While the plant-based trend certainly has remained strong, in spite of meat analog companies going through some natural setbacks, there’s a factor that some believe is getting lost in the category: Plant-based is not all about creating replications of animal-based meat and dairy. The latest plant-based product development is keeping produce front and center, without having it disappear into unidentifiable forms.
“Brands that closely mimic animal-based products do currently make up the majority of the plant-based category,” says Linette Kwon, data analyst for the Plant Based Foods Association. “However, based on the continued prominence of health as a key motivator—and the fact that consumers are demanding more variety—we expect to see more plant-forward options entering the market in 2024.”