U.S. meat substitute product sales increased to US$276.7M in 2011, a 10% increase compared to 2008; average U.S. consumer will eat 10.4% less meat in 2012 compared to 2007, according to research
Nevin Barich
LOS ANGELES
,
January 25, 2012
(Industry Intelligence)
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Meat substitute products are gaining popularity amongst U.S. consumers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 25.
According to market research firm SymphonyIRI Group, U.S. meat substitute product sales increased to US$276.7 million in 2011, a 10% increase compared to 2008. The number of U.S. products claiming to be meatless increased to 1,198 last year, a 21% increase compared to 2009 figures.
Economic consultant Len Steiner analyzed data from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which revealed that the average U.S. consumer will eat 10.4% less meat in 2012 than in 2007.
Manufacturers of meat substitutes have been reformulating their products to improve texture and taste in an attempt to appeal to “flexitarians,” people who eat meat but primarily eat vegetarian food. An estimated one in eight Americans fall into this category, according to Cultivate Research.
Kraft Food Inc.’s Boca Foods brand re-created its veggie burger. Turtle Island Foods Inc., manufacturer of Tofurkey products, is launching new products such as a hot dog and ground chorizo-flavored Tofurkey. ConAgra Foods Inc.’s Lightlife Foods will be introducing soy-based products Amaz'n Asian Sesame Chik'n and Olé Santa Fe Chik'n.
Garden Protein International Inc., creator of Teriyaki Chick’n Strips, hosted events in Chicago and Atlanta to introduce its meat-free products to a broader consumer base.
The primary source of this article is the Wall Street Journal, New York, New York, on Jan. 25, 2012.
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