Trends come and go. Whether it be Beanie Babies, where people invested huge amounts of money into the cute little bears, mini-skirts, hula hoops, or nose piercings, there’s one thing for sure, trends can be key to growing your business… or being left behind. Although there are those who did invest wisely in Beanie Babies, most people were left sorely disappointed with their return on investment. So what do trends have to do with vegans and vegan owned businesses. Actually, a great deal. Although the term “vegan” was coined in 1944, by Donald Watson, a British woodworker, it’s only been recently that vegans are considered more mainstream. In the last few years, those who identify as vegan, veganism and vegan-identified businesses are definitely on the rise. There are a few primary reasons. One, with information more widely available due to the Internet, people are more well-informed about what veganism is and that while a part of it is about factory farming and the atrocities animals are subjected to, that isn’t everything. Second, due to the shutdowns caused by the pandemic, more people sought out information on how to improve their personal health and that of their families, finding that eliminating meat has led to some incredible health turnarounds. Third, with people realizing they have been misguided about veganism, the meat industry, and the benefits of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, more are seeking the truth. That truth has led to a greater understanding of the current and impending negative impact that raising animals for human consumption is creating on the environment, our water supply, in increased mortality rates, and a decline in the survival of our planet. Additionally, regardless of whether or not people view veganism as ethical, they see the financial benefit to offering vegan food options. While some may think veganism is the latest “fad trend”, research indicates the opposite. • The number of people who identify as vegans has jumped 3,000% in the last 15 years. (LiveKindly) • The worldwide vegan food market grew from $14.44 billion in 2020 to $15.77 billion in 2021. (OpenPR) • Vegan identified service-based companies are on the rise, with many vegans choosing to do business primarily with vegan-owned businesses. Additionally, the number of vegan-identified podcast shows is on the rise. A quick search on Apple Podcast under the category of “Vegan” results in numerous choices. Dig deeper into “Vegan Marketing” or “Vegan Business” and there are even more shows to choose from. While most trends come and go, others evolve into beneficial lifestyle changes. As vegan business owners, we’ve found other trends of importance as follows.
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