You may have seen our blog post about the top food trends for 2020 at the start of the year, and one of the trends we mentioned was the rise of the plant-based diet and vegan food.
Well, that’s a trend that has very much come into its own in 2020 and even though the country is in lockdown, we’re still seeing a rise in plant-based consumers.
Vegan food is constantly improving and with the demand increasing, the trends are starting to emerge for the summer months. Don’t worry, this may be summer vegan food, but we won’t be saying a word about salads!
Say Cheese
Vegan cheese is getting better and better, it’s not just cheddar alternatives anymore either. The festive period saw huge varieties of cheese becoming available to everyone, so people expect the same variety when they visit your restaurant.
If you wanted to go the extra mile you could even try creating your own cheese or cheese sauce using things like cashews, almonds and coconut.
Seafood Substitutes
Meat isn’t the only thing being substituted in meals, seafood is going to be big for 2020 in general, but especially this summer where lighter, fresher meals are favoured.
Seafood substitutes are coming in gradually to both supermarkets and restaurant menus, so if you can get a great vegan dish on your menu, you’ll set yourself head and shoulders above the rest.
Soy is Slowing Down
Soy was at the top of the meat substitute list for a long time but this is starting to take a dip as more beans and pulses are being experimented with in its place. Soy has been under question for a while regarding the health benefits and risks of long-term consumption, so this shift has definitely come from the consumer upwards.
Consumers are opting for more natural substitutes and substitutes that have no negative connotations attached, especially as individuals who follow the vegan diet tend to be more health conscious.
Sweet Treats
This is a new trend that we’re seeing emerge over social media and it has without a doubt been influenced by the enforced downtime across the world and people’s increase in free-time to bake.
We’re talking vegan cakes, cookies, bars and so much more. Not only are these comfort foods easy to replicate for a vegan diet, but people go crazy for an excellent sweet treat.
You could start sharing your vegan takes on traditional treats over social media to make the most of this craze and to maintain visits to your website and social channels during the current period of lockdown.
