Meat vs Plant

Meat vs Plant

It was interesting to read this week that fresh meat sales are rising whilst plant-based falls, according to NeilsenIQ. Is this a longer-term shift in eating and buying habits or is this just a blip? Reasons for this might include:

• With inflation in grocery retail levelling, fresh meat may offer a lower cost alternative to plant-based alternatives?

• There is perhaps a growing interest once again in fresh, natural foods and consumers may be preferring to cook with such ingredients from scratch?

• Fresh meat may be perceived as a healthier alternative to processed plant-based foods, which invariably contain additives, preservatives and artificial flavourings (and wheat if you're a coeliac!).

• Some consumers buy locally sourced meat or meat from sustainable farms, as they perceive  the environmental benefits of plant-based alternatives are overstated.

• Media attention has become more critical, with some reports highlighting issues such as the healthiness of some plant-based foods

Is there a real shift in consumer behaviour that will see consumers moving back towards fresh meat, or will plant-based foods see further growth?