The market for vegan and vegetarian meat alternatives is growing rapidly. At the same time, meat consumption in Germany continues to fall. When it comes to the value of the products, however, the gap is still large.
Tofu sausage, soy patty, veggie burger: the market for vegan or vegetarian meat alternatives has grown significantly despite high inflation. In Germany, companies produced 6.5 percent more meat substitutes than in 2021, as the Federal Statistical Office announced today.
Compared to 2019, this is even an increase of 72.7 percent. A total of 104,300 tons of meat substitutes were produced last year, and around 97,900 tons in 2021.
Number of manufacturers is growing
The value of these products increased by 17.3 percent to 537.4 million euros. The number of companies producing in Germany increased from 44 to 51. “Despite this increase, the value of meat substitutes is relatively low compared to meat products,” the statisticians emphasized at the same time.
In 2022, the value of meat and meat products produced in Germany was 42.4 billion euros, almost 80 times the value of substitute products. However, the distance decreases. For comparison: In 2019, the value of meat and meat products produced in Germany was 40.1 billion euros, almost 150 times as high as the value of substitute products, which was around 0.3 billion euros.
52 kilos of meat consumed per capita
In Germany, less and less meat has been eaten for years: according to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), per capita consumption was 52.0 kilograms per person last year. This is a decrease of almost 15 percent compared to 2012 – and at the same time the lowest value since calculations began in 1989.
“A possible reason for falling meat consumption could be the ongoing trend towards a plant-based diet,” according to the BLE.