A recent report published by Jem pre Zem (I Eat for Earth) reveals that one in three people (36.8%) in Slovakia is reducing their consumption of animal-based products or considering a future decrease in consumption of these products. The value of Slovak households‘ purchases of plant-based alternatives and tofu has steadily risen, reaching €40.4 million in 2022.

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Bratislava, Slovakia, November 9, 2023: Interest in reducing the consumption of animal-based products spans across all age groups in Slovakia, with the highest engagement observed among citizens aged 25 to 34. Within this demographic, nearly one-fourth (24.7%) have already reduced animal-based food consumption and an additional 22.9% are considering a decrease in the future. Women are more likely to make this decision.

Traditional soy products, including tofu, tempeh, and textured soy protein, dominated the purchases of Slovak households (37.9%) in 2022 within the plant-based products category. Following closely behind was the plant-based milk alternatives category, purchased by 34.3% of Slovak households.

The household purchase value of plant-based alternatives and tofu in Slovakia has experienced long-term growth, reaching €40.4 million in 2022. Despite a slower growth rate of 8.7% compared to the preceding years of 2021 and 2020, which saw growth rates of approximately 20%, the market continued to expand even amid the recent crisis. Plant-based milk alternatives accounted for 7.3% of milk purchases by households, while plant-based meat alternatives and tofu represented 3.5% of meat and meat product purchases.

The report is based on data from a survey conducted by Focus on behalf of Jem pre Zem, which included a representative sample of Slovak citizens aged 18 and older. Additionally, GfK data from a Consumer Panel representative of Slovak households was analyzed.

Marian Milec, the author of the report, commented, „The plant-based market is experiencing rapid growth in Slovakia, yet it still represents only a fraction of the value of its animal-based counterparts. This presents an exciting window of opportunity for food manufacturers and retailers to enter the market and fully grasp its potential. Both local and global food manufacturers are recognizing this potential. However, some global players are yet to fully grasp the opportunities in the Slovak plant-based market.“ The complete report is available for free on the Jem pre Zem website: https://jemprezem.sk/stav-trhu-s-rastlinnymi-alternativami-na-slovensku-2023/

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Jem pre Zem (I Eat for Earth) is a non-profit program dedicated to promoting sustainable food choices and making them more accessible.

The program operates in two primary areas: encouraging the incorporation of more plant-based food into the Slovak diet and cooperating with plant-based food manufacturers to increase the availability of plant-based options in Slovakia, thereby making the market more attractive for these companies.

Contact:
Marian Milec
marian.milec@jemprezem.sk
+421 948 847 652