Vegan Industry Insights

It’s the June edition of Vegan Insights by the Vegan Trademark, and officially summer in the Western hemisphere! There have been lots of exciting things happening in the vegan industry recently, so we certainly won’t be slowing down in the summer holiday season – but if you are travelling this summer be sure to check out our Vegan Travel Tips Blog to help you navigate eating vegan whilst journeying to new areas.

The Vegan Society website is a great resource for individuals and businesses to learn more about veganism and the community surrounding it. During Pride month and beyond, we celebrate the work of LGBTQIA+ vegans. This month, Nqwafu Tansie shared a delicious African Mushroom mince curry recipe and Zane McNeill wrote a piece for our blog highlighting how animal exploitation is closely connected to other social injustices such as queer liberation.

Keep reading to see what’s happening this month:

Promising news as the consumption of vegan food increases across Asia

Looking to expand your brand into Asian markets? Now is a fantastic time! The popularity of veganism is booming and the benefits of a vegan diet are being recognised across Asia, as governments back initiatives that support the increase in vegan food products available. The Tokyo Metropolitan government has recently shared that the city is actively working on increasing it’s vegan options to increase tourism, and the city has increased the number of vegan restaurants from 400 to 1000 since 2020.

The Chinese vegan market value increased from $61 billion in 2018 to $104 billion in 2022. Interestingly, 72.9% of consumers said that they learnt about vegan meat alternatives through social media, compared to 31% who said they found out about it through friend or relative recommendations. This just goes to show the power that social media can have for vegan brands to break into the Chinese market.

A recent report has shown that vegan eating is becoming increasingly popular in India. What are the consumer motivations behind this? Of consumers, 67% said they were motivated by animal welfare issues, 54.1% cite environmental concerns and 48.6% choose vegan foods for the believed health benefits. It’s important for brands to understand why consumers would choose vegan options to help position themselves and connect with potential customers, especially within a new market where they are still trying to establish themselves.

The Vegan Trademark is internationally recognised, which means a brand can use their certification to shout about their vegan credentials across the globe. Find out more about the Vegan Trademark and how to apply for your certification here.

Say hello! – Vegan Trademark Events

The summer means that festival season is well and truly underway, and The Vegan Society will be at a number of events in July sharing information about veganism, our charity work, VEG 1 and, of course, the Vegan Trademark.

Join our vegan dietician, Andrea, at The Sustainability Show, 8th to 9th July at Manchester Central. Andrea will be on a panel to discuss: “Human health Is Planet Health...How To Look After Both”. Throughout the event, The Vegan Society will also be on hand to answer any questions you have about veganism and sustainability. You will also be able to take a quiz to win sustainable goodies from some of our trademark holders at the event. Find out more and get your ticket here.

Once again, we will be exhibiting at the Bread and Jam Festival, 18th to 19th July, 2023 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Now in its 8th year, Bread & Jam Fest is the port of call for hundreds of emerging challenger brands, retail buyers, investors, media and industry experts. The Vegan Society team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about trademarking your vegan products. Find out more and get your ticket here.

We are so excited to be at Vegan Campout, taking place from 28th to 31st July at Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire! Join Andrea Rymer on Saturday at 12.45 as she discusses "Raising children on a vegan diet". Then, on Sunday at 15.00, Laura Chepner will enlighten us with her insights on the "Plant-based transition of education". Following their presentations, both speakers will be available at The Vegan Society stall in the main vendor area to answer any questions you may have. Find out more and get your ticket here.

Vegan Trademark News

Our Vegan Trademark holders continued to share some exciting news this month, check out some highlights below:

• Popular brand Cathedral City has expanded its range after launching the very popular Plant Based Block earlier this year. It’s new Spring Onion and Cracked Black Pepper alternative to soft cheese alternative spread. – Read here.
• After great demand, Nestle has relaunched KitKat Plant-Based in Australia. – Read here.
• The royal-appointed bed manufacturer, Wrought Iron Bed and Brass Company, has completed registration on its Plant-Based Mattress range. We’ve seen a great increase in all types of products looking for vegan certification beyond food and cosmetics in the past five years, from furniture and flooring to medication and musical instruments. As people look to shop more conscientiously, a brand’s vegan credentials can be a way to really make them stand out in the market. Wrought Iron Bed and Brass shared their experience working with the Vegan Trademark. – Read here.

Make sure you are subscribed to keep up to date with the latest vegan news! Want to make sure your vegan products are accessible to consumers? Shout about your credentials with confidence with the Vegan Trademark. Visit our website for more information.