Catering giant Sodexo has reported another year-on-year increase in the consumption of meat-free meals.
Analysis of over 2.7 million meals sold across 285 of Sodexo’s UK and Ireland client sites in 2023 has found that 11% were vegan or vegetarian, up from the 10% reported in the previous year.
As part of its decarbonisation efforts, Sodexo has committed to increase the take-up of sustainable meals by making more plant-based meal options available.
Director of Sustainability at Sodexo UK and Ireland, Claire Atkins Morris, said: “The increasing preference for meat-free options among our customers is a testament to both the shift in consumer awareness and to the work done by our talented chefs to reformulate menus and create new delicious plant-forward and plant-based recipes.
“With a wide array of tasty and nutritious options available across our client sites, it is important that our consumers are able to make well-informed decisions about the food they eat.
“We have committed to featuring 33% plant-based meals on our menus by 2025, as we respond to evolving preferences and navigate towards Net Zero 2040.”
Head of Communication & Marketing at Veganuary, Toni Vernelli, added: “We are delighted to see an upward trend in Sodexo’s meat-free meal sales again. Offering tasty and accessible options is crucial in encouraging more individuals to consider plant-based choices.”
