“Flexitarians” – those who sporadically eat vegan – lie at the heart of an ongoing increase in both the sales and quality of vegan food products.

An IBISWorld study released this week found sales of vegan food products have soared over the past five years in Australia, with food manufacturers and takeaway chains taking advantage of greater health and environmental consciousness to introduce new, better-tasting vegan products.

The research says Australians are increasingly aware of the impact of animal-based agriculture, which is responsible for an estimated 18 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, leading to the likes of Hungry Jacks releasing vegan cheeseburgers and Magnum selling a dairy-free ice-cream.

A pulled jackfruit vegan burger is one of many vegan meat variations driving soaring sales. Credit:Shutterstock

The Fry Family Food Co, which operates out of Queensland, has been supplying meat alternatives such as soy and flaxseed schnitzels to Woolworths and Coles for 18 years.