The reasons animal protein analog manufacturers, such as Kellogg Co.’s Morningstar Farms, Beyond Meat LLC, and Garden Protein International Inc., are seeing sales growth at double-digit percentage rates per year have to do with more than some trend of vegetarianism/veganism. A combination of explosive popularity of plant proteins and rapidly growing demand for foods manufactured with a much smaller carbon footprint (or hoofprint, as the case might be) has given alternative proteins a big push, a constantly renewing cycle of Americans (especially younger folks) who eschew animal-derived foods.
Every generation draws attention to the values of a plant-only diet. The influx of new Americans with cultural and religious influences that might support alternative protein sources bolsters the numbers even more.