Source:Lisa M.Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 5/12/17



Plant-based alternatives to dairy products are gaining steam, although plant-based meat analog seems to have hit a snag, according to a recent report by The NPD Group.

According to The NPD Group, the market for plant-based alternatives is evolving as consumers leverage these items because of food allergies or because they’re seeking what they believe to be more healthful options, the research company said in a news release.

For example, despite appearances, the percentage of U.S. consumers who follow a vegan, vegetarian or so-called flexitarian diet remains small: About 27 million U.S. consumers overall, in aggregate, or about 7.3 percent of the total population.
The number of times that U.S. consumers opt for a plant-based dairy alternative amounts to 21 “eatings” per capita, per year. The number of occasions when they’ve opted for a plant-based meat alternative is three “eatings” per capita per year, down from five in 2013.

Consumption of plant-based alternatives still pales in comparison to dairy and meat consumption. The average person consumes center-of-plate meat — of the animal-based variety — 73 times a year, and animal-derived dairy, 117 times a year.

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