Plant-based bubble bursts
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird Ventures, and its products are no longer available in supermarkets.
A two-pint bottle of own-brand milk now costs £1.25 (NZ$2.50) on average across four of the UK’s main supermarkets, a 36% jump since January.
The nearest comparable own-brand alternatives, which come in one-litre bottles, cost £1.05 ($2.10) for soya milk, £1.07 ($2.14) for almond milk and £1.24 ($2.47) for oat milk, according to retail research company Assosia.
Typically, plant-based products such as oat milk have cost more than cow’s milk, with some cafes facing criticism for charging extra for the non-dairy options. Vegan activists and customers suffering from lactose allergies have even complained that the charges are discriminatory.
They can’t complain any more.
