We asked: Is plant-based a fad that's fizzling?
You answered: Yes, it’s on the way out (56%) Nope. Total growth engine (38%) Other, tell us in the comments (6%)
A majority of you think plant-based products are on the way out, according to our LinkedIn poll earlier this week. This is what else you had to say:
Randy Adams, Category Manager/Buyer at Martin & Bayley Inc.
Spoke with a Frito driver the other day in a store. I asked him if he's actually sold any of the Beyond Meat Jerky. He said, "I have a shipper in every store, and I have not sold a single unit." He went on to say that he's talked to his superiors, and tried to tell them that the floor space being devoted to Beyond Meat could be much better used selling Doritos or some other item. His best store though, was this. He said, "I have a small c-store that is owned by a man from India. He told me that he's not allowed to eat beef, but he'd beef before he'd eat that plant based stuff."
Jennifer Czech, National Account Manager at Schwan's Company
I believe this is like all other mainstream alternative products, they have a market and will continue to have a place on shelf but market size and adoption is capped to a degree.
Joe Watson, CPP, Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale SME
Consider how long it took for organic to become mainstream...I believe similarly plant based (those products which aren't part of the fruit and vegetable category) will take time to develop. I also believe price parity will be important to gain a broader portion of consumer demographics...that may be the harder hill to climb at least initially. Economies of scale will be the winning formula for plant based products. But before that happens there will be a consolidation of producers.
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Want to join the conversation? Check out the LinkedIn poll here, or email your thoughts to SN Executive Editor Chloe Riley at chloe.riley@informa.com. And stay tuned for a new poll next Tuesday. Happy Friday! WHAT DO YOU THINK? | 