Are you still treating plant-based as a fad?

Sponsored by Marie’s Refrigerated Salad Dressings

According to the Good Food Institute, in 2020, total plant-based grocery sales reached $7 billion, and sales grew 43 percent over the past two years. Consumer interest around plant-based alternatives only continues to grow with household penetration at the end of 2020 reaching 57 percent. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the consumption of plant-based products has accelerated with 47 percent of Americans reporting that they ate more plant-based products during COVID-19. Further, while 2.5 percent of the population is eating a vegan or vegetarian diet, 55 percent of consumers identify as flexitarian and 36 percent as meat eaters, both groups report actively trying to add more plant-based foods to their diets.  

Gaining Share of Refrigerated and Frozen Categories

Almost all plant-based alternative products were gaining share of total category at the end of 2020 versus the previous year. Plant-based milks have made the largest inroads and more than 50 percent of adults report drinking non-dairy milk. Fifteen percent of the refrigerated milk category was plant-based at the end of 2020 with a share increase of 0.7 percent over the previous 52-weeks, and more than $2.5 billion in sales. Other refrigerated and frozen plant-based alternatives demonstrating strong category growth were ice cream (4.6% share), meat alternatives (2.7% share of retail packaged meats) and yogurt ( 3.6% share).

Growing the Refrigerated Salad Dressing Category

Plant-based refrigerated salad dressings (RSD) are an emerging category with significant sales and share growth potential. Retail plant-based RSD is underrepresented compared to other retail grocery categories with only 1.3 percent of total category share at the end of 2020.  If plant-based RSD grows like other categories, there is an $11 million opportunity in the near-term (3-5 years) and up to a $61 million opportunity in the long-term (10 years).

Consumers more than ever are racing to find plant-based alternative food and beverages that are as delicious, accessible and affordable as traditional products. The number one driver of purchase is taste (52%) followed by health (39%) and claims that communicate health that appeal to consumers are plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. Food and beverage products that deliver on taste and health are positioned to win out and drive plant-based alternatives share and total category sales over time.

Innovating to Deliver Big Flavor

Marie’s Refrigerated Salad Dressings are a cornerstone of the retail RSD category. Innovating to meet consumer needs without compromising on the creamy, indulgent, full flavor dressings that consumers love is non-negotiable for the Marie’s research and development and culinary teams. The teams explored dozens of ingredients, recipes and techniques to create a perfect winning combination of plant-based ingredients, big flavors and indulgent dressing experiences. Using real ingredients like dill weed, smoked black peppercorns, Meyer lemon juice, basil, cucumber juice and ginger the Marie’s team carefully crafted the new Plant-Based Marie’s line in four flavors consumers love – Creamy Dill Ranch, Smoked Black Pepper Caesar, Meyer Lemon Basil and Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette. These dressings provide fresh full flavor notes and add new life to plant-based alternatives RSDs so there’s no need for consumers to compromise on taste with a plant-based dressing.

Plant-based food and beverages are here to stay, and Marie’s is excited to help grow retail refrigerated salad dressing category sales and increase the total plant-based alternatives share with four new exciting plant-based dressings. Companies who innovate to meet the evolving consumers needs will remain relevant and realize sales that outpace those who chose to treat plant-based diet choices as a fad. Over the past year the parent company of Marie’s, Ventura Foods, has been innovating relentlessly to meet the evolving consumer preferences. In addition to the new Marie’s Plant-Based Dressings more than 26 new products across their retail product portfolio and 100 foodservice product concepts are ready to bring to market. 

We’d love to schedule an appointment to help you understand how our new Marie’s Refrigerated Salad Dressing will provide exciting options for shoppers looking for plant-based dressings with big flavor from a brand consumers trust!

To learn more, visit https://maries.com/category/dressings/plant-based/ or contact our sales team [email protected] and they will be happy to help you find the perfect grocery or deli solution for you.