Free from meat but full of profit

Quorn widening appeal with PMPs

VEGANUARY might be over, but the trend for meat-free food isn’t going anywhere soon.

Meat free products are now  bought by almost 10.2m shoppers in the UK, with 47% of consumers choosing to reduce their meat consumption.

The frozen meat free category is performing particularly well with 15% growth year-on-year, and meat substitute firm Quorn said it accounts for an impressive 49% of sales in that market.

Gary Routledge, Quorn Foods’ national account manager, said that the category offered a great way to gain sales from the growing number of meat free consumers.

“Retailers can use Quorn as a beacon brand as part of their ‘meal for tonight’ offering,” he said.

“Frozen meat free products are also attracting new consumers into the frozen category, so it’s important that retailers stock products such as nuggets, burgers and sausages as these make the introduction to meat free really simple.”

For c-store retailers, PMPs could be a useful tool to encourage shoppers into the meat free category, according to Routledge.

“Our core range of five frozen Quorn products has been developed specifically for this channel and enables consumers to make their favourite tea time meals quickly, healthier and meat free,” he said.

“The range includes Quorn Burgers which are price-marked at £2.29 and are ideal for healthier meal times.”

“These are complemented by Quorn Cottage Pie and Quorn Lasagne ready meals which are price-marked at £1.79.

“Price sensitive shoppers are always looking for value for money – this coupled with a rise in consumers reducing their meat consumption enables retailers to take advantage when stocking Quorn’s frozen price marked range.”