Veganism Statistics 2022: How many vegans are there in the UK? (2023)

2021 was a big year for veganism in the UK and around the world. And judging by the promising responseveganThis year, the rise of the movement for culinary, social and agricultural change will continue into 2022 and beyond. Responses from retail giants and business owners alike will continue to facilitate the shift to a plant-based diet.

We've compiled key facts and statistics about veganism in the UK as more Britons make the decision to go vegan in 2022.

Unprecedented vegan records

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Britons sign up for the Veganuary campaign, a commitment to eat vegetables for a month.

Correspondingto the guard, a record 500,000 people, including 125,000 UK residents, made the Veganuary 2021 commitment to eat only plant-based foods in January. That number has increased to 100,000 since January 2020, doubling the number of people who signed up for Veganuary in 2019. By the end of January 2022, the movement hopes to pass the 2 million mark. A YouGov survey of 2,079 UK adults found that around 4% expected to try Veganuary in 2022, suggesting that a total of 2.7 million people would join that year.

In recent years, however, not only people have embraced the vegan spirit. As 2021 begins, major supermarket brands and other companies have done even more to accommodate the growing number of Britons who have turned their backs on animal products. In January of this year, companies such as Harrods, Superdrug and Volkswagen UK took part in Veganuary's Workplace Challenge to show their support for a plant-based lifestyle.

Even before 2020, the food industry was shifting more towards plant-based options: in 2019, around a quarter of food imported into the UK was vegan rather than veganone of six in 2018.

Aldi, Asda and Island have posted detailed pages with vegan recipes and products on their websites to promote more sustainable eating. In 2021, Marks & Spencer also created a 31-day vegan meal plan, while Tesco ran an advertising campaign to promote Veganuary on TV and radio. Toni Vernelli of Veganuary discussed how Aldi's website includes a message that reducing or eliminating animal products shows a commitment to making a difference for the planet.

Many companies are benefiting from growing concerns about climate change and global warming. Introducing vegetarian and vegan products has become the norm for grocers and supermarkets, an essential way to engage consumers while contributing to the environment.

Vegan food orders skyrocket

It's not just supermarkets that are seeing demand for vegan options; Grocery delivery services like Deliveroo are seeing increasing customer demand for vegan dishes.

In 2021, the UK delivery service more than doubled the number of vegan restaurants on its app from the previous year, with 12,000 restaurants offering vegan options. Most vegan orders in 2020 were in Brighton, Bristol,London, Manchester and Edinburgh. In 2021, Deliveroo saw a huge increase in vegan orders, up 105% from 2020. This time around, Brighton, Bristol and Leeds were the areas where vegan options were most popular.

One year agoVegNews reportsthat in the first week of 2021, at the start of Veganuary, searches for “vegan” food on Deliveroo increased by 153% compared to the previous month. Many of Deliveroo's partners have added specialty vegan options to their menus, from Wagamama's vegan ribs to Majestic Wine's vegan wine options.

An example of the growing popularity of veganism is the introduction of McDonald's "McPlant" burger: a vegan burger, complete with vegan cheese and cheese sauce. The fast-food chain has launched this meatless option in many UK branches after testing it in select locations in Scandinavia.

The burger itself is Beyond Meat; a plant-based product with pea protein that is also kosher and gluten-free. Cheese dip, McDonald's first vegan mayonnaise alternative, is also made with pea protein. McDonald's claimed they taste like "the original". The company has gone a step further and promised that McPlant burgers will be prepared in a separate area, away from non-vegan foods.

British meatless market

Research on plant-based meat alternatives conducted byubs investment bankin 2019 showed a growing interest in vegan lifestyle options. Veganuary launched in 2014 and has grown exponentially since then. From 2014 to 2019, the vegan community in the UK has grown to four times its original size. The rise in interest in plant-free living also lines up with some of the biggest vegan food trends of 2022.

The UBS study found that the number of people trying plant-based meat alternatives increased from 48% to 53% between March and November last year. Of those who tried plant-based alternatives, around half said they would continue to consume them at least once a week.

The bank's Andrew Stott said the 2019 survey also revealed why some consumers are not yet ready to switch to an all-plant-based diet. He explained that 59% of respondents who didn't want to try plant-based meat substitutes felt they didn't taste good, 29% said plant-based alternatives were too expensive, and 37% objected to the highly processed nature of the products.

Still, more than half of respondents agreed that plant-based alternatives were the healthier and greener option. UBS surveyed 3,000 consumers in the UK, Germany and the US.

Veganism is said to be more popular among younger generations.Food Revolution NetworkHe believes this is partly due to the growing availability of information on the internet about where his food comes from and how it is made.

As encouraging as these statistics are, 2022 is unlikely to be the year the UK goes 100% vegan.Pesquisa da British Nutrition Foundation e YouGovA 2020 study found that 61% of Britons are unlikely to switch to a plant-based diet in 2021. Lots of new vegan options have launched in 2021 and this year is sure to be even better.

Last year's buffet: top vegan food trends for 2021

Various vegan food products and all kinds of culinary innovations from creative chefs have been released in recent years. In its 2020 year-end recap, Vegan Food And Living anticipated that 2021 would see a continuation of vegan products and much more variety.

Vegan Food and Living's nutritional forecast says 2022 will be no different. In fact, for people who have committed to a plant-based diet, the options become even more interesting.

But how does 2021 really live up to the hype? Looking back, some of the top trends the magazine predicted for 2021 were:

• vegan butchers– In 2020 Rudy’s Vegan Butchers was launchedLondon🇧🇷 The facility looks like a traditional butcher shop, except for the animal carcasses and meat. Instead, your counters and fridges are overflowing with plant-based meat substitutes. Not to be outdone, Asda began testing a vegan butcher shop at its Watford store in January 2021 - vegan to be precise.
• vegan egg replacer– Aquafaba has been the vegan egg substitute par excellence for several years. One of the predicted food trends of 2021 is egg replacers, like the liquid egg replacer launched by Crack'd in 2020. Scientists in Singapore and France have also come up with an egg replacer that is almost indistinguishable from a real egg.
• vegan sweets-- Vegan Food And Living also predicted in late 2020 that more and more major candy brands would launch vegan sweets in 2021. Internet searches for vegan chocolate recipes are up 31% in 2020, according to the magazine.
• vegan chicken substitute– Many plant-based meat alternatives have been created to replace red meat. Very little attention was paid to chicken substitutes in 2019 or 2020, but that seemed likely to change in 2021. Since then, we've seen the launch of vegan chicken alternatives from KFC, Marks & Spencer, Subway, Papa John's and Nando's.

Mushrooms have also become an increasingly popular ingredient in vegan “meat” products in 2021 – another way to get protein in plant-based foods without relying solely on soy.

Moving Forward: Top Vegan Food Trends Expected for 2022

Society is becoming more open to a plant-based diet, prompting companies to develop new, tastier vegan products. In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on replicating the flavor and texture of meats such as chicken and beef. The hundreds of products that have already been introduced have satisfied many vegan diners, but obviously there is room for improvement.

One corner of the market that has yet to be explored is a vegan seafood substitute. That appears to be changing, however, as vegans will soon be able to eat a plant-based version of fish and chips (as well as calamari, tuna and salmon).

Some of the main trends expected for this year are:

• Ponies- Many people have never heard of jackfruit, but it seems to be becoming one of the most popular meat alternatives. The plant is cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas such as Brazil, the center and the east.Africaand Southeast Asia and was used to replicate pork, as well as other meats. Some brands have already launched products containing jackfruit and their use is likely to continue to increase into 2022.
• potato milk– Everyone already knows plant-based milk. Coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk... the list goes on. However, potato milk is new to the market. Once you get over the old "milk potatoes" jokes, it's clear that opting for potato milk is one of the best things you can do for the environment. uk only5.1 million potatoesthey are thrown away every year, a staggering number when so many people are food insecure. Potato milk is not yet widely available, but companies likeDUGThey regularly bring new milk alternatives to market. Their products are soy-free and gluten-free.
• vegan owner– Plant-based egg replacers are making a comeback on the vegan buffet this year. People are starting to realize that it doesn't take a chicken egg to make great cakes, as revealed in a recent episode ofgreat british bakery🇧🇷 In 2022, British vegans will have even more plant-based options as Just Egg, an American company, launches a range of vegan products across the country.Europa🇧🇷 Along with Just Egg, Oggs, another plant-based egg company, has stepped up and plans to partner with Bella Italia to serve delicious vegan carbonara and chocolate desserts.
• vegan chocolate– Speaking of chocolate, vegans with a sweet tooth are in luck this year as many well-known brands are catering to the demand for plant-based alternatives. Nestlé, for example, has just launched its first vegan KitKat, which contains rice-based milk instead of dairy and costs £1. Cadbury, Lindt and Hershey's are close behind.
• vegan baked goods– Recent years have shown that plant-based cakes and pastries are becoming more and more popular. The introduction of new and improved vegan egg replacers, plant-based milks and butters has also made cooking and baking easier for those who enjoy it as a hobby.
• vegan pig- Many non-vegans have said that the only thing standing between them and an all-vegetable diet is bacon. In 2022, however, that excuse will no longer be enough. We've had vegan burgers, schnitzels and sausages for years, but there's usually no decent substitute for pork - bacon, ham or ham, for example. This year, British citizens can look forward to at least one pork substitute: Asian brand OmniPork is partnering with restaurants to launch a range of dishes. They're not alone in exploiting the niche market: Sainsbury's made history this Christmas by stocking shelves with a plant-based ham called Plant Pioneers No Gammon with Maple Glaze.

Is Veganuary a fad?

To go back to basics for a moment, it is important to dispel the belief that the path to becoming a vegan, and in particular the commitment to veganism, is just another fad. Veganuary President and Co-Founder Matthew Glover Revealed His Movement Has Grown Beyond Christmasone of the biggest retail eventsin the world. Additionally, the phenomenal growth of Veganuary has led businesses and restaurants to pull together when it comes to offering plant-based options.

Many Veganuary participants are now finding that switching to a more sustainable diet is not as difficult as it used to be. Eliminating meat and other animal products is no longer an insurmountable task, as many large supermarkets and restaurants launch new vegan products month after month. Rather than feeling a sense of selflessness, new vegans can choose from a wide range of meatless foods.

It is perfectly clear that Veganuary is here for good and has the potential to overcome society's current carnivore contingent.

Veganism in the UK 2020-2021: Statistics at a glance

Source:The Vegan Societyjexplorer)

• A record half a million Britons sign up for Veganuary in 2021
• Deliveroo vegan orders increased by 163% in 2020
• 7.2 million British adults are currently on a meatless diet
• 13 million Britons will stop eating meat by the end of the year
• The number of vegans in the UK has increased by 445,428 people (40%) in the last 12 months.
• It looks like vegans and vegetarians will make up a quarter of the UK population by 2025
• If the 2 million people who plan to go vegan this year do so, the number of vegans will increase by 132%.
• In 2020, The Grocer reported that 62% of UK adults bought plant-based milk.
• 10% of British children aged 8-16 are vegan or vegetarian
• The number of vegan nursing home residents in the UK nearly tripled in the five years to 2019
• 19% of people check whether their hygiene products are tested on animals.
• Generation Z (18-23 years old) is currently the most meatless generation
• In 2020, 262,000 more men than women ate no meat (7.2 million versus 7 million)
• Those who eat meat spend £645 more on groceries annually compared to those following a meatless diet.
• 50% of Brits say they know someone who is vegan.
• Sainsbury's vegan cheese sales beat company forecasts by 300% in 2020
• The global vegan meat market is expected to be worth $8.3 billion by 2025

Veganism in the UK in 2022: facts and figures

(Pretend:vegan food and life)

• A third of UK respondents said they plan to switch to a plant-based diet by 2022
• 38% of those surveyed believe they will fail before the end of January.
• 25% of Brits who want to go vegan see it as a trend and believe it will benefit their online persona.
• On the other hand, 30% said they would switch to herbal products just to try something new.
• About two-thirds of respondents said they had tried to go vegan before, and 63% admitted to having tried to adopt a plant-based New Year's resolution.
• Most survey participants wanted to go vegan to save the planet from global warming and climate change.
• Over 50% believe a plant-based diet is healthier than being an omnivore

Some points to think about

(Fontes: Vegan food and life yThe Kindness Project)

• In September 2021, the first vegan candidate participatedgreat british bakery
• In 2020, all major supermarkets in the UK launched their own brand of vegan products.
• > In 2020, Waterstones Bookstore counted a total of more than 10,000 books containing the word “vegan”; two years earlier that number was 944
• studiesin the last two years have suggested thatafter a plant-based dietmay reduce the risk of serious illness from COVID-19

take away food

The bottom line (pun intended) of this statistic is that a plant-based diet is becoming more and more popular.

The more we learn about the devastation wrought by the meat and dairy industries, the harder it becomes to justify consuming beef patties, milk chocolate, pork sausages and chicken nuggets. Veganuary is just the tip of the iceberg that isn't about to melt.

Do you like plant-based cuisine? Take a look at our list ofvegetarian restaurant gift vouchersfor an unforgettable meatlessgastronomic experience.