Dairy alternatives top UK’s favourite vegan food and drink list

Dairy alternatives are favourite type of plant-based alternative products for more than half of the Britons (54 per cent), says new research conducted by Product of the Year- Britain’s biggest survey of product innovation.

Conducted online in August 2021, UK consumers were asked which type of plant-based alternative products they liked best.

Plant-based sausages came in second place with nearly a third of the votes (31 per cent) while other products such as burgers, tofu and seitan all ranked low on the popularity scale.

Plant-based diets are on the rise amid shows like Netflix’s Cowspiracy and Seaspiracy inspiring people to consider where their food comes from and the impact their choices have on the environment and animal welfare.

In January of this year, according to The Guardian, a record 500,000 people, of whom 125,000 are based in the UK, took the Veganuary pledge to eat only vegan food. Many are also adapting their diets in smaller but impactful ways with flexitarianism gaining popularity, while others are cutting down but not cutting out animal products entirely.

Products by brands like Alpro, Oatly, Might Milk and Koko, have stormed the market over recent years with alternative diets on the rise and attitudes towards eating habits changing on a wider level.

Brands around the world have responded with more product launches than ever before with players dominating the plant-based food and beverage market including Amy’s Kitchen, Birds Eye Green Cuisine, Richmond Meat-Free, Naked Glory, THIS, Quorn, Beyond Meat, Meatless Farm and Moving Mountains.

“Consumers are rethinking how they eat and where their food comes from, and the rise of alternative diets is evident. Over recent years, we’ve noticed an increase in plant-based products winning awards at Product of the Year and an overall increase in demand from consumers with dairy alternatives high up there.” says Helga Slater, MD, Product of the Year.

“We’re excited to see which plant-based products have made the biggest impact this time round as we anticipate the results of the 2022 awards,” she said.

Now in its 18th year, Product of the Year winners are chosen by more than 10,000 UK consumers (conducted in partnership with Kantar) making it the nation’s biggest annual survey of product innovation. The winners will be announced in January 2022.