It is estimated that there are now 79 million vegans worldwide, with 3% of the UK population estimated to be vegan in 2021, and increasing quickly.
In fact, according to Sainsburys, one in five Brits would go vegan under the right circumstances, and as much as a quarter of the population may be vegan by 2025. Flexitarians, who are those actively reducing their meat consumption, make up a fifth of Britons, while vegetarians account for an eighth of the national population.
It's a trend that is here to stay and one that food outlets should do their best to innovate around.
Every January, as people consider New Year's resolutions and health, more and more people are signing up to Veganuary.
Veganuary is an annual challenge run by a UK nonprofit that encourages people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. Since the event began in 2014, participation has increased each year with 400,000 people signed up to the 2020 campaign.
Many of our food franchise clients are meeting this trend head on, with Monterey Jack's offering an extensive alternative meat menu and vegan options. Island Poke has vegan menu items and the option to build your own bowl.
Ben & Jerry's certified vegan Non-Dairy ice cream flavours are chock full of the chunks and swirls consumers love. Heavenly Desserts refreshed their menu in August 2022 with many dedicated and delicious vegan options
Auntie Anne's offer plant based pretzel options, while Cinnzeo has offered it's gluten-free vegan signature cinnamon roll since 2020.
And this trend can also be seen in our grocery shops. In fact the Vegan Society research found that one in three (35%) supermarket shoppers are scaling back on meat products or cutting it out all together to maximise their budget.
Veganuary may only be for the month of January, but vegan food trends are here to stay, and the most innnovative food franchisors know it.