Packaged Facts: Clean Labels and Ethically Sourced Foods are Mattering More to Meat Eaters

Even with the growing availability of meat alternatives, many Americans are reducing rather completely eliminating their consumption of animal proteins, with the added caveat that they are doing so while seeking out meat raised in more ethical manners with cleaner labels, reports Packaged Facts in the market research study Vegan, Vegetarian, and Flexitarian Consumers.

Packaged Facts' survey data published in the report reveal that among all U.S. consumers, twice as many (49%) consider clean label options important when grocery shopping compared to...

3 Plant-Based Consumer Insights for Veganuary from Packaged Facts 

Plant-based eating and sustainability are some of the top food trends affecting consumer preferences and food product launches in recent years, causing more general consumers to think about these issues, not just those following veganism or vegetarianism. We are especially reminded of this during Veganuary, the world’s largest vegan movement.

There was a notable uptick in consumer usage of plant-based foods and beverages in 2020 compared to 2019, as reported by Packaged Facts. The market research publisher reports that...

Identity of Primary Plant-Based Food Consumers May Surprise, Reports Packaged Facts

Despite use of plant-based meat or dairy products being highest among those following vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian diets, it's omnivores and flexitarians who make up the lion's share of consumers who eat these products due to their sheer numbers, reports market research firm Packaged Facts in the report Vegan, Vegetarian, and Flexitarian Consumers. This reveals that both the current and addressable market for plant-based products depends on omnivores and flexitarians using more of these products, especially beyond this month's Veganuary campaign encouraging people to try a plant-based diet.

"Although plant-based meat and dairy alternatives do appeal to some vegans and vegetarians, they are more targeted toward the preferences of omnivores and...

Plant-Based Dairy and Egg Product Sales Reach $4 Billion in 2020

Market research firm Packaged Facts projects retail sales of plant-based dairy and egg products will rise at an average annual rate of 6.0%, reaching $5.2 billion by 2024. This is up from $4.3 billion in estimated sales in 2020, which itself is up from $3.9 billion in sales during 2019.

These findings were published in the brand new Packaged Facts report Dairy & Egg Alternatives: Outlook for Plant-Based & Cell-Cultured Consumer Products.

Despite potential industry disruptors such as the lingering economic impact of...

Millennials and Gen Z are Prime Consumers of Plant-Based Foods

Food and beverage companies nationwide are increasingly investing in plant-based meat alternatives to satiate growing consumer demand for protein not sourced from animals. But who exactly are the primary consumers of such products? According to Packaged Facts, it’s younger American consumers, particularly those who are between the ages of 18 and 44, who are the most likely to eat plant-based meat and who account for the majority of plant-based meat consumers.

Upon closer examination, data published by Packaged Facts reveals that the 18-24 age group comprised of members of...

Packaged Facts: Plant-Based Meat Consumption Moving from Niche to Norm

Nearly one-fourth of U.S. consumers report eating plant-based meat, poultry, or seafood products, revealing that plant-based products are going mainstream and are no longer niche, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.

"Packaged Facts' August 2020 National Online Consumer Survey found that 23% of consumers claim to eat any variety of plant-based meat products," says Jennifer Mapes-Christ, Packaged Facts' food and beverage publisher. "There are opportunities to target this burgeoning minority of consumers, who may be persuaded to use larger volumes of plant-based meat in their diets...

Packaged Facts: Plant-Based Prepared Meals are Ripe with Opportunity 

According to Packaged Facts, marketers of plant-based meat products should focus on convenience when marketing to consumers, as regular consumers of plant-based meat and people who have not really eaten these products are more likely to look for prepared meal options when strapped for time.

"A top reason that consumers cite for buying any type of prepared meals is time savings. Incorporating plant-based meat into prepared foods is the ultimate convenience since consumers can have a complete meal at home or at a workplace with little effort," says Jennifer Mapes-Christ, Packaged Facts' food and beverage publisher.

Some small companies that make plant-based meat are focusing on prepared meals in addition to plant-based meat analogues that have to be cooked by the end user and added to...

Coronavirus Changing Eating Habits of Vegan, Vegetarian, and Flexitarian U.S. Consumers

The majority of U.S. consumers report eating more comfort foods, snacks, and treats because of the coronavirus, reports market research firm Packaged Facts in a new study. Some consumers are eating more healthily and more locally produced foods, while a smaller portion are eating less healthily, less fresh produce, and more processed foods.

"The coronavirus has had an impact on consumer eating habits, with some tending toward less healthy foods, while others are experiencing the opposite and hunkering down with healthier foods," says Jennifer Mapes-Christ, food and beverage publisher for Packaged Facts.

Vegans, who already tend to think they eat a healthy diet, are most likely to report eating...

Coronavirus Revitalizes Shrinking Retail Center Store Products and Frozen Foods

The coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. has revitalized sales in the center of retail stores, home of shelf-stable and frozen foods that have generally been experiencing declining or slow sales growth over a number of years, reports market research firm Packaged Facts in the report U.S. Food Market Outlook 2020: Home Cooking, Grocery Shopping, & Food Trends in the Age of Coronavirus.

Previously, consumer's increasing desire for fresh unprocessed, healthier foods—found in store sections such as produce, meat and poultry, seafood, dairy, and deli and bakery—has been the main driver for the center store decline...

Uber Sees Doubling in UberEats Operations as Ride Hailing Business Stays Low

On August 6, Uber Technologies Incorporated (San Francisco, CA) announced its quarterly earnings results. The company's UberEats unit remains the bright spot for the company, seeing revenue doubled to $1.2 billion as Americans continue to stay at home despite changes in restaurant operation across various states since April. This is in contrast to the ongoing sharp declines in the company's flagship ride-hailing unit as fewer riders and drivers in the US returned to the platform despite improvements in other countries where coronavirus effects are currently more muted...

Food and Beverage E-Commerce Sales Growing Rapidly but Still Small

Even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, online sales of food and beverages in the U.S. have been growing rapidly and totaled about $17 billion in 2018. They are forecast to increase 32% per year through 2023, according to Packaged Facts in the report U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2020: Grocery Shopping & Personal Consumption in the Coronavirus Era.

Yet, while e-commerce sales are growing rapidly, they still represent a very small percentage—about 4%—of total food and beverage sales.

The impact of online sales varies by food category, ranging from less than 1% to 3% of sales. Coffee and tea sell the best, while dairy and juices...

U.S. Foodservice Revenues to Decline 25% from 2019, But are Expected to Rebound by 2024

Although full-service restaurants have slowly been losing share of restaurant spending to less expensive and more convenient fast food and fast casual restaurants, they still made up the largest share of revenues from eating and drinking places in 2019, according to Food Carryout & Delivery, a recently published report market research firm Packaged Facts.

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the nation in 2020, foodservice revenues are forecast to decline more than 25% from 2019 as dine-in service shuts down amid decreased consumer spending on restaurants as people stay at home and cook more even as some states slowly begin reopening. Revenues will...

Packaged Facts: Global Meat Consumption On the Rise

While meat-eaters are increasingly trying plant-based protein options, meat consumption worldwide is expected to increase 1.4% per year through 2023, according to data published in the new Packaged Facts report Global Meat & Poultry Trends.

Meat and poultry consumption in the U.S. is expected to increase less than 1.0% per year through 2023, but greater gains are projected in other parts of the world. Most notably, nations in Africa and the Middle East are forecast to register the fastest increases in meat consumption, as rising living standards and income levels allow more people to incorporate meat into their regular diet.

"In many parts of the world, meat is among the least affordable food options. It is generally pricier than locally available grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit. However, as average incomes rise, more people to eat meat, first as...