In 2023, Germany saw a 17% increase in meat substitute product demand, with production rising by 17% year on year, according to the country’s Federal Statistical Office.
The rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan meat alternatives like veggie burgers, tofu sausages, and seitan mortadella is driving this upward trend, as reported by Destatis.
Data from Destatis revealed that Germany produced around 121,600 tons of meat substitute products in 2023, marking a 16.6% growth from the previous year.
The number of companies manufacturing faux meat products in Germany also increased, from 51 in 2022 to 67 in 2023, showcasing the industry’s expansion.
Over a five-year period, production more than doubled, indicating a significant shift towards meat substitutes, although the value of these alternatives remains lower compared to traditional meat products, according to Destatis.
In 2023, the value of meat and meat products in Germany reached €44.8bn, nearly 80 times higher than the value of meat substitute items, which increased by 5.6% year on year to €583.2m.
Despite the substantial difference in value, the gap between meat products and alternative items has narrowed over the past five years, reflecting changing consumer preferences.
In terms of meat consumption, Germany witnessed a significant decline in per-capita consumption in 2022, dropping by 4.2kg to slightly under 52kg, signifying a nearly 12% decrease compared to 2019 figures.
While meat production in Germany decreased by 4% in 2023, with domestic production declining for the seventh consecutive year, the country’s alt-meat industry continues to show promising growth trends.
In February, preliminary figures from Destatis indicated a significant drop of 4% in meat production in Germany in 2023, marking a consistent decline over the past few years.
Further data on meat consumption and production trends in Germany for 2023 is awaited, but insights from previous years suggest a shift towards lower per-capita meat consumption and increased interest in alternative meat products.
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