While several factors have been driving interest in plant-based analogs of meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy, the phenomenal explosion in such options that the market is experiencing today came from a perfect convergence of two indispensable factors, technology and demand.
Meat and dairy analogs – even great ones – have been around for decades, although offerings were as limited as the technology. This meant only a few companies bothered to serve a very narrow consumer demand, based primarily on accepted health benefits of vegetarianism. New technology emerged gradually and trade secrets were closely guarded.