Between 2-6% of the US population is vegan, which means plant based trends are a vital part of the food and beverage industry landscape. So let’s take a deep dive into the top 5 plant based and alternative protein trends rising to the top in 2022!

1. Vegan Eggs

When it comes to vegan eggs, the statistics speak for themselves. The global vegan egg market enjoyed year-on-year growth of 6.9% in 2021, and was valued at $1.5 billion. Staggeringly, it is predicted to reach a high CAGR of 8.3% through 2031. According to vegconomist.com the “vegan egg product segment is the fastest growing plant-based category in the world”. Spero Foods, Oggs and JUST Egg are some of the leading vegan egg brands who will continue to disrupt the market in 2022 and beyond.

2. Potato Milk

2021 was certainly the year for oat milk. The oat milk market is projected to reach USD 2.2 Billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 6.2%. But there’s a new non-diary kid on the block in 2022: potato milk. DUG, a vegan-friendly plant-based drinks company, are one of the leading producers of potato milk. Their products include Original for breakfast, Unsweetened (without any added sugar), and Barista for use in hot drinks. Dairy free, fat-free and cholesterol free, potato milk is also easy to make at home. So it will rise to be a leading plant-based trend in 2022. 

3. Traceability

Supply chain traceability is another important trend for 2022. Plant based manufacturers will increasingly be investing in supply chain software which provides data to give real-time visibility across the supply chain, manage quality and the threat of product recalls. Traceability will be a leading consumer requirement in 2022; with many plant based customers desiring to know about the full life cycle of all the food and beverage products they consume. 

4. Cell Cultured Meat

The future of animal-free meat is exciting, and in 2022 cell cultured meat may finally become a common sight in supermarkets. In late 2021, California startup UPSIDE Foods opened up its first large scale production facility, which has been designed to produce 50,000 lbs of cell-cultured meat per year for commercial sale. And early on in the year Future Meat Technologies revealed that they can now make their cultured chicken for just $7.50 per serving. If costs can be brought down to this level, there will surely be a strong demand for this alternative protein in 2022.

5. Vegan Chocolate 

Anyone who’s tried vegan chocolate in recent years knows how delicious it can be. Leading manufacturers of vegan chocolate are now rivalling traditional chocolate producers when it comes to delivering on taste and texture. And since vegan chocolate contains fewer and more natural ingredients, and high amounts of cocoa or cocoa butter, it’s a healthier choice. It’s a trend that’s certainly here to stay in 2022. 

Cashmere Systems can help with traceability for your plant-based products in 2022. Get in touch today to learn more!