SAINSBURY’S BUTCHER COUNTERS TO FEATURE VEGAN MEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
“We’re seeing increasing demand for plant-based products, and with the unstoppable rise of ‘flexitarianism’ in the UK, we are exploring further ways to make popular meat-free options more accessible,” a spokesperson for the chain told the website iNews. “Through this trial, we hope that by placing meat-alternatives within their own dedicated bay in our meat, fish and poultry aisles, our customer’s shopping experience will become even more seamless.”
The move comes as supermarkets are seeing declining sales of animal protein products and spiking sales for vegan protein, the Telegraph reports.
“We were looking at as a business the challenge we face in the future, if we sell less and less meat what do you backfill it with,” James Hamilton, a plant-based buyer for the supermarket, told the Telegraph. “So we are supplementing our ranges with alternative proteins and plant based ranges. We are interested to see what happened.”
According to Hamilton, Sainsbury’s has seen an 82 percent increase in customers seeking out vegan products online. That interest has translated to a 65 percent increase in sales of vegan options in stores. But Hamilton thinks there’s an even bigger market–customers who regularly purchase meat are expected to experiment with the vegan options with it now in their proximity when looking for healthier protein.
The article was published on Livekindly. Continue reading . . .