#20bis Destination Poland (English Version)
At Vegg2food, we decided to take you on a trip to a new vegan hot spot. This week we offer you the opportunity to take a closer look at the Polish vegan market.
Poland, an unexpected choice for a newsletter, you may ask? Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that Poland is considered one of the best countries in Europe for its vegan food scene!
With a population of over 38 million1, Poland is the fifth-most populous member state of the European Union. It has been a member state of the European Union since 2004. Then what about the evolution of Polish culinary trends? Traditional Polish cuisine has a reputation of being heavily filled with meat and other animal products. However, vegetarian and vegan meals are much easier to find than you may think!
As meat and dairy products were not constantly readily available in Poland in the past, many vegan dishes have developed throughout the country. Some of these foods are still popular and well established in the Polish cuisine of today. If the stereotype of Polish food being quite fatty remains strong, the population remains receptive to new culinary influences. Plant-based cuisine has been gaining popularity among Poles.
📜 On the menu this week :
Veganism in Poland
The plant-based catering offer
A fast-growing vegan market
A brief look at some Polish vegan companies
Conclusion
🌱 Veganism in Poland
To begin with, Poles have a relatively low meat consumption compared to the rest of the EU. In 2020, the average Pole ate 72,9 kilograms2 of meat while the average meat consumption in France was 84.5 kilograms3 per capita.
According to the research firm Ariadna, 8.4% of Poles had followed a vegetarian (6.6%) or vegan (1.8%) diet in the preceding month4. Some 38.5%5 of those who ate meat said they had made at least some effort to reduce their consumption. It's significant to note that almost 60%6 of respondents expressed a desire to limit meat consumption in the next two years. The survey estimates that over 3 million7 Polish people no longer eat meat. Besides, more than half of those who identify as vegetarians or vegans are under 35 years old8.
🥗 The plant-based catering offer
The Polish capital appears to be a vegan paradise right in the center of Europe. Warsaw ranked the sixth most vegan-friendly city in the world9 by Happy Cow. It is the fifth year in a row that the city has made the top ten. Moreover, it's interesting to notice that the number of vegan and vegetarian options continues to grow, with 5010 vegan and 7811 vegetarian eateries in 2019.
The largest restaurant and fast-food chains have recently introduced or expanded their offers for vegetarians and vegans. On top of that, the phenomenon is now spreading to other cities in Poland like Krakow, Wroclaw, or Gdansk.
👉🏻 A fast-growing vegan market
Flexitarianism is growing in popularity. This trend is influenced by the attitudes of consumers looking for healthy and environmental products. Poles particularly appreciate the flexitarian diet for its variety of new tastes and textures.
As a result, the market segment for plant-based alternatives is increasing fast. The Poland vegan food market size was valued at $25 billion12 in 2020 and is expected to reach $140 billion13 by 2030. The sector grew by 49%14 between 2019 and 2021. With an almost 60%15 increase in sales, the highest annual growth concerns plant-based yogurts. The sales level of plant-based milk and drinks is also rising by about 20-25%16. Many retail stores are expanding the offer of plant-based products and create own brand in this market segment.
👀 A brief look at some Polish vegan companies
The majority of Polish food tech companies operate in the meat and dairy substitutes space (56.2%), with second and third place belonging to beverages (31.2%) and instant food (25%)17. At Vegg2food, we give you a quick overview of some Polish companies that have entered this market :
In terms of revenue, Polsoja is one of the most considerable players in the meat alternatives market, if not the largest. The company, a pioneer in the sector more than 15 years ago, has undoubtedly contributed to raising awareness of plant-based food among Poles. Their range includes, in addition to their well-known tofu and sausages, burgers, schnitzels, sausages, and cold cuts.
The company BezMięsny that is also known as the first Polish plant-based "butcher" caught our attention. Launched in 2016 following a crowdfunding project, the brand offers a wide range of products based on wheat and pea proteins (bacon, sausages, burgers, charcuterie, etc.) available in Auchan, Carrefour, Selgros, or Lewiatan stores.
Initially known for its healthy snacks and breakfast products, Dobra Kaloria had launched its first meat substitute in cooperation with Lidl. The product quickly stood out on the market because of the attractive price-performance ratio, with texture and taste reminiscent of meat. Then, Dobra Kaloria started introducing products such as meatballs, sausages, gyros, pates, chops, and pates. The brand is now a reference point for other companies in Poland.
Founded in 2018 by two sisters, the artisanal cashew cheese brand Wege Siostry became the first Polish company to position itself in this product category. Their premium dairy alternatives have been available in many stores such as Auchan or Lidl.
Finally, we can mention Roślinny Qurczak's products are available in many stores and online retailers nationwide. This Polish company of vegetable alternatives to chicken can boast of getting into the "Google for Startups" program.
🤝 Conclusion
To conclude, the vegan market is growing in Poland. Consequently, the supply is becoming more and more abundant. Positioning new products in the Polish vegan sector is therefore not as simple. Similar to other countries and especially on the Polish market, undiscovered areas of plant-based products correspond to eggs, fish, and seafood.
Rafal Czech, founder of Bezmięsny-Mięsny -the company we mentioned before- stated:
The market is highly absorbent and there is still plenty of free space for new companies.18
For this, however, it is recommended to identify a polish intermediary who will be able to import and redistribute the products to stores and retailers.
Worldometers, Poland population.
Consumption of meat per capita in Poland from 2005 to 2020, Statista, November 2021.
La consommation de viande en 2020, FranceAgriMer, Juin 2021.
Almost 40% of Poles claim to be cutting back on meat and 8.4% have quit completely, Notes for Poland, January 2020.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
State of FoodTech and the alternative protein industry globally and within Europe, Venture Inc, June 2021.
10 Top Vegan-Friendly Cities, Happy Cow, April 2021.
Étude de marché : Les produits écologiques et «vegan» en Pologne, Wallonia, Octobre 2020.
10 Top Vegan-Friendly Cities, Happy Cow, April 2021.
Étude de marché : Les produits écologiques et «vegan» en Pologne, Wallonia, Octobre 2020.
Ibid.
Plant based food in Poland, Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkawaliteit,, 17/09/2021, September 2021.
Ibid.
Ibid.
State of FoodTech and the alternative protein industry globally and within Europe, Venture Inc, June 2021.
Plant based food in Poland, Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkawaliteit,, 17/09/2021, September 2021.