Published on 28 Aug 2023 on Insider Monkey via Yahoo Finance
In this article, we discuss 11 best vegan stocks to buy. If you want to skip our detailed discussion on the vegan industry, head directly to 5 Best Vegan Stocks to Buy Now.
Reuters noted that worries about climate change, animal welfare, and the desire for healthier eating habits are leading more people to adopt veganism. Similar to the low-carb trend from the early 2000s, businesses are working hard to stay aligned with the evolving preferences of consumers. Veganism has transitioned from being a preference of a small group to becoming more widely accepted by the general public. Influential figures like Joaquin Phoenix and Ellen DeGeneres have advocated for this lifestyle, leading major corporations to take notice. In 2019, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) introduced a vegetarian happy meal alongside its selection of burgers and chicken, and Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) acquired The Vegetarian Butcher, a company focused on meat-free foods. Consumers are showing interest. British bakery Greggs, known for its sandwiches and sweet treats commonly available on many main streets, generated a lot of online attention when it introduced vegan-friendly sausage rolls for sale. Veganism seems to be here for the long run. It is not just a diet, it is a way of living that is focused on ethics – protecting animals and avoiding farming practices that harm the environment by producing greenhouse gasses and using too much water.
As veganism becomes more popular globally, there is a rising expectation for employers to adapt and create a more inclusive workplace, as reported by CNBC. A U.K. charity, The Vegan Society, suggested measures like having special shelves for vegan food in office fridges and using color-coded equipment along with separate spaces for food preparation. The charity reported that the number of vegans in the U.K. increased from 2014 to 2019, going up from 150,000 to 600,000 people. The shift towards plant-based diets prompted The Vegan Society to provide guidance for employers on creating a more inclusive workplace for vegan staff. The suggestions included distributing a dietary requirements form ahead of catered events, allowing vegans to skip corporate gatherings involving animal-related activities like horse racing or animal product-based events, among others. This was influenced by changes in the U.K. anti-discrimination law, now safeguarding "ethical veganism", which includes people who follow a plant-based diet and avoid products connected to animals through use or testing. Matt Turner, spokesperson for The Vegan Society, mentioned that the legal safeguards now in place for ethical vegans in the U.K. are something that has been needed for quite a while. He stated: