Sustainability, Health Top Drivers for Plant-Based Alternatives, New Kerry Research Finds
Sustainability and health concerns are driving consumers to plant-based meat alternatives, but the taste experience of these products continues to fall short, according to research carried out by Kerry, a taste and nutrition company.
In 2022, Kerry carried out research with over 1,500 consumers across four countries – the United States, UK, Australia and Brazil – to uncover sensory expectations around plant-based burgers and cheese alternative slices. The research found that flexitarians, the key consumer group driving the growth of plant-based, are more critical of products versus vegan and vegetarian consumers. While sustainability is a top driver, consumers are unwilling to compromise on taste and seek products that are as close to the taste experience of animal products as possible.