According to data from SPINS, the Plant-based Foods Association, and Good Foods Institute, plant-based food sales grew in 2021 by more than 6% over 2020 to $7.4 billion. That probably doesn’t surprise you. What you may find surprising is that the growth rate is three times greater than any other food in the grocery store at 1.8%.
According to Fooddive.com, Plant-based unit sales increased by 3.8% in 2021, while total food unit sales dropped 3.4%.
The article indicated that “plant-based dairy once again saw impressive growth across the board, with dollar sales of $2.6 billion in 2021. While its 4% growth in 2021 is much lower than the 20% increase in dollar sales tallied a year earlier, it’s big for the sector.”
Plant-based eggs saw the most significant growth, with sales up 42%. Household penetration of the category is slight — just 1.4% — but unit sales have increased 14-fold in a year, from 600,000 in 2020 to more than 8 million in 2021.
The plant-based meat category got a lot more crowded in 2021. New plant-based chicken products from various manufacturers hit store shelves and restaurant menus nationwide. And new plant-based meat offerings, ranging from private label to smaller brands, also came to stores.
Plant-based foods are more than just a trend. Manufacturers answer consumer demand by focusing on new product development incorporating these sought-after ingredients. Skidmore Sales works with the top ingredient manufacturers and offers a wide array of plant-based ingredients ideal for your next innovation. Our technical sales team is eager to help! We are happy to assist in identifying the ingredients you need to stay competitive in the plant-based categories. Contact us to get started!
