Birds Eye supports Veganuary with meat-free campaign

The “Do-what-you-canuary” campaign will kick off from 3 January 2022 across TV, video-on-demand and out-of-home platforms, in conjunction with in-store activations at major supermarkets.

The brand said Veganuary plays an important role in attracting new shoppers into the meat-free category, having seen a 20% increase in penetration last January, totalling £23m.

It said it is a crucial month for retailers’ meat-free sales and last year it accounted for 9% of total annual meat-free sales.

It also provided a 22% boost to category sales compared to other months, making it “an important period for brands to activate in”.

Victoria Westwood, senior brand manager at Birds Eye, said: “We’re on a mission to show how plants can be at the heart of every meal, and encourage people to increase their consumption of plant-based food for both the benefit of themselves as well as the planet.

“Yet, while Veganuary is crucial in attracting new shoppers to the category, we recognise that many are caught between wanting to make a difference but without having to commit to completely shifting away from meat-based products.

“‘Do-what-you-canuary’ targets flexitarian shoppers who want to reduce their meat consumption, but on their own terms and without the associations that come with being labelled as a vegan or meat-eater.

“We want to reassure shoppers to do what they can when it comes to enjoying meat-free food, and to do so free from the labels, pressures and pretention of plant-based eating.

“With the number of options available as part of our Green Cuisine range, we’re perfectly positioned to make it even easier for shoppers to add more plant-based foods to their diet, throughout January and the rest of 2022.”