International delivery service Just Eat has named veganism as a top consumer trend in 2018, due to users striving for “healthy lifestyles”.

Just Eat currently boasts 20 million customers across the globe. The company’s popularity has certainly been recognized online; theirs is the only food delivery app that is rated five stars. Following recent research, Just Eat has stated that they expect veganism to be the “biggest food trend of the coming year”.

The prediction is partially due to growing health trends in food consumption. The company saw a 94% increase in “healthy food ordered” this year compared to 2016, according to the Independent.

Additionally (and impressively), the Mirror reported a 987% increase in demand for vegetarian options this year.

Marketing Director Edel Kinane revealed that consumers are “increasingly looking for more diverse, healthy, gluten free and plant based vegan options”.

Currently, a third of all Just Eat’s 78,700 restaurants offer plant-based options on their menus. More partners are following suit, indicating that these figures may rise in 2018.

An increasing interest in health is one factor driving the growth of veganism. Health-conscious consumers have impacted the market in various ways, such as a boost in sales for vegan products, and the demise of food items that are heavy in meat and dairy.

As awareness continues to grow of the dangers of meat and dairy consumption, more consumers than ever are opting for greener, vegan eating. Businesses around the globe are recognizing the evolving market, and their inclusion of vegan options makes the lifestyle more achievable than ever.

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