Christmas Strategy for Plant-Based Brands

From vegconomist.com

The festive season is here – a key opportunity for brands to tap into the rising demand for plant-based foods, according to ProVeg International.

With consumers embracing flexitarian and plant-forward diets, now is the time to position plant-based products as essential components of holiday celebrations.

Plant-based at Christmas

Christmas remains a cornerstone of global holiday celebrations, with food playing a central role. Increasingly, plant-based dishes are making their way onto festive tables. In the UK, for example, 27% of households will serve or prioritise vegetarian or plant-based options this Christmas, according to Tesco’s Annual Christmas Report. Younger consumers, particularly those aged 26-35, are leading this shift, with one in four British households planning alternatives to traditional turkey.

Brands are responding with innovative products like no-turkey roasts, plant-based hams, and festive cheese. The message is clear: plant-based options are no longer niche.

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Business recommendations

ProVeg’s New Food Hub recommends the following key strategies to make the most of this holiday season:

1. Expand product lines: Focus on high-demand categories like meat alternatives, veg-forward dishes, and festive desserts. Offer products that balance indulgence with health-consciousness and the increasing desire for wholefoods, like nut roasts or creamy mushroom wellingtons.
2. Celebrate regional traditions: Tailor plant-based offerings to local festive cuisines. Think plant-based bratwursts for Germany or BBQ-friendly options for Australia.
3. Boost seasonal appeal: Festive packaging, holiday recipes, and limited-time flavours (e.g., spiced eggnog oat milk) can create excitement around plant-based products.
4. Harness e-commerce: With online shopping on the rise, optimise product listings with search-friendly keywords like ‘vegan Christmas dinner’ and offer exclusive bundles to attract digital shoppers.
5. Collaborate for visibility: Partner with caterers, restaurants, and retailers to showcase plant-based options at holiday events. Joint promotions can boost awareness and drive sales.

Your next steps

The holiday season is the perfect time to elevate plant-based offerings and connect with consumers seeking sustainable and delicious options. For an in-depth guide to festive strategies, head to the New Food Hub for the full article. You can also get in touch with ProVeg’s experts for more support, at corporate@proveg.org

https://vegconomist.com/retail-e-commerce/christmas-strategy-plant-based-brands/