Meat and other animal products play a significant role in the Australian diet. The country is a major exporter of beef, with the Australian meat industry making a substantial contribution to the national economy each year. Nonetheless, a growing interest in ethical and sustainable foods and plant-based alternatives across the country is supporting a trend toward consuming less meat and animal products. Plant-based substitutes are vastly expanding beyond tofu and soy milk to diverse alternatives, such as vegan burgers, sausages, and cheese, that mimic the taste and texture of animal products in a bid to win over the average meat-eating consumer.
The other major segment of Australia’s plant-based market is non-dairy milk, a significant disruptor to the dairy industry. Around two percent of Australian households exclusively purchase plant-based milk, with over one-third buying both dairy and non-dairy alternatives. Soy and almond milk are the go-to options for many of Australia’s plant-based milk drinkers. Nonetheless, oat milk is gaining momentum in the country’s alternative milk market due to its neutral flavor and lower carbon footprint.
Furthermore, in 2023, vegan seafood started trending in Australia. Australian business Boldly Foods disrupted the country’s seafood industry after announcing the launch of its vegan seafood line, offering products such as plant-based shrimp, crab sticks, and fish fillets. The company hopes to expand its market worldwide to export vegan seafood to global consumers. Nonetheless, plant-based foods are still comparatively more expensive than most of their animal-product counterparts. For the plant-based food market to continue expanding in the future, it must address this issue.
Australians are reducing their meat and milk consumption
Per capita consumption of meat and cow’s milk has been dropping in recent years, with projections suggesting consumption will continue to decline. On the other hand, per capita consumption of meat alternatives and milk substitutes is slowly but surely on the rise, with plant-based alternatives to animal products showing their potential to disrupt Australia’s meat and animal product industry. As of 2022, over 50 percent of Australians had tried a plant-based meat substitute at least once, with vegan burgers and sausages coming out on top as the most popular meat alternatives. Forecasts show the plant-based meat sector could export as much as 1.4 billion Australian dollars’ worth of plant-based meat by 2030.The other major segment of Australia’s plant-based market is non-dairy milk, a significant disruptor to the dairy industry. Around two percent of Australian households exclusively purchase plant-based milk, with over one-third buying both dairy and non-dairy alternatives. Soy and almond milk are the go-to options for many of Australia’s plant-based milk drinkers. Nonetheless, oat milk is gaining momentum in the country’s alternative milk market due to its neutral flavor and lower carbon footprint.
Is veganism becoming mainstream?
Plant-based foods are undoubtedly making their way onto the plates of many consumers across Australia, with more people identifying as vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian. As of 2023, around three percent of Australians said they followed a vegan diet. Vegan food is becoming increasingly accessible as a growing number of restaurants, cafés, and fast-food chains across the country add plant-based options to their menus. Australian fast-food chains, such as Hungry Jacks and Pie Face, are producing more vegan versions of burgers and pies. Melbourne-born fast-food chain Lord of the Fries even offers a 100% plant-based menu. Many companies, including Hungry Jacks, are supplied with plant-based protein alternatives from v2food, a leading Australian plant-based meat company launched in 2019.Furthermore, in 2023, vegan seafood started trending in Australia. Australian business Boldly Foods disrupted the country’s seafood industry after announcing the launch of its vegan seafood line, offering products such as plant-based shrimp, crab sticks, and fish fillets. The company hopes to expand its market worldwide to export vegan seafood to global consumers. Nonetheless, plant-based foods are still comparatively more expensive than most of their animal-product counterparts. For the plant-based food market to continue expanding in the future, it must address this issue.
