Coop Report: More than half are flexitarians
The latest edition of Coop's Plant Based Food Report underlines the growing importance of plant-based substitutes. The demand for plant-based alternatives remains high and environmental aspects play a central role in the decision for an adapted diet.
57% of the Swiss population are flexitarians today, practically the same number as a year ago. Back then, the figure was 58 percent. Flexitarians consciously give up meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs several times a week. This is shown by the latest figures from Coop's Plant Based Food Report 2025, a representative survey with around 2,200 participants from German-speaking Switzerland, Ticino and French-speaking Switzerland.
30 percent of those surveyed are substitutes. They eat plant-based substitute products several times a month as a direct alternative to an animal-based original. 54% of the Swiss population have been eating vegan alternatives to the original animal product for four or more years. This corresponds to an increase of a further 3 percentage points compared to the previous year and underlines the sustainable dietary change of substitutes. This trend is likely to continue: Just under two thirds of respondents think that they will be enjoying substitute products more frequently or just as frequently in five years' time.
Focus on environmental protection and health
Environmental protection continues to be one of the main reasons for a partially or completely vegan diet among all diet types. The health aspect is also becoming increasingly important: over 45s are reducing their consumption of animal-based foods primarily for the sake of their health. With a difference of 9 percentage points, there are clearly more women than men who give up animal products several times a month. The top 15 shopping communities for the three product categories of meat, milk and cheese substitutes are all located in German-speaking Switzerland. Currently, more than every sixth milk in Coop's shopping cart is a vegan alternative. Oat-based milk substitutes are the most popular among Coop customers.
