Vegan Market Explosion!
Rapid Growth in the Vegan Market
Good news for the animals, the planet, and public health: the vegan market is expanding rapidly. In fact, a recent study found that veganism is up 300%! Almost 10 million Americans now follow a plant-based diet, compared to just under 300,000 15 years ago.
With more demand for plant-based foods, new vegan products are rapidly entering the market and changing the supermarket game!
Mark Garrison, CEO of Pivotal Foods, which makes Plant Perfect vegan salad dressings and mayo, is one of many vegan entrepreneurs bringing new tastes to a thriving market. How about a Vegan Chipotle Ranch Dressing… with a real kick! Garrison’s focus is on reaching the flexitarians, and the veg-curious and proving to them that foods without eggs or cow’s milk taste better! Plant Perfect‘s delectable line of vegan salad dressing and mayo are Exhibit A. They are just so darn delicious!
Jane Velez-Mitchell couldn’t help but polish off her samples of Plant Perfect‘s irresistible products before the interview even got started. Who could blame her? Check out the interview. Mark Garrison has invaluable tips for anyone starting a vegan food line. He explains how he got his line off the ground and into Whole Foods and other major supermarket chains.
The Market is Changing
What do Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, and White Castle have in common? They’re all fast-food restaurants acknowledging that the vegan revolution is here. The past few years have seen a dramatic shift towards fast food franchises offering and promoting vegan options. In fact, Burger King UK’s CEO reported to iNews that their menu could be 50% plant-based by 2031!
Finding a Niche That You Can Fill in the Vegan Space
Garrison recognized a gap in the market: many current vegan products were not shelf-stable, so they require immediate refrigeration. Plant Perfect’s products are shelf-stable, so these salad dressings and mayo can literally sit on a shelf for a year and still be ready to eat. This made the product especially attractive to supermarket buyers.
Look for Unique Selling Point!
Plant Perfect’s products are all palm-oil-free! They are also gluten free, non-GMO, certified Kosher and EDTA-free. EDTA is sometimes used to help preserve food; and to promote the color, texture, and flavor of food. Garrison is proud to have a product with a “clean label.” The ingredients are all things that we can pronounce.
“What’s more perfect than a plant?” Asks Garrison. Touche.
Power of Placement
“Where” an item is located in the grocery store might not seem like much of a deal. But it can mean all the difference for vegan brands.
Beyond Meat’s strategic placement, in the frozen section near animal-based burgers, is a revolutionary tactic. Those who might otherwise never have given a plant-based burger a try are now confronted with the option in the aisle they were shopping at anyway!
Vegan products are taking over grocery stores across the country. It’s only a matter of time before we have a majority vegan society.
