Plant-based groceries up to 30 percent cheaper

Choosing plant-based products is increasingly saving shoppers money at checkout. At all nine supermarkets surveyed, plant-based staples cost less than comparable animal-based products. The average price difference is 18 percent and reaches as high as 30 percent. These findings come from new research by ProVeg Nederland. The organization compared ground meat, burgers, butter, milk, yogurt, and cheese. The plant-based shopping basket was cheaper at every supermarket surveyed.

Smaller package, lower price per kilogram

ProVeg also examined the price differences in 2024. At the time, the organization compared products sold in the same package size. Plant-based burgers were 31 percent cheaper than meat burgers. For plant-based chicken pieces, the difference was 29 percent. Plant-based ground meat was 21 percent cheaper than meat.

The new study also compares different package sizes. Smaller packages of plant-based products often have a lower price per kilogram. This also applies when compared with animal-based products in larger packages.

Biggest savings at Plus

At Plus, the relative savings amount to 30 percent. Dirk follows at 28 percent, with Lidl at 24 percent. According to ProVeg, more supermarkets are deliberately focusing on lower prices. Lidl aims to make plant-based meat and dairy alternatives at least as affordable. For this comparison, the supermarket uses products with similar package sizes.

This approach aligns with the target for 2030. The Dutch supermarket sector aims for plant-based proteins to account for 60 percent of sales. The targeted sales mix also includes 40 percent animal proteins.

Plant-based yogurt remains more expensive

Plant-based alternatives to meat, cheese, and butter are often cheaper. Prices for yogurt and quark tell a different story. The cheapest plant-based yogurt costs more than twice as much on average. The comparison is with the cheapest dairy-based yogurt.

According to ProVeg, low sales volumes make competitive pricing more difficult. Plant-based yogurts are also rarely available in one-liter cartons. This makes it harder to achieve a similarly low price per kilogram.

Proveg.org