Meat-free alternatives - brought to you by the meat companies
From insects to novel algae sources, interest in alternative proteins and meat substitutes is growing.
And, somewhat surprisingly, it’s the meat companies that are leading the way in innovation and new product development for substitutes in Germany, investing in tofu versions of their most popular ranges.
Christian Rauffus, director of German meat giant, Rügenwalder Mühle, said he wanted at least 30% of the company’s sales to come from its vegetarian range by 2019.
According to Mintel analyst, Katya Witham, younger consumers were driving demand in this category. “As well as being more willing to try new foods, younger consumers tend to integrate meat alternatives into their meals more frequently because they have grown up seeing a wider selection of meat substitutes at retail outlets, as opposed to older consumers who may be less familiar with the products,” said Witham.
