Lidl GB has announced a significant milestone, surpassing its 2025 objective of a 400% increase in sales of meat-free and alternative milk products, achieving an impressive growth of 694%.
This achievement underscores the retailer’s strategic commitment to expanding its plant-based offerings as part of its broader sustainability and health agenda, aiming for 25% of total protein sales to come from plant-based sources by 2030, in line with the Planetary Health Diet target for 2050.
At the forefront of this shift is the Vemondo Plant! range, which has seen remarkable performance.
The retailer reports that sales of plant-based products have outperformed meat-style alternatives by nearly 20% when comparing its top three vegetable-based items to best-selling meat replacements. In response to this rising consumer demand, Lidl is actively evolving its product assortment to cater to flexitarians, vegans, and vegetarians alike, offering tailored options to suit diverse dietary preferences.
This week, Lidl expanded its Vemondo Plant! range with over 20 new own-label products, including various types of marinated tofu, falafel, and tortellini. Additionally, the range now features plant-based options such as meat-free mince and burgers, with prices starting at just £1.49.
Driven by its commitment to innovation in plant-based foods, Lidl plans to have its entire Vemondo Plant! collection certified by The Vegetarian Society, ensuring transparency and quality.
Amali Bunter, head of responsible sourcing and ethical trade at Lidl GB, noted that surpassing the 2025 target for meat-free and milk alternative sales underscores its commitment to promoting healthy, sustainable diets.
“It also supports our long-term vision of aligning with the Planetary Health Diet by 2050, which is critical to our net-zero ambitions,” Bunter said before adding: “We are proud to lead the industry with our protein transition goal of ensuring that plant-based protein sales (by tonnage) make up 25% of our total protein sales by 2030. Alongside this, we continue collaborating with our farming partners to enhance the sustainability credentials of our animal-based protein products, offering customers a comprehensive range of sustainable options.”
The strong performance of Lidl’s plant-based range is bolstered by increasing consumer demand in this category. Since the start of the year, the retailer has sold over 1,400 tonnes of pulses, seeds, and grains, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of accessible, plant-based products for shoppers.
