Surprising prediction: by 2050, there will be one hundred million vegetarians in Europe

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 10. 19. 15:56

More and more companies are recognizing the change in consumer needs worldwide. Regarding dietary habits, drastic changes have occurred in recent years, which have not only reshaped the market, but also keep it moving, because food industry companies and distributors must keep up if they want to stay competitive. The fastest change is expected in the market for lactose-free, vegan, vegetarian and sugar-free products.

There are currently 375 million people on earth who follow a vegetarian diet in some form, and this number is currently 38 million in Europe alone. However, according to the prognosis of the Italian research institute, Eurispes, by 2050 there will be one hundred million people following a vegetarian diet on our continent. This includes vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians – i.e. those who treat vegetarianism flexibly – and those who follow other habits related to a vegetarian diet.

“Until a few years ago, if someone discovered some kind of food intolerance or diabetes, or perhaps consciously wanted to replace meat- or milk-based foods with plant-based alternatives, there were only a few products available in the stores that you could include in your diet. In addition, the small selection also meant that the person had to make serious compromises in terms of taste, texture or preparation, since the manufacturers were mostly not yet prepared for the new demands and for offering uncompromising products to these consumers as well.”

– began István Monori, the category manager of König-Units Kft., which has been distributing Hulala plant foam sheets for more than twenty years.