The 'Alternative Meat Trend' Blowing Through School Meals... "Healthy Eating Habits and Value Consumption"

Increased Use of Alternative Meat in Food Industry... Product Diversification
More Use of Alternative Meat in School Meals
CJ Freshway's Alternative Meat Sales Up 334%

Vegetarian menu by CJ Freshway. Photo by CJ Freshway

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As interest in 'sustainable food' that protects both health and the environment grows, demand for plant-based meat alternatives is increasing across various sectors. In particular, menus using meat alternatives are gradually spreading even in the school meal industry, which has long been a stronghold for conventional meat.

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 26th, the domestic plant-based meat alternative market size was $17.4 million as of 2020. The market, which was $14.1 million in 2016, has grown by more than 23% in four years, and the industry expects it to expand to $22.6 million by 2025.

As the utilization of meat alternatives increases in the existing food industry, various products are flooding the market. Even in the school meal sector, where the use of meat alternatives has been relatively rare, menus featuring these products are gradually appearing on tables. Although the infant and toddler meal industry is not yet an active market for meat alternatives, the global increase in demand suggests high growth potential.

Recently, school meals are shifting toward not only healthy growth but also discouraging excessive meat consumption and encouraging vegetarianism. Accordingly, demand for value-driven consumption items such as meat alternative menus, plant-based bakery products, and animal welfare ingredients is also increasing significantly. However, since it is crucial to consume various nutrients during growth periods, overcoming somewhat negative perceptions from parents regarding meat alternatives remains a challenge.

Among domestic food ingredient suppliers, CJ Freshway is leading the market. CJ Freshway began distributing meat alternative products at the end of 2020 and has expanded related product lines about threefold in two years. Sales related to meat alternative products increased by 334% compared to the previous year as of this year. The number of clients, including daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools, also increased by approximately 2.3 times. In line with the growing preference for meat alternative menus, the product range has diversified from menu-type items such as tofu croquettes and vegan sweet and sour pork to ingredient items like plant-based burger patties and vegan sauces.

Other food ingredient suppliers such as Ourhome and Pulmuone Foodmerce are not yet actively using meat alternatives in the infant and toddler meal sector but are continuously monitoring and showing interest in related demand.

An industry insider said, "As companies are rushing into the meat alternative market due to increasing demand, it is expected that demand for meat alternatives will also grow in the infant and toddler meal sector. With significant improvements in nutrition, taste, and menu quality, there is sufficient growth potential as long as there is no parental resistance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.