However, one area of vegan food which is particularly popular in the UK is pizza. Yes, the beloved pizza has now made its way over to the green side and we are seeing some cool restaurants putting together creative meals.
Just how big is the vegan market?
- The proportion of meat eaters who have reduced their meat consumption has risen from 28% in 2018 to 39% in 2019 (Mintel)
- Sales of vegan foods have increased 40% from £582m in 2014 to £816m in 2019 (Mintel)
- Barclays estimate that the market for alternative meat could grow by 1,000% over the next 10 years; reaching $140 billion by 2029.
Getting Crazy with Pedro
Crazy Pedro's, the pizza parlour with 3 restaurants, 2 in Manchester and 1 in Liverpool are known for their vibrant atmosphere and jaw dropping pizzas.
Last September, they released a 'go back-to-school' pizza loaded with vegan chicken nuggets, potato waffles, baked beans, vegan cheese and tomato sauce. Following from the success, they recently announced their newest vegan invention and it sounds (and looks!!) delicious.
The 'Whopper Way To Make A Living' is a burger pizza made with:
- Beyond Meat
- Vegan cheese
- Onions
- Lettuce and pickles
- Kimbonnaise sauce (a Crazy Pedro original)
This pizza caters not only for vegans but flexitarians too, according to Mintel, the proportion of meat eaters who have reduced their meat consumption has risen from 28% in 2018 to 39% in 2019.
High in demand for Purezza
Purezza is the UK's first ever plant-based pizzeria, established in 2015 it can be found in Camden and Brighton.
The passionate 'plant pioneers' (as they call themselves), have an awesome menu with 7 funky pizzas to choose from. Their most recent creation 'The One With The Nduja' is made with a yellow tomato base, mozzarella (which took 2 years to develop!), green chillies, roasted aubergines, baby sweetcorn and red peppers, topped with spicy siracha sauce and chilli flakes.
The pizzeria in Camden is such a hit that they had to find a bigger restaurant to cater demand. They reopened in a space three times the size of their previous unit and is now believed to be the biggest plant-based restaurant in the UK! This should help Purezza get a higher footfall through the door and therefore, more sales. Good thing too, as recent analysts show an increase in sales the past year. According to Mintel, sales of vegan foods have increased 40% from £582m in 2014 to £816m in 2019. The market for vegan food is gigantic, one not to sleep on that's for sure.
A Greene Pizza and a pint
The demand for plant-based pizza isn't just limited to the fast-casual sector. Demand is across all spectrums, including the pub industry. For Veganuary, Greene King launched their Vegan Vegetable Pizza, consisting of vegan 'cheeze', roasted peppers, red onions, jalapeños and rocket.
Their vegan sales in general were up 265%year-on-year at the close of the last financial year and have increased their vegan offerings across some of their brands - Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, and Farmhouse Inns.
The Vegan Vegetable Pizza is scheduled to launch in more than 250 Hungry Horse pubs this February, with more plant-based dishes available, increased sales are expected to follow.
Chief commercial officer Phil Thomas said, "There's certainly the demand for vegan food and as we further expand our menu to include new, exciting and innovative dishes, it would be safe to expect further category growth throughout Veganuary and beyond".
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If you are interested in the vegan market check out our 14 Vegan Facts for Restaurant Operators which delves deeper into the veganism and even includes the evolution of the meat free market.
What are your thoughts?
Do you offer vegan pizza at your restaurant? If so, what was the feedback like? Have you ever tried vegan pizza? Would it be something you'd be interested in selling given the increase in vegan eating? Let us know, we'd love to know your thoughts.
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