UK supermarket Tesco has set a target of increasing sales of plant-based meat alternatives by 300% over the next five years. The UK’s largest supermarket announced on Tuesday that it plans to grow its range of meat alternatives to offer plant-based options for sausages, burgers, quiches, pies, party-food, breaded meat alternatives and ready meals.
As part of the drive to increase sales of plant-based foods, Tesco said it would begin publishing sales figures for plant-based products as a percentage of overall protein sales every year, to track its progress in meeting its 300% growth target.
“Food production, specifically meat and dairy production, has a significant impact on precious habitats like the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil and is acknowledged as a major contributor to climate change,” Tesco said in a statement, despite the fact the retailer sources almost no meat from South America, with most meat supplied by farmers in the UK and Ireland.
Tesco said the drive to increase plant-based food sales is part of its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Comment: Nothing more than virtue signalling
Given the fact that Tesco sources almost all of its meat and dairy from farmers and food producers in the UK and Ireland, this initiative to drive higher sales of plant-based foods looks like nothing more than virtue signalling from the UK’s largest supermarket chain.
Tesco is one of the largest buyers of beef, lamb, pork, chicken, cheese, butter and other traditional dairy products in the UK and Ireland. The supermarket says it exports more than €700m worth of Irish food to its network of stores in the UK and further afield every year and the company is a major customer for companies like ABP, Dawn Meats, ICM, Ornua and Glanbia.
With Tesco’s supply chain for meat and dairy rooted in the UK and Ireland, its plan to grow sales of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives as a means to reduce the impact of food production on the Amazon and Cerrado of Brazil is highly questionable.
Given Tesco’s market share and its level of customer penetration in the UK and Ireland, this drive to push higher sales of plant-based alternatives – most of which could be classified as little more than highly processed food – is very disappointing and looks like little more than a sales gimmick to sell higher margin products to well-meaning consumers.
If Tesco really wanted to make a difference to tackle climate change it would be better off informing its customers of the sustainable choice they make every week when they purchase meat and dairy sourced from family farms in the UK and Ireland.
Read more
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UK supermarket Tesco has set a target of increasing sales of plant-based meat alternatives by 300% over the next five years. The UK’s largest supermarket announced on Tuesday that it plans to grow its range of meat alternatives to offer plant-based options for sausages, burgers, quiches, pies, party-food, breaded meat alternatives and ready meals.
As part of the drive to increase sales of plant-based foods, Tesco said it would begin publishing sales figures for plant-based products as a percentage of overall protein sales every year, to track its progress in meeting its 300% growth target.
“Food production, specifically meat and dairy production, has a significant impact on precious habitats like the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil and is acknowledged as a major contributor to climate change,” Tesco said in a statement, despite the fact the retailer sources almost no meat from South America, with most meat supplied by farmers in the UK and Ireland.
Tesco said the drive to increase plant-based food sales is part of its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Comment: Nothing more than virtue signalling
Given the fact that Tesco sources almost all of its meat and dairy from farmers and food producers in the UK and Ireland, this initiative to drive higher sales of plant-based foods looks like nothing more than virtue signalling from the UK’s largest supermarket chain.
Tesco is one of the largest buyers of beef, lamb, pork, chicken, cheese, butter and other traditional dairy products in the UK and Ireland. The supermarket says it exports more than €700m worth of Irish food to its network of stores in the UK and further afield every year and the company is a major customer for companies like ABP, Dawn Meats, ICM, Ornua and Glanbia.
With Tesco’s supply chain for meat and dairy rooted in the UK and Ireland, its plan to grow sales of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives as a means to reduce the impact of food production on the Amazon and Cerrado of Brazil is highly questionable.
Given Tesco’s market share and its level of customer penetration in the UK and Ireland, this drive to push higher sales of plant-based alternatives – most of which could be classified as little more than highly processed food – is very disappointing and looks like little more than a sales gimmick to sell higher margin products to well-meaning consumers.
If Tesco really wanted to make a difference to tackle climate change it would be better off informing its customers of the sustainable choice they make every week when they purchase meat and dairy sourced from family farms in the UK and Ireland.
Read more
McDonald’s survey shows consumers want locally sourced beef
FBD Insurance named in ‘price signalling’ probe
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