Deliveroo Reveals Massive 117% Surge In Searches For Vegan Food Options Since Veganuary 2021

As another Veganuary begins, the stats for 2021 have started rolling in. Amongst them, Deliveroo has announced that it witnessed an overall 117 percent surge in searches for vegan-specific food since last year’s event. The delivery platform has added more plant-based-friendly partners to its listings as a result.

Last year Deliveroo reported that Deliveroo Hong Kong witnessed a 160 percent surge in searches for vegan delivery options. In a press statement, Deliveroo confirmed a 153 percent increase in U.K. searches for “vegan” food since the start of the year. The findings have been linked to the kick-off of another Veganuary.

The Veganuary effect

A supporter of the plant-based eating initiative, Deliveroo has revealed that more restaurants than ever now offer animal-free dishes on its platform.

“Earlier this year we asked the UK what they would like to see more of on delivery platforms, and nearly half of the survey respondents (48.5%) said they were keen to see more meat-free options,” Elena Devis, vegan category lead for Deliveroo said in a statement. “The UK’s appetite for vegan food is one that just seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year which is why we’re proud to offer such an incredible range of plant-based dishes available across restaurant and grocery menus. 

“15,000 plant-based and vegan-suitable restaurants are now working with the delivery company. “We’re really excited to be working with Deliveroo again this Veganuary,” Toni Vernelli, international head of communications and marketing for Veganuary said in a statement. “Their dedication to improving the visibility and availability of vegan options on their platform is making it much easier for people who want to adopt a more climate-friendly diet – and that number is growing every year!”

Deliveroo has listed its top 10 cities by number of vegan food orders. The list is topped by Brighton, followed by Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, York, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Norwich, and London. This is markedly different from a recent Student Beans study which crowns Edinburgh in first place. Chester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Brighton, Cambridge, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, and Norwich followed.

Inconsistencies are likely due to the different metrics used for comparison. Deliveroo reported simply how many orders it received. Student Beans‘ study looked at which cities have the best infrastructure for vegans, including eat-in restaurants, average costs, and applicable shops. It should be noted that the report used Deliveroo competitor UberEats for delivery carrier statistics.

Edinburgh was the study’s runaway winner with 642 vegan restaurants and 42 UberEats options. London did not feature in the top 10. It fell short of the top 20 as well, thanks to higher costs for food.

New launches

Just as brands are announcing new supermarket launches, restaurants are adding vegan specials to their menus for home delivery. Wagamama has unveiled an OmniSeafood collaboration that features the company’s new fish analogue, its “Golden Fillet”. The same fillet has recently been launched in Starbucks Hong Kong. Pizza Hut has added a new Buffalo-inspired pie to its vegan menu items. Both restaurants offer eat-in or home delivery options.

Coffee chain Caffè Nero has recently announced two new sandwiches, both powered by THIS plant-based meat. The chicken arrabbiata panini and sausage ciabatta have both been released to coincide with Veganuary. It marks another partnership between the two companies, which came together for a festive panini in December.

Starbucks U.K. has made efforts not to get left behind with a range of limited edition plant-based snacks and drinks. It has also removed the surcharge for plant milk in all of its 1,020 stores.

Lead image courtesy of Unsplash.