Vegan cuisine is dominating the UK’s takeaway scene, with orders increasing by 388% since 2016, new figures suggest.
The research by Retail Economics, commissioned by the British Takeaway Campaign (BTC), also found orders of vegetarian food have increased by 136%.
The findings are perhaps unsurprising, considering the number of vegans in Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2018. It’s thought there are more than 600,000 vegans currently living in the UK.
In 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation, according to The Vegan Society, and just this month, a UN report suggested adopting a plant-based diet is one of the biggest ways you can tackle climate change.
Overall, the research found consumer spending on takeaways has increased by 18% to £12.5bn in 2018, from £10.6bn in 2015. That growth is forecast to continue, with £15bn predicted to be spent by 2023.
The BTC report suggests the increase in meat-free orders is responsible for a good chunk (25%) of this growth, between 2016 to 2018.
In addition to a high demand for vegan cuisine, Greek, Caribbean, Persian and Thai takeaways have also seen a significant increase over the last two years.
The average household is now spending £38 per month on takeaways, according to the report – a 25% rise on the last decade.
Ibrahim Dogus, chair of the BTC, said: “As people look for healthier and more diverse eating options, they aren’t turning away from takeaways – they are turning towards them.”