According to a study commissioned by Palsgaard, buyers are generally happy with plant-based products in the market today, with 4 in 10 saying they purchased more since the onset of the pandemic. The top decision driver is they consider these variants are the better and healthier option, while 51.3% enjoyed the taste. About 45.8% want to help address environment and sustainability issues.

The study from the emulsifier and stabiliser company involved 1,307 respondents from Mexico, France, Russia, the U.S. and Vietnam.

Majority of the consumers that changed their purchasing behaviour were part of the younger generation, aged 18-24. Almost half of the respondents in this age range turned to plant-based more compared to those aged 55-64, which comprised 34.8%.

The white paper also included areas for improvement pointed that producers should consider. Top of mind involved reducing sedimentation in plant-based milk and enhancing its texture, creaminess and overall mouthfeel. They also wanted products that had longer shelf-life and that minimised water separation particularly in dairy-free yoghurt.

Haydee Carlos, Palsgaard’s Application Manager, said: “The onset of COVID-19 appears to have triggered more interest in the market for plant-based food and beverages. This may be because the pandemic has led to a greater focus on health generally, and on the environment. At the same time, the plant-based sector is rapidly evolving, so there are more and more new products out there for consumers to explore.”

Carlos said: “The good news is our survey showed us that overall, consumers are really happy with the plant-based products that are already out there. We were, however, able to identify a few key areas where consumers would like to see improvements, and our White Paper explores this in more detail.”

“The plant-based market is still relatively new, and we know manufacturers are still learning about the challenges in creating alternatives to dairy. Palsgaard can help with these challenges and working with us can also help shorten the product development time,” senior marketing specialist Mette Dal Steffensen shared.

New consumer insights and findings will be shared by Palsgaard at Fi Europe’s online event, held from November 22 to December 2, 2021.