The following content is sponsored by Billy Goat Brands (CSE: GOAT) (“GOAT”)
Timeline: The Rapid Evolution of Plant-Based Alternatives
From plant-based Chick’n Tenders to dairy-free Mylk, consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to alternatives products on the market.
With an explosion of new options hitting shelves at lightning speed and consumers growing more knowledgeable of plant-based diets, a shift towards eating less meat is being felt across the globe. But how did this movement come to be?
The infographic above from Billy Goat Brands (CSE: GOAT) (“GOAT”) maps out the most notable milestones in the last two decades that have contributed to the evolution of this growing market. Let’s dive in.
Key Events
Although it may feel like we are undergoing a massive transformation when it comes to alternatives, vegetarianism is nothing new. In fact, meat alternatives like tofu have been around since as early as 200 BCE.
Since then, many cultures have made plants a staple in their diet and as of 2021, there was an estimated 79 million people in the world who eat strictly plant-based.
In the table below, we break down the milestones of note that contributed to the growing plant-based market over the last 20 years:
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Quorn enters the North American market |
| 2003 | Plant-based food producer Gardein launches |
| 2009 | Beyond Meat is founded |
| 2011 | Impossible Foods is founded |
| 2011 | Sophie’s Kitchen—a plant-based seafood alternatives company—is founded |
| 2013 | The first plant-based egg substitute is created by San Francisco based startup (Read more...) |