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It's time to rethink concession fare. Vegetarian alternatives appeal to
mainstream consumers!
For
recent statistics on consumer demand and health benefits of soy and
vegetarian alternatives, check out these links:
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Below are additional citations (last updated in 2005) on the rise in consumer demand
for plant-based alternatives to meat or dairy products.* Soy is the main
ingredient found in most alternative brands. Other alternative brands
are made from rice, almonds, textured vegetable protein (TVP), and other ingredients. Despite our name, Soy Happy is not limited to promoting
soy-based brands! We promote all viable plant-based alternatives.
* Please note that Soy Happy has highlighted certain sentences
in red type, 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. |
National
Restaurant Association's "2004 Restaurant Industry Forecast"
As part of its forecast for 2004, the National Restaurant Association
identifies interest in health and nutrition among its top 10 trends. "With heightened interest in health
and nutrition, look for a host of new menu items and offerings designed
with these needs in mind," the NRA's report says.
"Several developments will shape the restaurant industry
in 2004. They include: continued expansion, driven by Americans'
need for convenience and socialization, and a healthy increase
in disposable income; new menu items in response to diners'
increasingly sophisticated tastes, and heightened interest in
health and nutrition; greater efforts by lawmakers to regulate
restaurants."
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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.
Read the full article in the Fall/Winter
2003 SH Newsletter
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
- 4% of consumers eat soy products monthly
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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
Vegetarian Journal: A publication of the Vegetarian Resource Group
(VRG). Report Date: October, 2002
This journal included an article about the rise in popularity
of vegetarian alternatives in the US. Link to report: "The
Market for Vegetarian Foods".
Some excerpts:
- Mintel Consumer Intelligence estimates that the 2002 market
for vegetarian foods, those that directly replace meat or other
animal products, to be $1.5 billion. Mintel
forecasts the market to nearly double by 2006 to $2.8 billion.
- The National Restaurant Association, in conjunction with the
National Association of College and University Foodservice, discovered
that as many as
20% of college students consider themselves vegetarian, and that
number is rising (Restaurants USA, January,
1999).
- ...from 1998 to 1999, the percentage of consumers willing to
try soy products jumped from 32% to 67%.
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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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It's
hot in Europe, too!
Health-conscious
Europeans turn to soya-based foods, new study says ( June 2003)
The 150 page research report "Soyfoods: The European market
2003", covers the following countries: Belgium, France, Germany,
Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK.
Source: PROSOY Research & Strategy and Mintel Consumer Intelligence
New research from PROSOY shows that Europeans are increasingly
opting for soya-based alternatives to dairy and meat products. In
2002 the market for soya-based drinks & desserts and meat-free &
tofu products in Europe reached a value of Û1.3 billion, with further double digit growth expected for the
period 2003- 2005. |
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