By reducing the plant-based offer to vegetarian and vegan consumers, you risk missing a real groundswell. The demand for plant proteins (and meat substitutes) is exploding! The JP Morgan bank estimates the market for plant proteins to be worth more than 100 billion euros by 2029.
Why are plant-based offers multiplying?
A more responsible consumption
If meat consumption is far from being banished, it is evolving towards a more occasional pleasure and the desire to better choose what is on the plate.
The reasons are varied:
- ecological considerations,
- defense of animal welfare,
- choice of a better quality labelled meat,
- involvement in short circuits,
- or fairer remuneration for producers.
Offering vegetable substitutes to replace meat in mass-market products such as burgers, bagels and sandwiches is therefore far from being a niche approach and we can already expect a sustainable evolution of demand in this direction.
Opting for a dish without animal proteins from time to time does not necessarily mean giving up meat. The mistake would be to systematically associate vegan offers with a purely vegetarian or vegan profile, at the risk of missing out on a deep-seated consumer demand: to eat better, with conscience, while varying the pleasures.
Specific diets
To help you see things more clearly, here are the most common plans in France.
Flexitarian diet
In concrete terms, flexitarians do not forbid themselves anything but reduce their meat consumption. They prefer better quality meat and are attached to this pleasure.
Did you know that 39% of French people declare themselves flexitarians?
Vegetarian diet
This diet excludes only the consumption of living things (livestock, fish, seafood, animal gelatin, etc.). Vegetarians, on the other hand, eat animal products such as cheese, eggs and milk.
Vegan diet
Unlike vegetarians, vegans eat only plant proteins, vegetables, nuts and fruits. They do not consume anything that comes from animal exploitation.
Vegan diet
Vegans follow the same diet as vegans. The only difference is their lifestyle: they do not consume any products (other than food) that come from animal exploitation. No leather jackets, etc.
Gluten-free diet
The gluten-free diet is based on food intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and certain grains such as spelt. For these people, the diet is strict at the risk of suffering severe symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, bloating, low iron levels in the blood, etc.).
5 examples of franchises and fast food restaurants that have adapted their offerings
Several approaches are possible:
- A vegetarian or vegan offer that does not try to "reproduce" meat (taste or texture), but rather works on the flavors of plant products.
- An offer that aims to provide a gourmet substitute for meat (chicken, beef) by seeking to reproduce the experience of chewiness, appearance and even taste. This is the case, for example, of the famous Beyond Meat vegetable steaks.
And finally, let's not forget that plant-based substitutes are not just for meat, but also for cow's milk products.
Demonstrate in pictures below! 👇
1. Chamas Tacos vegetarian tacos
Available since March 2022, Le Veggie has everything to satisfy even the most demanding gourmets: white sauce, mozzarella, vegetable patties, fries and its famous cheese sauce!
Before being offered in the franchise network, this recipe was first tested by a consumer panel by Chamas Tacos. Result: 70% found it good or excellent and 60% were interested in ordering it when it was released! A successful bet!
2. A 100% veggie bagel at Bagel Corner
A bagel with bacon... vegetable? Bagel Corner (our customers are talented ❤️) has made a success of its Incroyable Bagel.
Bagel Corner's veggie bacon is made in France and made from non-GMO European soybeans. In collaboration with the startup Grand Gousier, Bagel Corner"is the first company in the world to have succeeded in reproducing a vegetable fat with the same characteristics as animal fat".
3. Burger King's meatless Whopper
Its name? The Rebel Whopper.
Burger King never stops innovating and this time has designed a Whopper with a veggie steak made by The Vegetarian Butcher.
What's the bottom line? A nice buzz... and an equally nice A at the Nutriscore!
4. KFC's Colonel Original Veggie
The French subsidiary of the famous fried chicken chain has launched its very first vegetarian burger! Offered in a limited edition from August 24 to October 11, 2022, the Colonel Original Veggie is topped with a mushroom-based breading in a packaging made of... herbs!
Its promise: to make KFC's offerings accessible to everyone, both for customers who want to reduce their meat consumption and for vegetarians. Only time will tell if this burger becomes a permanent fixture on KFC's menu.
5. Plant-based beverages at no extra charge for Starbucks
As of April 2022, Starbucks France no longer charges for supplements made from soy, coconut, almond or oat milk.
While Starbucks was already offering a vegan option to its customers, only the cow's milk supplement was offered. An important step forward for vegans, environmentalists and people suffering from lactose intolerance!
How can you incorporate plant-based offerings into your menu?
Be creative
The above-mentioned offers reflect only a part of the exploding vegetal offer, and this within the smallest brands as well as the biggest names in Food Service.
Will we still be able to do without such menu options tomorrow? Nothing is less certain...
The best way to create a vegetarian menu worthy of the name: create a surprise on the plate!
Grilled portobello steak (it's a mushroom!), fried tofu steak, melt-in-your-mouth potato pancakes, falafel, etc. There's no shortage of alternatives and your customers will be asking for more!
On the beverage side, more and more brands are offering labeled products to help consumers find their way around. The best known is V-Label, whose website lists hundreds of products. A true international reference for vegetarians and vegans, it will greatly facilitate your work.
It's up to you!
Integrate your new menus in a few clicks with Innovorder
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With Innovorder it's easy!
Our connected ecosystem specially designed for fast food(ordering kiosks, online ordering, certified cashier) allows you to update all your menus easily from the back-office.
Testing innovative dishes or proposing limited editions becomes a breeze!
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