UK Meat-Free Market Has Grown by 20 Percent

The market for meat-free products in the United Kingdom has grown 20 percent in the past five years. Information recently released by market-research company Mintel reveals that 15 percent of the nation’s residents now avoid red meat, motivated mostly by health and lifestyle concerns, while two percent made the change due to allergies, and six percent now classify themselves as “vegetarian.” Furthermore, 38 percent say they buy meat-free meals—13 percent because of cost factors (rising cost of meat and more affordable prices of vegetarian options). A senior analyst at Mintel speculates that the rising cost of meat could continue to boost the market in the future, which is currently estimated to be worth roughly $973 million (US).