INDUSTRY TALK – PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES
Is plant-based becoming the new normal? In the last decade there has been a global rise in interest in vegan or plant-based diets. Donovan Will, director of ProVeg South Africa looks at this increase in popularity and the current trends in plant-based meat products.
B
oerewors and biltong; two South
that are choosing to eat less meat and other
These options need to look and taste great,
African culinary staples that epitomise
animal products, but who do not cut these
and need to be good enough for the non-
our country’s love for meat. Surprisingly,
products out completely from their diets
vegetarian market too,” says Will.
these two products might also be South
like vegetarians or vegans.
Africa’s biggest opportunity to make waves
According to Donovan Will, the director
in the fast-growing plant-based food sector.
The ProVeg top meat replacement list is surprisingly long, and features
of ProVeg South Africa (the local chapter of
products from over 14 companies, and
There has been a global increase in
global food awareness organisation ProVeg
includes everything from chicken and beef
interest in vegan or plant-based diets,
International), these replacement products
replacements. This list includes new options
driven by consumer demand for healthier,
are a useful tool for anyone who wants to
like On The Greenside Flamed Grilled Tender
more sustainable and ethical food choices.
eat more plant-based, but battles with the
Fillets and Herbivore’s new pea protein
Even in South Africa, most people will
idea of cutting back on the foods they have
burger to more surprising options like Fish-
know of at least one vegetarian, or even
grown up with. “One of the primary reasons
Style Fillets and Boerewors from South
vegan. From a food industry point of view,
people battle to eat less meat or dairy is
Africa’s leading meat replacement brand
things are significantly more nuanced than
that they simply love the taste, so if food
Fry’s, and even vegan biltong from Joburg-
labelling consumers into such definitive
producers can offer products that provide
based Herbi Vohr.
categories - and nowhere is this more
the same taste and texture as meat, milk
clearer than the market for plant-based
and cheese - just made from plants - then
are even more surprising. In August 2020,
meat alternatives. Burgers and sausages
the research shows that they will move
the ProVeg South Africa team catalogued
made from plant-based options like textured
towards these options,” explains Will.
and tasted over 80 plant-based milk
soy protein have been on the market for
Will stresses that not all plant-based
On the milk alternative side, the options
alternatives available in South Africa, and
decades, providing a meat-like offering for
replacements are created equal, which
vegetarians - the big shift in recent times
is why ProVeg South Africa regularly
has been two-fold. Firstly, there has been
highlights the options they believe
for the F&B industry is a fast-growing
a significant improvement in the quality of
South African businesses should use as
industry that doesn’t appear to be
these products and this has meant that in
benchmarks if they are looking to enter this
slowing down any time soon. We will be
many cases they are now indifferentiable
space. “It’s vital for manufacturers and food
featuring regular articles from ProVeg
from their meat counterparts. Secondly,
service outlets to understand that they can
South Africa exploring the innovations in
and more interestingly for the food industry,
no longer just make a product that is plant-
the plant-based alternatives field in each
demand for these products is now being
based and expect vegetarian customers
issue of Food Review. Make sure to look
driven by flexitarians, who are consumers
to be happy that they have an option.
out for it! •
12
August 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
the list has been growing since then. Finding plant-based alternatives
