By limiting your plant-based offerings to vegetarian and vegan consumers alone, you risk missing out on a major trend. Demand for plant-based proteins (and meat substitutes) is skyrocketing! JP Morgan estimates that the plant-based protein market will be worth more than 100 billion euros by 2029.
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:
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.
To help you see things more clearly, here are the most common plans in France.
In practical terms, flexitarians don't deny themselves anything but do cut back on their meat consumption. They prefer higher-quality meat and enjoy eating it.
Did you know that 39% of French people declare themselves flexitarians?
This diet excludes only the consumption of living creatures (livestock, fish, seafood, animal gelatin, etc.). Vegetarians, on the other hand, do consume animal-derived products, such as cheese, eggs, and milk.
Unlike vegetarians, vegans get their nutrition exclusively from plant-based proteins, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. They do not consume anything derived from animal exploitation.
Vegans follow the same diet as vegetarians. The only difference lies in their lifestyle: they do not consume any products (other than food) derived from the exploitation of animals. No leather jackets, etc.
A gluten-free diet is necessary for people with gluten intolerance, a condition caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and certain grains such as spelt. For these individuals, the diet must be strictly followed to avoid severe symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, bloating, low iron levels, etc.).
Several approaches are possible:
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! 👇
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 introduced to the franchise network, this recipe was first tested by a consumer panel organized by Chamas Tacos. The results: 70% rated it as good or excellent, and 60% were interested in ordering it when it became available! Mission accomplished!
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".
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!
The French subsidiary of the famous fried chicken chain has launched its very first vegetarian burger! Available as a limited-time offering from August 24 to October 11, 2022, the Colonel Original Veggie features a mushroom-based patty in packaging made from… herbs!
Its promise: to make KFC's menu accessible to everyone, whether they're customers looking to cut back on meat or vegetarians. Only time will tell if this burger becomes a permanent fixture on KFC's menu.
Since April 2022, Starbucks France has stopped charging extra for soy, coconut, almond, or oat milk.
While Starbucks already offered vegan options to its customers, cow's milk was the only milk available as an add-on. This is a major step forward for vegans, environmentalists, and people with lactose intolerance!
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: surprise your guests with what's on their plates!
Grilled portobello "steak" (it's a mushroom!), fried tofu "steak," melt-in-your-mouth potato pancakes, falafel, and more. There's no shortage of options, and your customers will be coming back for more!
When it comes to beverages, more and more brands are offering certified products to help consumers navigate the market. The best-known is V-Label, whose website lists hundreds of products. As a true international benchmark for vegetarians and vegans, it will make your life much easier.
It's up to you!
Do you want to revise your menu to meet your customers' expectations?
With Innovorder, it's easy!
Our connected ecosystem, designed specifically for the fast-food industry (order kiosks, online ordering, certified POS system), makes it easy to update all your menus directly from the POS software.
Testing innovative dishes or offering limited-edition items is a breeze!
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