Have you noticed the growing number of people opting out of meat consumption?

The advantages of a meatless or reduced-meat diet are no longer a secret. More people than ever are consciously choosing plant-based foods. Precisely this is what the "World Vegetarian Awareness Month" aims to encourage. It kicks off on October 1st with World Vegetarian Day and ends with World Vegan Day on November 1st.

Now what exactly is the state of vegetarianism worldwide?

Did you know that approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide follow a vegetarian diet? And did you know that up to 39 percent of India's population eats meat free? These numbers are truly impressive.

However, we can't quite call it a global trend. The most common reasons for adopting a vegetarian diet are religion and financial resources, therefore deeply rooted in life philosophies and living conditions.

In the Western world, it's a different story. The number of people consciously choosing plant-based alternatives and having the option to do so, is steadily increasing. According to studies, approximately 5 percent of people in Europe follow a vegetarian diet, with Germany leading the way.

In Germany, more than 8 million people identify as vegetarians.[NF1] That's an impressive 10 percent of the population and the numbers continue to grow. National meat consumption has been declining steadily. According to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Nutrition (BLE), per capita meat consumption in 2022 was 52 kilograms, marking a nearly 15 percent decrease from 2012 (60.9 kilograms per capita) and the lowest value since consumption tracking began in 1989. Last year alone, 220,000 more people joined the trend.

Moreover, in 2020, over half of the German population identified as "flexitarian," meaning they consciously choose to consume fewer animal products.

Environmental and animal welfare considerations are among the most common reasons for adopting a meatless or reduced-meat diet, with health being another frequently cited motive.

Germany is one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for meat alternatives in Europe. It's projected to reach a revenue of 0.6 billion Euros in 2023, with growth expected to continue. According to forecasts, the market is set to reach 1.1 billion Euros in 2028, representing an annual revenue growth of 11.53 percent.[NF2] That's quite the boom!

Globally, the outlook for plant-based foods is even more promising. Analysts at Bloomberg estimate that their revenue will likely reach 162 billion US-dollars by 2030.

The numbers speak for themselves: adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet is no longer niche; it's a mainstream trend. For those in the food industry looking to grow, the future lies in meatless products.

Do you remember when "vegetarian" used to mean that side dishes were elevated to main courses? Rice and sauce? Potatoes with a salad leaf? Those days have passed! Today, vegetarian nutrition means much more than boring side dishes.

The market for meat and fish alternatives is steadily expanding. Plant-based alternatives are taking over supermarket shelves, offering variety, satisfaction and above all taste. Given that manufacturers know what they're doing.

At Erbacher Food Intelligence, we do! We've been dedicated to plant-based nutrition for decades and our products are 100 percent vegetarian. We're particularly proud of our diverse textures as meat and fish substitutes, highly regarded by our clients in the food industry. The possibilities are nearly limitless – we offer products in various forms sourced from all commonly available plant-based protein sources and we can meet special requirements like kosher, halal, gluten-free or organic. Whatever vegetarian or vegan vision you have for your future product, we're here to make it happen!

Advancing the diversity of meat and fish alternatives and making sustainable nutrition pleasurable – that's our mission. That's why World Vegetarian Awareness Month is the perfect occasion for us to inspire you to tap into or expand within this future market – there's demand for great products and there are experts for creating them. If you're in need of competent support in this regard, let's talk about the future together.