Tesco sets sales for plant-based meat substitutes at 300%

Tesco is set to become the first UK retailer to set sales targets for meat alternatives that are plant-based.

Tesco will commit on Tuesday to boosting sales of meat alternatives by 300% within five years, by 2025.

Demand for plant-based meat substitutes increased by 50% in 2019, leading the retailer to expand into more categories and create larger “centrepiece” dishes.

According to the Guardian, global demand for plant-based protein is predicted to reach £4.1bn in 2020, against £2.9bn in 2015.

Aside from the rise in demand for plant-based products, Tesco also sees this as a move that is part of a package of sustainability measures developed with its charity partner World Wide Fund for Nature.

Dave Lewis, Tesco CEO, said: “We know from tackling food waste that transparency and ambitious targets are the first steps towards becoming a more sustainable business.”

Tesco will expand its own plant-based range of products under the label Wicked Kitchen, which launched in 2018. The products will be available in all of its stores.