How New Consumer Trends are Changing the Plant-Based Market

The online ordering trend has also intensified social distancing practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as more customers seek to stop shopping or dining in restaurants in person.

Fremont, CA: As part of a plant-based diet, many consumers are limiting their intake of meat and animal products. Not only are these consumers motivated by the urge to better their health, but they are also skeptical of the industrial food system, worried about the treatment of animals, and worried about the danger of climate change.

Not only are vegans and vegetarians interested in the plant-based movement, but also "flexitarians" who are looking to follow more plant-centric meals but cannot entirely cut out meat or animal products. Not surprisingly, a much more significant portion of the population comprises not-so-strict flexitarian and omnivores than vegans and vegetarians, making them the leading target group for food and beverage firms.

However, as a consumer demographic, vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians tend to share some commonalities such as:

• Younger customers who enjoy fresh, organic foods, including adults of Generation Z and Millennials, are open to trying new items.

See Also: Top Food Tech Startups

• Young children's parents who care about having nutritious home-cooked meals and spending quality time as a family together.

• Higher-income, with the capacity to offer more premium foods and the desire to pay more for more significant quality items, such as sustainable and clean foods.

Also, online grocery shopping and online restaurant ordering are more likely to be valued by vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. Since these customers appear to represent younger people, they are already used to making transactions using apps or websites.

The online ordering trend has also intensified social distancing practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as more customers seek to stop shopping or dining in restaurants in person.