The demand for plant-based dishes in company restaurants is growing yearly, as workplace services provider Sodexo Ireland marks Veganuary 2023 with food data results from 43 of its client sites in Ireland.
Details
Approximately 21,600 vegetarian or vegan meals were bought on those sites between January and November 2022, representing a thriving 8.5% of sales – up from 5% in 2021.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes purchased on client sites in Northern Ireland remained steady, at 6% of sales, for both years.
Sodexo offers vegan and vegetarian main courses, grab-and-go snacks, and sandwiches throughout the year. The survey showed that demand for plant-based food options is greatest during the summer months, but December also has a strong showing.
Statements
Claire Atkins Morris, director of corporate responsibility at Sodexo, said, “Whether people are vegan, vegetarian, or just want to try something new, it’s great to see that more and more customers are trying plant-based meals across our sites. This really demonstrates a shift in consumer awareness, a wider range of options, and a marketplace responding.
“We are a proud supporter of Veganuary, and our community of chefs are encouraging more customers to try our plant-based meals by developing delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes that show the variety of meal options people have at our client sites. As part of our net-zero commitment, we have set ourselves the goal of increasing the number of plant-based meals and recipes our clients choose from to 33% by 2025.”
Toni Vernelli, head of communication and marketing at Veganuary, added, “We’re delighted to see Sodexo reporting an increase in sales of vegan and vegetarian meals across their UK and Ireland client sites. Veganuary is here to support anyone who wants to try being vegan, but it makes our job a lot simpler when organisations like Sodexo are offering delicious, nutritious, and easily accessible options.”
Read More: Sodexo Quarterly Sales Top Estimates As People Return To Offices
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