-based milks were in abundance at Coffee Fest Chicago recently. Today’s coffee shop consumers want plant-based options to address their concerns about health, animal welfare, and the environment. While …

Unpacking the World’s First Plant-Based ETF

In December 2021, the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate Exchange-traded Fund (NYSE ticker: EATV) made history as the world’s first plant-based ETF. VegTech Invest CEO Elysabeth Alfano recently joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss …

Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights What’s Next in Plant-Based

Plant-based was a unifying theme at the Specialty Food Association’s 2022 Summer Fancy Food show last week, with companies showcasing unique innovations across multiple food and beverage categories. With that, the plant-based specialty retail market …

Sunny Side Definitely Up for Plant-Based Egg Market

In a quiet evolution from shelf stable baking substitutes to refrigerated scrambles and beyond, plant-based eggs are on the rise. Consumer awareness of plant-based egg products has been increasing, but it is still a small …

Expert: Nutrition Should Be Focus for Plant-Based

When it comes to perceived health benefits, plant-based alternatives are at a pivotal juncture. On a recent Food Institute Podcast, Kerry Nutrition Scientist Nathan Pratt, PhD, RD, unpacked the challenges — and responsibilities — food …

Food and Beverage Manufacturers Going Green with Spirulina

In 1974, the United Nations hailed the blue-green microalgae spirulina as possibly the “best food for the future.” Nearly half a century later, food and beverage manufacturers appear to be catching on. The spirulina market …

Q&A: Plant-Based Menu Innovations Gen Z Students Love

Colleges and universities are on the frontline of plant-based foodservice innovation as they cater to the Gen Z students who will help shape the future of menus. For additional insights, The Food Institute spoke with …

Bloomberg Boosts 10-Year Plant-Based Market Forecast to $166 Billion

The global plant-based alternatives market could swell to $166 billion in the next decade, according to an updated forecast by Bloomberg Intelligence. Bloomberg’s May 2022 projections incorporated 2021 results into the Plant-Based Foods Poised for …

Report: 40% of Consumers Buying Plant-Based Foods

Nearly half of consumers are buying plant-based products in 2022. A new report from Acosta found that 40 percent of consumers surveyed in March purchased plant-based protein and/or dairy alternatives within the last six months, …

Plant-Based Milk Sales Soared During Pandemic, Continue to Rise

The pandemic era has seen a significant rise in the sales of plant-based milks and cheeses, experts said, attributing the upward trend to consumers developing more healthful habits after having eaten indulgently at the beginning …

Demand Growing for Clean Label Meat Alternatives

As a broader variety of plant-based protein alternatives enter the market, health-conscious flexitarians are turning a more critical eye towards ingredients and production methods. In 2021, consumer interest in clean label grew by 86% within …

Plant-Based Snacks Enjoying Steady Growth

As consumers continue to blur the line between snacks and meals, the plant-based category is playing an active role in the space between. Seventy-eight percent of global consumers say their definition of snacks has evolved …

Is Beyond Meat Beyond Repair?

Investors appear to have soured on Beyond Meat, sending its stock price from a $160.28 to as low as $35.74 in the last year, as competition in the alternative-meat sector has increased and the company’s …

Analysis: Is There Too Much Plant-Based Competition?

Seemingly any product you can think of has a plant-based alternative these days. When The Food Institute attended this years’ Natural Products Expo West, we found a plethora of plant-based brands with items like alt-chicken …

Can Plant-Based Innovation Boost Store Brand Sales?

On the heels of a stagnant sales year for store brands, Amazon and Kroger are bulking up their private label portfolios with plant-based products. Is category innovation on the horizon? The Food Institute Podcast · …

Is Plant-Based Meat at a Retail Crossroads?

Alternative meat sales continue to plateau at retail following strong performance in recent years. Has plant-based meat reached its peak, or is this just a lengthy chapter in the emerging category’s evolutionary process? According to …

CPG Companies Eye Plant-Based Market with Different Goals

More major CPG companies are playing in plant-based, flagging the alt-protein category as a potential catalyst for growth. But industrywide, the depth of that value is not easily measured in broad strokes. “When you factor …

Analysis: What are the Benefits of Precision Fermentation?

The process used to create precision fermentation is akin to alchemists transforming basic metals into gold. In this case, however, scientists are transforming sugar and fungus into hamburgers. According to RethinkX, a think tank that …

Growth Prospects Strong for Plant-Based Cheese

Cheese is pegged as the next growth category for plant-based dairy at retail, as quality innovations flourish and big players start to make inroads. Globally, the vegan cheese market is expected to expand at a …

Is Plant-Based Bacon Poised for a Breakout?

Replicating bacon has been no small task for alternative protein producers, but new innovations in flavor and texture are bringing plant-based options ever closer to home. “Plant-based bacon is going to have its moment in …

Column: Attendees Welcomed Fancy Food Show’s In-Person Element

LAS VEGAS – With excitement – and a bit of COVID-related anxiety – thousands attended the Winter Fancy Food Show February 6-8. It was the first in-person Fancy Food Show in two years, and the …

Experts: Plant-Based Segment Poised for Significant Growth

While it’s still in its growth stage, the plant-based food category has, undeniably, taken root. Consider: according to a report by Bloomberg Intelligence, global retail sales of plant-based food alternatives may reach $162 billion by …

New, Traditional Companies Pushing Innovation in Plant-Based

Omnivores dabbling in plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products are expected to propel these substitutes into a $162 billion global industry within the decade. With that much money at stake, major food companies, including …

Plant-Based Chocolate Emerging as Consumer Sweet Spot

Consumers’ perception of chocolate as a functional indulgence has made it a growing target for plant-based exploration. The global vegan chocolate confectionery market is expected to reach $1.41 billion by 2028, registering a compound annual …

Assessing the Plant-Based Landscape for 2022

Pandemic challenges in 2021 impacted the plant-based industry in divergent ways, as more consumers experimented at home and operators across restaurants and retail prioritized inventory over innovation. “At retail, we are seeing the biggest [plant-based] …

Analysts Expect Plant-Based Food Trend to Continue

As plant-based food continues to make inroads, industry observers expect the category to become a larger part of our diet in the years to come. That was a key theme during The Food Institute’s recent …

New Face of Plant-Based Movement Sees Promising Future for Industry

The level of excitement was palpable at the Plant-Based World Conference & Expo on December 9 in New York City. The official tradeshow of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) included over 200 exhibitors showcasing …

New Study Cites Higher Salt Content in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

A new study begs the question: are plant-based products like alt-meat any healthier than the real thing? A study published recently in the journal Nutrients found some three-quarters of plant-based products analyzed failed to meet …