Published in News
Plant-Based Meat Loses Its Place on Menus
Many restaurants are removing plant-based meat because it is costly, less popular now, and does not meet taste expectations.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
What Is Happening?
Across Singapore, fewer restaurants are selling plant-based meat. These products were once very popular. Today, many cafés, chains, and supermarkets say demand has dropped, so they are cutting back or removing them completely.
Plant-based meat is food made from plants like soy or peas. It is designed to look and taste like real meat.
Why Plant-Based Meat Became Popular
Around 2018 to 2021, plant-based meat was everywhere.
Big brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat entered the Singapore market. Restaurants added plant-based burgers, rice dishes, and even local food versions.
People were interested because:
It looked like real meat
It was seen as better for the environment
It helped vegetarians and people with food restrictions
It felt new and exciting
Experts later called this the “wow phase”.
Why Restaurants Are Dropping It Now
1. High Prices
Plant-based meat often costs more than real meat.
For example, a small pack of plant-based nuggets can cost the same as a much bigger pack of chicken. Restaurants say this makes it hard to sell, especially when customers are watching their spending.
2. Low Repeat Demand
Many people tried plant-based meat once or twice. But fewer kept buying it.
Some customers say:
The taste is not good enough
The texture feels strange or “spongy”
It does not feel worth the higher price
When people stop ordering it, restaurants stop offering it.
3. Not Great for Asian Dishes
Experts from Nanyang Technological University say plant-based meat works best in burgers and Western food.
In Asian cooking, like stir-frying or braising, the texture often does not hold up well. This makes the dish less enjoyable.
What Supermarkets Are Seeing
Supermarkets are seeing the same trend.
Retailers say:
Sales grew strongly during COVID years
Demand started falling from 2023 onwards
Some brands have left Singapore completely
One grocery chain even removed all plant-based meat products from its shelves due to low interest.
What Experts Say
A marketing expert from National University of Singapore explains it simply:
People were curious at first. But after the excitement faded, they started asking real questions:
Is it tastier?
Is it healthier?
Is it cheaper?
For many shoppers, the answer was “no”.
Another issue is processing. Many consumers now know that plant-based meat is highly processed. This reduced its “healthy” image.
Is This the End of Plant-Based Meat?
Not necessarily.
According to Good Food Institute Asia Pacific, global sales of plant-based food are still growing slowly.
Experts see a few possible future paths:
Blended Meat
This mixes real meat with plant ingredients. Studies show many people are more open to this idea than fully plant-based meat.
New Ingredients
Researchers are exploring mushrooms and mycelium (fungus roots). These need less processing and may taste better.
Whole-Food Options
Some restaurants, like Veganburg, are moving away from fake meat. They now focus on patties made from tofu, vegetables, and grains.
What Consumers Say
Many customers say the same things:
“Lower the price”
“Improve the taste”
“Fix the texture”
Until that happens, most people will choose either real meat or simple vegetable dishes instead.
The Bottom Line
Plant-based meat is not gone, but it is no longer a star.
Without better taste and lower prices, it struggles to compete in Singapore’s food scene. The future may belong to simpler plant foods, or new ideas that are not trying so hard to copy meat.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/ground-up/plant-based-meat-popularity-waned-5909426