Veganism Goes Mainstream: The Booming Vegan Food Market and Restaurant Trends
Restaurants Shifting Towards Vegan Menus on Mass Scale
Once a niche diet, veganism is no longer a passing fad. More and more restaurants are hopping on the bandwagon, offering vegan menus that cater to a growing number of conscious eaters.
From a Niche Diet to Mainstream Eating
Gone are the days when vegans could only order a salad in a restaurant. Now, not only are vegan-exclusive eateries flourishing, but mainstream establishments are also adapting. They're bridging the gap by incorporating vegan dishes into their menus, ensuring every customer finds something they can savour.
As recent developments indicate, this trend is here to stay.
Vegan options in Restaurants: What Experts Predict
With an increasing number of chefs focusing on vegan cuisine, it's not just about converting vegans anymore. Surveys show that more people are reducing their meat consumption and adopting a flexitarian lifestyle. They primarily eat plant-based but occasionaly consume meat and fish.
Even prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens are embracing the vegan lifestyle. This is evident at the vegan summit in Frankfurt, where renowned chefs showcase their high-quality, flavourful, and vegan dishes, made through methods like fermentation, smoking, and spices. These dishes are not just appealing to vegans but also to flexitarians.
Expansion of the Vegan Food Market
Currently valued at around USD 22.33 billion, the global vegan food market is on the rise, with a projected expansion to USD 55.42 billion by 2034. This growth is anticipated at a robust annual rate of 10.6%.
North America, with a substantial 37% share of the global market, is a significant contributor. The increasing awareness about the environmental impact of food and the rising number of people with lactose intolerance are driving the demand for vegan and alternative dairy products, in turn, boosting the growth of vegan restaurants and vegan-friendly dishes in mainstream outlets.
The Future of Veganism in the Restaurant Industry
Market research predicts a continued rise in the demand for vegan foods, with more affordable and higher-quality options becoming available due to technological advancements and increased competition. By 2035, the plant-based food market is expected to reach USD 44.2 billion, up from its 2025 value of USD 14.2 billion.
This expansion is likely to result in more vegan-friendly menus in conventional restaurants and mainstream food outlets. The future food landscape will be dominated by a variety of plant-based and vegan options, with increased awareness about health, ethical, and environmental issues driving their popularity.
In a nutshell, the vegan restaurant sector and the availability of vegan-friendly dishes in non-vegan establishments are experiencing rapid growth now and are anticipated to continue expanding significantly over the next decade, driven by consumer demand, health and environmental motivations, and innovation in vegan food products worldwide.
[1] Market Reports World - Vegan Food Market Report
[2] Grandview Research - Plant-Based Food Market Report
[3] Forbes – Vegan and Plant-Based Food Market Set to Double in the Next Decade
[4] Food Navigator – Vegan, Plant-Based Sector to See More Mergers and acquisitions in 2023
[5] Vegconomist – Vegan Restaurant Market Brief Overview
- As more consumers adopt health-and-wellness lifestyles, they are increasingly looking for healthy-diets options, driving the demand for vegan dishes in restaurants.
- Science plays a crucial role in the vegan food market's growth, with innovations in fermentation, smoking, and spices creating flavorful vegan dishes that appeal to both vegans and flexitarians.
- The vegan food market is expected to see continuous expansion, with a projected value of USD 44.2 billion by 2035, as a result of consumer preference for plant-based and vegan food and beverages, driven by health, ethical, and environmental concerns.
