Sales of plant-based alternatives double in foodservice

The Dutch foodservice sector has seen a significant increase in sales of plant-based dairy and meat substitutes over the past two years. According to recently released data from market research agency Foodstep, collected by ProVeg Nederland, sales of meat substitutes to the hospitality and catering sectors have more than doubled, while sales of animal-based products, particularly dairy, have declined.

Increase in plant-based alternatives

Between 2021 and 2023, sales of meat substitutes grew by 111% in volume, while plant-based dairy alternatives saw an 82% increase. As a result, meat substitutes now hold a 4.3% volume share within the foodservice sector, with plant-based dairy alternatives reaching 7.4%. This market share is now higher than in supermarkets for the first time. Additionally, sales of legumes increased by 33%, while meat sales dropped by 2%. The decline in sales of animal-based dairy products is particularly noteworthy. These products have not fully recovered from the dip they experienced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with volumes still only at 78% of pre-pandemic levels.

Caterers favor plant-based options

Caterers, particularly within corporate and educational settings, play a crucial role in the growing adoption of plant-based products. For example, plant-based cooking cream has achieved a 21% volume share in corporate catering, and even 37% in educational catering. This shift is largely due to the ease of substituting plant-based alternatives for their animal-based counterparts. Convenience and sustainability considerations have led more caterers to offer only plant-based products. This trend is also reflected in the high share of plant-based products such as mayonnaise, frying sauces, and bitterballen in these sectors.

Plant-based milk dominates fast service

Within the fast service sector, including snack bars and coffee shops, plant-based dairy is particularly popular. More than two-thirds of the foamed milk used is now plant-based, with oat milk being the preferred choice. This suggests that approximately 1 in 5 coffee drinks in the fast service sector is made with plant-based milk. These figures underscore the shift toward plant-based options in the Dutch foodservice sector.

View the report ‘Dierlijk en plantaardig in de Nederlandse foodservice’ for more detailed insights. (Dutch only)

Proveg.com