Consumer Focus: The rise of plant-based food products and implications for meat and dairy

The media has recently paid a significant amount of attention to the plant-based food trend, with initiatives such as Veganuary and Meat Free Monday receiving more pick-up than ever before. Manufacturers and retailers have both responded to this trend by launching new vegan-friendly plant-based product lines, as has the food service sector. Yet only a tiny minority of the population are actually vegan, with meat and dairy remaining cornerstones of the British diet. But what factors are driving all this media attention and how does this play out in the marketplace?