Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Please enter at least 3 characters.
Latest Stories

Britons buying more meat alternatives, vitamin supplements, sugar substitutes

Britons buying more meat alternatives, vitamin supplements, sugar substitutes
Vegan burgers (Photo: iStock)

Shoppers bought more meat, animal protein, and sugar alternatives in spring 2021, when compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, a new study has found.

The analysis by Listonic, a smart grocery shopping list app, has also seen a considerable increase in vitamin supplements purchase, with 34 per cent more vitamin supplements appearing on shopping lists


According to data from Listonic, meat substitutes ended up in British carts 58 per cent more often and veggie burgers (+74%), tempeh (+54%), and tofu (+47%) include among trending meat alternatives. Hummus, which is a plant-based substitute for pâté, has seen an equally impressive increase of 43 per cent.

In addition to meat alternatives that manufacturers offer more frequently, customers are also substituting animal protein. Britons replace it with plant-based foods like legumes, bran or nuts. Interest in individual products increased for groat and rice by 71 per cent, and bran and fibre by 16.6 per cent.

The Listonic analysis also suggests that customers want to reduce calorie intake in their diet, and choose substitutes for sugar — sugar equivalents and sweeteners. In spring 2021, 64 per cent more sugar substitutes were added to British shopping lists, with honey turning out as the most popular sugar alternative, followed by maple syrup, and stevia.

More for you

​A Christmas shopper
A Christmas shopper walks on South Molton street on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

Slower sales growth in December despite festive boost from promotions

Total Till sales growth slowed at UK supermarkets (+3.2%) in the last four weeks ending 28 December 2025, down from 3.7 per cent in the previous month, according to new data released today byNIQ.

After a slow start to December 2024, food sales rallied in the final three weeks leading up to Christmas, with sales hitting £14.6bn, helped by intense discounts and increased promotional activity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Christopher Head OBE demands fair treatment in Horizon scandal redress process

(Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Christopher Head OBE demands fair treatment in Horizon scandal redress process

One of the victims of the UK’s infamous Post Office Horizon scandal, Christopher Head OBE, has called on the government to urgently address issues with the redress schemes set up to compensate those affected.

In a letter dated today (7), Head has called on to Minister Gareth Thomas and Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds to take concrete corrective actions at the earliest, detailing the "unfairness" and inconsistencies plaguing the schemes administered by the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Keep ReadingShow less
​Broken door

Broken door of Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies’ new premises in the Houston Industrial Estate, in Livingston, West Lothian

Photo: Facebook/Zen Vape And Smoke Supplies

West Lothian retailer offers cash reward after break-in delays opening of new store

A break-in at Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies’ new premises in the Houston Industrial Estate, in Livingston, West Lothian, has delayed the store’s grand opening, scheduled for tomorrow (8 January).

The incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, caused extensive damage to the store’s entrance, locking the business out of the property and halting progress on the site.

Keep ReadingShow less
PC John Sharp with the Thorne Shop Watch poster

PC John Sharp with the Thorne Shop Watch poster which is given for businesses to display once they have signed up to the scheme

Photo: South Yorkshire Police

Thorne Shop Watch scheme tackles retail crime with success

A police-led initiative to combat retail crime in Thorne is yielding positive results, with over 15 shops now actively sharing intelligence about prolific offenders.

The Shop Watch scheme, launched in September 2024 by Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), has created a robust network of retailers committed to tackling theft and criminal activity in the town.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gordon's Pink Mix It Up

‘Zebra striping’ and ‘one night only’: Socialising trends for 2025

Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker, Don Julio Tequila and Guinness, has unveiled its annual global trends report which reveals how and why consumers will socialise over the next year.

Based on AI analysis of over 160 million online conversations across the world, Distilled 2025 offers detailed insights into what is driving discussions globally and the current trends shaping consumer decision-making.

Keep ReadingShow less