Plant-based food in Australia - statistics & facts
Plant-based alternatives are slowly edging their way onto the plates of Australia’s meat and dairy-loving consumers, with a growing slice of the population adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet. Even flexitarians and meat eaters contribute significantly to the trend, incorporating plant-based products as an addition rather than a replacement to their current diet. While Australia’s meat industry continues to substantially contribute to the economy annually, with the country ranking among the leading beef exporters worldwide and recording high domestic meat consumption, a growing interest in ethical, sustainable, and health-orientated eating is supporting a trend toward reduced animal product intake.
The success of Australia's plant-based landscape remains highly dependent on the continuous development of processing capacities to support its domestic and export markets, the innovations of its companies, and the market’s ability to align with consumer expectations.
Is plant-based going mainstream in Australia?
Australia’s plant-based alternatives have vastly expanded beyond tofu and soy milk to diverse options, such as vegan burgers, sausages, and cheese, that mimic the taste and texture of animal products in a bid to win over the average meat-eating consumer. While the country’s per-capita consumption of meat and cow’s milk has been dropping in recent years, meat alternative and milk substitute intake have been gradually rising, exhibiting their potential to disrupt Australia’s meat and animal product industry. Across plant-based alternatives trialed by the country’s consumers, plant-based milks were the most tried dairy alternative, with hamburgers leading in the meat substitutes segment.More vegan versions are on the menu
From international names like Oatly, Vitasoy, and Beyond Meat to domestic brands including So Good, Made With Plants, and v2food, plant-based offerings have become increasingly accessible across Australia’s cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets. Melbourne-born fast-food chain Lord of the Fries even offers a 100% plant-based menu. Nonetheless, despite the expansion of alternative protein and dairy ranges, taste and texture continue to stifle consumer uptake alongside a general enjoyment of meat and animal products. Moreover, plant-based foods remain comparatively more expensive than most of their animal-product counterparts.Are alternative milks disrupting Australia’s dairy industry?
Only two percent of Australian households report exclusively purchasing plant-based milks, with over one-third buying both dairy and non-dairy alternatives. Soy and almond milk are the go-to options for Australia’s milk substitute drinkers, with oat milk also gaining momentum in the country’s alternative milk market due to its neutral flavor and lower carbon footprint. However, dairy products continue to lead sales compared to their non-dairy equivalents, with just over seven percent of Australia’s retail milk sales attributable to milk alternatives.Will Australia become an alternative proteins market leader?
Australia has become a promising hotspot for plant-based meat manufacturing, witnessing a surge in alternative proteins investment and government initiatives to support industry innovation and the expansion of domestic plant protein manufacturing infrastructure. The country boasts several alternative protein companies, like Harvest B, with local brands dominating retail sales. Alongside this, Australia’s plant-based meat sales have almost doubled since 2019, driven by strong demand in the food service segment, with consumer expenditure in the sector projected to exceed 1.6 billion Australian dollars by 2033.The success of Australia's plant-based landscape remains highly dependent on the continuous development of processing capacities to support its domestic and export markets, the innovations of its companies, and the market’s ability to align with consumer expectations.
