Veganuary was one of the most ground-breakfast months for vegan innovation we have seen with the likes of Subway, KFC, McDonalds getting involved. With vegan options now hitting the mainstream food chains, it’s clear these options won’t just be permitted to one month of the year.
However, one area of vegan food which is particularly popular in the UK is pizza. Yes, the beloved pizza has now made its way over to the green side and we are seeing some cool restaurants putting together creative meals.
How big is the vegan market?
• The proportion of meat eaters who have reduced their meat consumption has risen from 28% in 2018 to 39% in 2019 (Mintel)
• Sales of vegan foods have increased 40% from £582m in 2014 to £816m in 2019 (Mintel)
• Barclays estimate that the market for alternative meat could grow by 1,000% over the next 10 years; reaching $140 billion by 2029.
Crazy Pedro's, the pizza parlour with 3 restaurants, 2 in Manchester and 1 in Liverpool are known for their vibrant atmosphere and jaw dropping pizzas.
Last September, they released a 'go back-to-school' pizza loaded with vegan chicken nuggets, potato waffles, baked beans, vegan cheese and tomato sauce. Following from the success, they recently announced their newest vegan invention and it sounds and looks delicious.
The 'Whopper Way To Make A Living' is a burger pizza made with:
• Beyond Meat
• Vegan cheese
• Onions
• Lettuce and pickles
• Kimbonnaise sauce (a Crazy Pedro original)
This pizza caters not only for vegans but flexitarians too. According to Mintel, the proportion of meat eaters who have reduced their meat consumption has risen from 28% in 2018 to 39% in 2019.
Purezza is the UK's first ever plant-based pizzeria, established in 2015 it can be found in Camden and Brighton.
The passionate 'plant pioneers', have an awesome menu with 7 funky pizzas to choose from. Their most recent creation 'The One With The Nduja' is made with a yellow tomato base, mozzarella - which took 2 years to develop - green chillies, roasted aubergines, baby sweetcorn and red peppers, topped with spicy siracha sauce and chilli flakes.
The pizzeria in Camden is such a hit that they had to find a bigger restaurant to cater demand. They re-opened in a space three times the size of their previous unit and is now believed to be the biggest plant-based restaurant in the UK! This should help Purezza get a higher footfall through the door and therefore, more sales. Good thing too, as recent analysts show an increase in sales over the past year. According to Mintel, sales of vegan foods have increased 40% from £582m in 2014 to £816m in 2019. The market for vegan food is gigantic, one not to sleep on that's for sure.
The demand for plant-based pizza isn't just limited to the fast-casual sector. Demand is across all spectrums, including the pub industry. For Veganuary, Greene King launched their Vegan Vegetable Pizza, consisting of vegan 'cheeze', roasted peppers, red onions, jalapeños and rocket.
If you are interested in the vegan market check out our 14 Vegan Facts for Restaurant Operators which delves deeper into the veganism and even includes the evolution of the meat free market.
Do you offer vegan pizza at your restaurant? If so, what was the feedback like? Have you ever tried vegan pizza? Would it be something you'd be interested in selling given the increase in vegan eating? Let us know, we'd love to know your thoughts.
