In contrast to the meat case, refrigerated plant-based meat alternatives continued to lose sales in September 2022 when compared to the prior year, according to IRI retail sales data, generating $30 million in sales for the month and down -17.1% versus September 2021. Most refrigerated meat substitutes were down year-on-year in both dollars and pounds sold.
But while sales for meat alternative products may be languishing in the current inflationary retail environment, 29% of the population reports limiting consumption of meat in some way, according to Datassential's 2022 Plant-Forward Opportunity Report, a collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America, Food for Climate League and the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. More than one-third (36%) of Gen Z may be considered meat limiters, as Gen Z sports a higher proportion of vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians.