Company Spotlight

Growing Vegan Population Drives Demand for Plant-Based Diets in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific Veganism Market

Insights

Veganism is gaining momentum across Asia Pacific, driven by changing consumer preferences, increased health awareness, and cultural evolution.

Rise of Vegan Population and Growing Demand for Plant-Based Diets in Asia Pacific

Veganism is rapidly growing as a prominent food trend in Asia Pacific, capturing the attention of a health-conscious consumers. This shift towards veganism is due to the combination of changing consumer preferences, growing health awareness, and cultural evolution. Such factors have catalysed a significant shift towards plant-based diets.

The plant-based sector is responding to consumer demand and experiencing significant growth in new product launches. While each global region showed favourable growth, Asia has experienced the fastest growth rate of +85% CAGR of food and beverage launches with a plant-based claim between 2018 and 2022. These product launches are paired with plant-based claims across various categories in the region, such as plant-based cheese, fish, and sweet baked goods.

One of the major drivers of veganism in Asia-Pacific is health consciousness. A rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and obesity has encouraged many consumers to rethink their diets. Plant-based diets can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, promote heart health, and contribute to overall well-being. In Asia, the demand for in-flight vegan meals is also increasing at a rapid pace, propelling airlines to offer a wide variety of plant-based meals.

Advantages of a Vegan Diet

A vegan diet, strictly based on plant-based foods, provides many health benefits if well-planned and nutritionally balanced. Removing meat and animal products can help increase nutrient intake while reducing the risk of various chronic conditions.

  • Improved Nutrient Profile: A vegan diet is enriched with fibre, antioxidants, and many essential vitamins such as A, C, and E plus potassium and magnesium.     
  • Supports Weight Management: Vegan diets are linked to lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and effective weight loss, often without the requirement for calorie restriction.
  • Better Blood Sugar Control: Vegan diets improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels, helping to manage and lower the risk of diabetes while enhancing kidney function.
  • Less Cancer Risk: Increased intake of fruits, vegetables, and legumes and decreased consumption of processed meats possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer.
  • Heart Health: Vegan diets are associated with lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Table: Vegan and Vegetarian Population of Major Countries in the Asia Pacific

Table: Vegan and Vegetarian Population of Major Countries in the Asia Pacific

The Influence of Global Movements

Global vegan movements and organisations have also entered Asia-Pacific, making a difference by promoting the advantages of plant-based diets. Organisations such as Veganuary, which encourage people to be vegan during January, have gained immense traction in countries like Australia.

The Role of E-Commerce Platforms in Accelerating Veganism

  • Dedicated e-commerce platforms in Asia-Pacific are promoting the adoption of plant-based diets. The e-commerce sites are very convenient, as they offer consumers access to a wide variety of vegan products, such as plant-based meat, dairy alternatives, and cruelty-free lifestyle items.
  • Specialised vegan online stores like vegandukan.com in India and Flora & Fauna in Australia provide online consumers with multiple choices for the plant-based diet. Websites, such as Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon, have also rolled out vegan selections, which, in turn increase the availability of such products to consumers.
  • The availability of vegan products on the online medium has reduced distance and helped people living in remote locations participate in this phenomenon. Furthermore, such websites educate buyers through their description, recipes, and blogs.
  • Such integration of e-commerce with plant-based living is not just smoothing the trend but accelerating it, ensuring that veganism reaches a wider audience.

Innovative Product Launches Drive Growth in APAC Plant-Based Food Market

The Asia-Pacific region remains a hub of innovation for the plant-based food market, with pioneering product launches that caters to the evolving consumer needs for sustainable, nutritious, and allergen-free alternatives.

  • In November 2023, GoodMorning Global Innovated with Dry Mix Meat: GoodMorning Global Group Holdings Berhad (GMG), Malaysia, launched WonderMeat, the first dry mix, plant-based meat in the country. Made of soy and pea protein, WonderMeat is a natural and chemical-free product enhanced with 28 vitamins and minerals. The product is recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records and gives priority to health benefits, including formulations that are free from trans-fats and cholesterol, making it appealing to health-conscious consumers.
  • In August 2023, Agrocorp International Launched Plant-Based Cheese: Agrocorp International launched HerbYvore Just Like Cheese, Singapore's first nut-free, plant-based cheese range. This dairy-free alternative includes cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan options, targeting consumers with lactose intolerance and dietary preferences. The innovation stems from a research partnership between Agrocorp and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to develop sustainable plant proteins. SIT’s food labs and pilot production facility, FoodPlant, played a major role in enabling product development and commercialisation.
  • In April 2023, Float Foods Launched Plant-Based Eggs: Singapore-based Float Foods took a giant stride in the plant-based food sector by introducing OnlyEg™ Poached and OnlyEg™ Yolk at the Food & Hotel Asia exhibition. OnlyEg™ Poached is a ready-to-eat, cholesterol-free substitute to poached eggs perfect for cafés, hotels, and airlines to diversify healthy menu options. Also, OnlyEg™ Yolk is one of the first plant-based raw yolks designed for various cooking applications, from hollandaise sauce to crème brûlée.

Such innovative launches address diverse dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, and allergy-based requirements, and have been fuelling the growth of the Asia Pacific plant-based food market. Companies can produce high-quality, scalable products due to improvements in proprietary technology, collaborative research, and sustainable production processes that support changing consumer preferences.

Conclusion

The rising trend of veganism in the Asia Pacific region is fuelling companies to launch innovative plant-based products catering to the changing consumer demand. Innovations in vegan products, such as plant-based eggs, cheese, and dry mix meat, serve diverse dietary requirements while ensuring sustainability. This dynamic environment highlights the important role of the region in shaping the future of plant-based food market and in creating a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

How to Purchase a Report

Website

To place an order through our website, select the license type mentioned on the report details page. Click on the ‘Buy Now’ button and fill in your details. Select your preferred mode of payment after which you will be redirected to the selected payment gateway. Follow the steps and proceed to checkout.

www.expertmarketresearch.com

Email

Enlisting all your requirements and queries along with details that include billing and delivery address and the preferred payment mode. Our customer service representative will revert to you within 24 hours.

[email protected]

Telephone

To place an order through telephone, call our sales team on the following numbers and our customer service representative will help you regarding the same.

+61 291 889 415

We’re here to help answer any questions about our products and services.

Contact us

Our Offices


Australia

63 Fiona Drive, Tamworth, NSW

+61-448-061-727

India

C130 Sector 2 Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

+91-858-608-1494

Philippines

40th Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor V.A Rufino St. Makati City,1226.

+63-287-899-028, +63-967-048-3306

United Kingdom

6 Gardner Place, Becketts Close, Feltham TW14 0BX, Greater London

+44-753-713-2163

United States

30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801

+1-415-325-5166

Vietnam

193/26/4 St.no.6, Ward Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City

+84-865-399-124

30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801

+1-415-325-5166

63 Fiona Drive, Tamworth, NSW

+61-448-061-727

C130 Sector 2 Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

+91-858-608-1494

40th Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor V.A Rufino St. Makati City, 1226.

+63-287-899-028, +63-967-048-3306

6 Gardner Place, Becketts Close, Feltham TW14 0BX, Greater London

+44-753-713-2163

193/26/4 St.no.6, Ward Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City

+84-865-399-124