Last year presented many challenges that most people hadn’t experienced in a lifetime! The sudden shift from spending a lot of time in office/working environments to spending a lot more time at home has changed the way we think about, eat and prepare food.
Recent statistics show that the global pandemic and exposure to environmental damage has led to a surge of interest in vegan diets.
According to the vegan society, one in three people now commit to plant-based eating in the UK. Another report recently conducted by Mintel demonstrated 1 in 10 of the total population see the attraction of a plant-based diet. 25% of those are millennials. The same report showed that over half of UK residents believe in the health benefits of plant-based eating and have increased their intake of fruit and vegetables since the outbreak by 23%. This suggests our thinking process has altered in-line with COVID-19, where many of us have become committed to eating fresh produce to keep our immune system healthy during this challenging time.
Naturally, this shift has changed our buying habits. Plant-based food often keeps longer and may require fewer trips to the shops - and as a result, vegan meals work well in lockdown situations. As many restaurants are still closed, many people are opting for meals which are quick to make, convenient to keep and easy to enjoy. Supermarkets have expanded their range of vegan-based products to keep up with current demand. According to the Food Manufacture Journal, many investors are now seizing the opportunity to invest in vegan-based products as consumers demand more ethical, sustainable products, sold at an affordable price. It has even impacted our takeaway habits. Deliveroo have recently reported a 113% increase in vegan takeaways!
The rise of social media platforms like Tik-Tok have also paved the way for many Vegans to connect with millions of like-minded individuals and share their vegan experience from their very own kitchen. People now share their cooking creations in real-time on a regular basis. This may have contributed to the rise in interest when it comes to veganism, with many people looking for inspiration when cooking at home from influencers or online recipes. It seems last year has set the precedent for many people opting for vegan meals as part of their everyday life, having been directly influenced by digital communications.
Current trends are making an interesting prediction about the types of products which will be available for the vegan palette. A transition into fish-free seafood is currently being tried and tested with Nestle recently introducing plant-based Tuna in Switzerland. There is also a call for more healthy, processed based meat alternatives. As we become ever more sophisticated in our plant-based innovations, we will start to see more interesting imitations of current meat/diary-based products. From various types of cheeses to vegan wines and vegan based omelettes, there is lots to look forward to on the market in 2021!
What does this mean for restaurants? There are many restaurants which now include vegan dishes as part of their standard menu. When restaurants start to open they will have to think about new, inventive dishes to meet consumer demand.
What does this mean for One Moorgate Place? We are committed to fulfilling the Searcy’s pledge of ensuring sustainability when it comes to cooking and preparation. Once open, we guarantee a range of authentic and delicious meals, catering for a range of dietary requirements - including vegan.
