The Plant Based Foods Association has released new data showing robust sales in the plant-based foods industry with dollar sales growth of 20 percent over the last year and sales topping $3.3 billion in revenue. Sales of plant-based meats grew 24 percent, compared to 6 percent the previous year, topping $670 million in sales.
“Plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are not just for vegetarians or vegans anymore. Now even mainstream consumers are enjoying these innovative options in the market today,” Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Association, said in a press release.
The Plant Based Foods Association commissioned the custom dataset from Nielsen. Nielsen compiled the data on specific categories over a 52-week period ending in June 16, 2018.. This is the second year that the Plant Based Foods Association, which represents 114 companies like Beyond Meat and Blue Diamond Growers, commissioned the report.
The data shows that “other” plant-based dairy alternatives, which excludes milks, are experience strong growth, up 50 percent. Other plant-based dairy alternatives include plant-based cheeses, creamers, butter, yogurts, and ice cream.
- The plant-based milk category is up 9 percent
- Cow’s milk dollar sales are down 6 percent
- Plant-based milk comprises 13 percent of total milk sales
- Plant-based creamers increased 131 percent
- Plant-based cheeses are growing at 43 percent
- Plant-based yogurts are growing 55 percent
The Nielsen data represents plant-based food that directly replace animal products, including meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy, as well as meals that contain direct replacements for these animal products. Within each category, both branded products and private labeled items were included.
The Nielsen data scans all outlets, which include grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, dollar stores, and military stores, plus Whole Foods.
