Veganuary 2021 The Top Trends

This is a guest post contributed by Louise Palmer-Masterton, Stem & Glory.

Louise Palmer-Masterton is the founder of multiple award-winning restaurants, Stem & Glory; hip, trendy, and accessible plant-based restaurants serving delicious gourmet vegan food made entirely from locally sourced ingredients. Stem & Glory also offers click-and-collect and local delivery in London and Cambridge.

Vegan Trends

With Veganuary upon us, it’s a perfect time to review the vegan trends of 2020 and look ahead to 2021, which is predicted to see even more significant growth in plant-based food, vegan products, and sustainable eating.

2020 was undoubtedly the year of plant-based meat, attracting both consumer and investor attention. The IPO of US brand ‘Beyond Meat’ was the best-performing first-day IPO in nearly two decades. In the UK, THIS™ Seedrs campaign was the fastest ever to hit £1.5m+ and closed at £4.5m in just days.

It was also the year that major UK supermarkets expanded their vegan ranges, and food outlets responded to growing demand for high-quality plant-based options.

Despite this progress, there is still a long way to go in terms of both quality and variety. Many vegan shoppers still struggle to find products that are healthy, delicious, and nutritionally balanced. Too often, vegan offerings are simply a mix of ingredients without attention to taste.

The popularity of the Greggs vegan sausage roll demonstrates that quality vegan food can succeed. People will support plant-based products that are thoughtfully created, flavourful, and enjoyable.

Vegan Seafood

Vegan seafood is following the plant-based meat trend, with deep-fried scampi, vegan shrimp, fish burgers, and more appearing in supermarkets and early adopter restaurants. There are also higher-quality attempts at vegan salmon, tuna, and caviar using healthy, natural ingredients.

Investors like Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni from Vegan Capital have noted rapid growth in vegan seafood, including companies such as Good Catch. Even traditional animal seafood companies are exploring plant-based alternatives, reflecting consumer demand for healthier and sustainable options.

Healthier Plant-Based ‘Meat’

While plant-based meat, cheese, and seafood alternatives have come a long way, many are still processed and lack the nutritional profile of their animal counterparts. At Stem & Glory, our chef creates unprocessed plant-based 'meat' using vegetables like celeriac and beetroot to replicate classic flavours naturally.

Vegan Ready Meals

Supermarkets are packed with vegan products, yet quality ready meals remain scarce. Stem & Glory is developing a ready meal range with innovative dishes that bring restaurant-quality vegan food to supermarket shelves.

Vegan Cheese

The plant-based cheese race is on, with brands experimenting to match the taste and texture of dairy cheese. Engineered cow’s milk and natural, unprocessed products may transform the vegan cheese market in 2021, addressing one of the main barriers for flexitarians and vegans alike.

Vegan Fashion

Sustainable vegan fashion is growing fast. Brands like G-Star and Dr Martens are pioneering plant-based materials, while investors predict a surge in biodegradable vegan leather and other sustainable products in the coming years.

Sustainability and the Future

Sustainability will underpin all vegan trends in 2021. It’s no longer enough to be plant-based; ethical sourcing, reduced carbon footprint, and responsible practices will be essential to building trust with consumers.

Cook Your Own Vegan Feast

Try creating a vegan feast at home with recipes from the Culinary Travels recipe files or explore a wide range of vegan cookery books.

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