Sodexo Announces Year-On-Year Increase in Popularity of Meat-Free Meals

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19 January 2024

Across the 2.7 million meals sold in Sodexo’s UK and Ireland client sites in 2023, 11 per cent were vegan or vegetarian, an increase of one per cent from 2022’s figures.

The analysis of meal choices was conducted across 285 of Sodexo’s sites and shows some interesting regional variations. People in the East Midlands chose meat-free dishes more frequently than in any other region, accounting for 19 per cent of all meals sold compared to 18 per cent in the North West, 16 per cent in Ireland, 15 per cent in London, 13 per cent in Wales and 11 per cent in Scotland.  

Sodexo has made a public commitment to offer 33 per cent plant-based dishes on their menus by 2025. The company serves around one million meals per day.

The news was announced to mark Veganuary 2024, which has its own workplace challenge to encourage workers to eat a purely plant-based diet for one month. In 2023, almost 200 organisations participated worldwide, including Aveda, Volkswagen Group UK, Superdrug, Sky, Allianz Germany, EY and Quorn.

Claire Atkins Morris, Director of Sustainability at Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “The increasing preference for meat-free options among our customers is a testament to both the shift in consumer awareness and to the work done by our talented chefs to reformulate menus and create new delicious plant-forward and plant-based recipes.  

“With a wide array of tasty and nutritious options available across our client sites, it is important that our consumers are able to make well-informed decisions about the food they eat.”

Picture: a photograph showing some meat-free options from Sodexo's menus. The photograph shows three different plates, featuring meatballs, some samosas and chickpeas and a tart with beetroot and carrot. Image Credit: Sodexo

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 19 January 2024

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