So is it still true? You can’t win friends with salad?
For those who don’t know…
Vegan defined –
noun – a person who does not eat or use animal products.
adjective – using or containing no animal products.
Stats
Vegans and vegetarians – a small group of people? With the classic Aussie BBQ culture we can understand how you would think so but let’s take a look at the stats.
- Google trends also stated Australian’s in 2016 google search the word “vegan” more than anywhere else worldwide.
- The number of Australians alone who eat “all or mostly vegetarian” has risen to 1.7 million to 2.1 million in just four years.
- Australia has been projected to continue as the fastest-growing vegan market in the world at 9.6% growth and by the end of this year, Australia’s packaged vegan food market is set to reach $215 million.
Supplier’s innovation
So, no meat, no dairy… if we stop there how much of your diet has been eliminated? Don’t be scared suppliers have caught onto the demand and jumped on the bandwagon. Thanks to their innovation vegans and vegetarians can still indulge without the guilt.
Brands have been expanding their product lines and started to stay away from animal ingredients where possible. This demographic is here to stay and not catering to this sector could be detrimental in the long run.
Why the change?
- “Where does my food come from?” seems to be the question the younger generations have been asking more frequently.
- Increased awareness of health benefits and influence from media and celebrities.
- It tastes amazing! The belief of vegetables being unappetising has been changed as chefs have been focusing on the taste and quality of plant-based products. Bye-bye stereotypes.
Cafes and Restaurants
Hale and Hearty
A small family operation in the heart of Waterloo Sydney. They opened their doors in 2015 with the intentions to provide a diverse menu that catered to a community who needed gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. During COVID-19 these guys went completely “PLANT-BASED”.
Soul Burger
Sydney’s first entirely plant-based burger joint. They’re committed to changing the world one burg’, milkshake and chip at a time. These guys know by serving plant-based foods they’re not only low in calories and better for the environment.
Nutie Donuts
Nutie is all about creating food and treats everyone can eat, love and enjoy together. They’re putting the fun back into your dietary requirements and they quickly captured the hearts of customers with or without allergies alike.
Lord of the Fries
Picture a fry NOT drowned in beef tallow and juiced up with gluten; NOT cooked in the cheapest oil money can buy; NOT smothered in watered down tomato sauce and sitting in a bain-marie since the beginning of time – introducing Lord of the Fries. Their menu has also expanded since they first opened. Now it includes veggie burgers, onion rings, vegetarian nuggets and vegetarian hot dogs.
Now what?
So you’ve got the goods and you’re ready to make some changes but where do you start? We knew you would say that.
So we have spoken to the leading innovators at vEEF by Fenn Foods, Fable Foods and Simplot to ask for their suggestions.
Are you game?
