Modern MBA

Why Veganism Doesn't Work (2025x2)

Air date: Feb 15, 2025

In the late 2010s, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat captivated consumers with meatless products that looked and tasted like animal proteins. Oatly led the way as a popular, comparable non-dairy alternative to cow milk. They represented a paradigm shift in the world of consumer packaged goods during the late 2010s. With minimal differences in taste and texture, customers could substitute their beloved meat and dairy for modern, plant-based substitutes. Whether it was out of curiosity or novelty, these startups exploded. Restaurants and beverage chains joined the hype. Retailers couldn’t stock their shelves fast enough. CPG giants like Unilever and PepsiCo fast-followed with plant-based snacks and dairy-free drinks of their own, eager not to miss out on the next F&B gold rush. It didn’t seem crazy to imagine a world where vegan startups would one day become as big as the billion-dollar meat and dairy giants like Tyson and Nestle. Disruption seemed certain.