Thursday, 31 August 2023 13:55

Interest waning?

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: This old mutt had to laugh at a recent summary of the fake meat sector by international food expert Joanna Blythman: “No wonder people are turning their noses up at fake meat... it’s not healthy, it won’t save the planet, and it tastes like burnt dog food”.

Blythman’s comments came in the wake of news that sales of plant-based burgers are plummeting.

Beyond Meat recently reported that its overall sales have slumped by almost a third.

The company was valued at $10 billion in 2019 and is now worth a fraction of that, at less than $1 billion.

Meanwhile, sales of fake meat more generally slid in the UK by 6% last year. According to market research firm Mintel, this trend is expected to continue.

“Vegetarians and vegans will be pleased that no animal had to die in making these products,” Blythman curtly added. “But that has not stopped shoppers abandoning them in droves.”

More like this

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought it wise to run the numbers through the old Casio.

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be, despite falling interest rates, and the report still paints a damning picture of rural lending.

Waste not

OPINION: Judith Collins, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, has upset the more woke members of the science community by announcing a regulation change to narrow the scope of the $83.5 million/year Marsden Fund.

Middle finger

OPINION: Kainga Ora's decision to categorically rule out use of woollen carpets in social housing is a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers.

Loud noises!

OPINION: One of the strongest arguments for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is probably its opponents’ total inability to raise a calm, cogent retort to it, other than intimidation and shouting the other side into silence.

Featured

NZ National Lamb Day names FMG and Rabobank as 2025 partners

National Lamb Day, the annual celebration honouring New Zealand’s history of lamb production, could see a boost in 2025 as rural insurer FMG and Rabobank sign on as principal partners.

'Female warriors' to talk ag sector opportunities

The East Coast Farming Expo is playing host to a quad of ‘female warriors’ (wahine toa) who will give an in-depth insight into the opportunities and successes the primary industries offer women.

New Zealand Food Safety shares food safety tips

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is sharing simple food safety tips for Kiwis to follow over the summer.

Dairy-beef offering potential for savings

Beef produced from cattle from New Zealand's dairy sector could provide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 48, compared to the average for beef cattle, a new study by AgResearch has found.

Dairy buoyant

The Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found farmers' expectations for their own business operations had also improved, with the net reading on this measure lifting to +37% from +19% previously.

Farmer confidence flowing back

Confidence is flowing back into the farming sector on the back of higher dairy and meat prices, easing interest rates and a more farmer-friendly regulatory environment.