This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
Christmas dinner traditions in the UK may be about to change, as more people opt for meat-free alternatives.
According to market analysts Mintel, the number of people cutting back on meat has increased significantly, with one in eight Britons now identifying as vegetarian or vegan.
As a result, supermarkets are responding by expanding their range of plant-based products. Morrisons, for example, has increased its Christmas vegan offerings from eight items in 2018 to 45 this year.
Waitrose has also doubled its Christmas range from six to 12 products, while Tesco sells six vegan centrepieces, up from four last year.
Indeed, 24% of all food products launched in the UK in 2019 claim to be vegan, more than anywhere else in the world.
Reasons for the shift towards meat-free diets vary, but concerns about climate change are a significant factor. Farm animals are a major contributor to CO2 emissions, which have a negative impact on the climate and the planet.
Published on December 14, 2019.
