One in five people are enjoying a vegan Pancake Day
Consumers plan to have a vegan Pancake Day according to survey
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, has arrived, and, according to new research, nearly one in five consumers (19 per cent) plan to go plant-based with their pancakes today.
The research, commissioned and conducted by Squeaky Bean and One Poll[1], also found that more than half of consumers (57 per cent) would be happy to try a vegan pancake.
Pancakes go vegan
Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday), founded over 500 years ago, was initially created to use up eggs and milk before the start of Lent, when these ingredients would not be eaten at all.
But happily, consumers are open to switching up the tradition to try a new vegan take on the traditional dish.
The poll of 2,000 people who eat pancakes also found that Generation Z, millennials and Generation X (comprising 18-44 year olds[2]) are more likely to make the switch to a vegan pancake, with almost one in three (32 per cent) 25-34 year olds saying they’ll enjoy an animal product free option this year.
Londoners show the largest appetite for vegan pancakes, with 35 per cent saying they plan to tuck into one on Shrove Tuesday.
They are closely followed by the North East and the North West of England, where respectively 21 per cent and 20 per cent of respondents shared these plans.
Squeaky Bean’s findings reflect the trend from retailers – last year, Waitrose found that searches for vegan pancakes on its website were up 1,385 per cent in comparison to the previous January – potentially due to Squeaky Bean launching its ready-to-eat plant-based pancake range at the retailer in the same month.
Lemon juice and ketchup
Respondents to the survey were also polled on their favourite pancake toppings, which are revealed in a table at the end of this press release.
Across the nation, traditional options are still the top choices, with the majority percentage preferring lemon juice as their favourite topping (24 per cent).
However, the survey also picked up some more unusual topping preferences…
When asked which ingredients they would consider topping pancakes with, respondents said they would try baked beans (6 per cent), ketchup (5 per cent) and the on-trend Korean fermented condiment, kimchi (5 per cent).
In a stark contrast to the rest of the country, 18 per cent of London based respondents said they would consider ketchup as a pancake topping.
DIY vs Ready-Made
Despite the high demand for vegan pancakes, many people surveyed responded that they are unsure what to replace animal product ingredients with (30 per cent), while 28 per cent said they were not sure how to make them.
Luckily, for those who are unsure of how to make their own vegan pancakes, there are now many delicious pre-made pancakes available in supermarkets, like Squeaky Bean’s Fluffy American Style Pancakes and Original Sweet Pancakes, available in Waitrose stores nationwide.
Sarah Augustine, Squeaky Bean’s co-creator, says: “Shrove Tuesday has traditionally been a time to use up animal products such as milk and eggs, however with interest growing in plant-based diets, and 582,000 people taking part in Veganuary 2021, many will seek a vegan option on Pancake Day, too.”
“Our research shows that pancake lovers can be put off from cooking this delicious treat, so our award-winning fluffy and original style pancakes make it easier than ever to tuck into tasty.”