A third of diners have cut down on the amount of meat they consume over the past year, a new study for the Vegetarian Society has revealed. Additionally, a tenth of respondents stated they were considering either reducing the meat they consume or totally cutting it out of their diet.
The research, reported by Bighospitality.com, highlights the global trend towards eating less meat that has been steadily on the rise over the past decade. Just one year ago, HospitalityandCateringNews.com reported on the burgeoning trend for vegetarian and vegan dining in the UK whilst at the end of 2015, LatestVeganNews.com published an article commenting on the "skyrocketing" rise in demand for non-dairy products and plant-based food options.
The recent research for the Vegetarian Society was conducted by independent social research institute, NatCen, and discovered that almost half (44%) of respondents either did not eat meat, have cut down on the amount they consume or are at least considering cutting down.
BigHospitality.com reported that easily the most common reason cited for reducing meat consumption was health reasons with 58% of respondents choosing this as a factor. Additionally, 21% stated they had cut down to save money; 20% demonstrated concerns about animal welfare; 19% demonstrated concerns regarding food safety; and 11% mentioned concerns regarding the environment.
This shift towards a plant-based diet has had a direct effect on the demand for vegetarian options in restaurants with foodservice market insight organisation, M&C Allegra, noting that 30% of new menu dishes are now vegetarian whilst leading pub chains are now targeting 19% of their menus at vegetarian customers.
A decade ago you might have struggled to find an appropriate vegan option on the menu when going out to eat, but now we are seeing a rise in restaurants that cater exclusively to a vegetarian and vegan diet. Our new client, The Gate, is going from strength to strength, and though the menu caters solely to the veggie crowd, non-vegetarians also form a significant proportion of its loyal consumer base. Locally, in Bath, a popular Indian restaurant recently made the dramatic change to a solely vegetarian menu and as a result they've seen an increase in reservations. Perhaps something to consider this year, when preparing your menu for a spring makeover...
