Dispatches from FIE 2011
Soy market flat? Fat chance, says Solae CEO, as ‘flexitarian’ eating rises
Growing numbers of part-time vegetarians, or ‘flexitarians’, are feeding demand for soy products, says the chief of the biggest soy supplier in the world, who refutes suggestions the soy market is flattening out in some regions.
Torkel Rehnman told NutraIngredients how “megatrends” like growing interest in healthy eating and the rise of flexitarians seeking meat substitutes and alternatives placed the industry for ongoing growth.
“We have the flexitarians who can be meat lovers but they don’t want to eat meat all the time so they are looking for a balance in their day-to-day choices,” Rehnman said. “You actually have a consciousness that if you eat the plant-based protein that you are having a positive impact on the environment.”
Formulation advances and emerging health areas like weight management and sports performance that were building on heart health were also benefitting the category, he said.
