Taste of the Industry 2025
Sensory analysis of 122 plant-based meats across 14 categories with 2,684 omnivores
The second report in the annual Taste of the Industry series, Taste of the Industry 2025 is the world’s largest sensory analysis of plant-based meats. This report provides objective sensory data about 122 plant-based meat products collected through blind taste tests conducted in American restaurant settings.
By having omnivores directly compare plant-based meat products against animal benchmarks, we reveal competitive positioning and specific R&D opportunities in this increasingly important category.
Categories tested in this report include:
Bacon
Bratwurst
Breaded Chicken Fillets
Breakfast Sausage Patties
Burgers
Chicken Nuggets
Deli Slices - Ham
Deli Slices - Turkey
Hot Dogs
Meatballs
Pulled Pork
Steak Fillets
Unbreaded Chicken Fillet
Unbreaded Chicken Strips & Chunks
Enter your email address below to download the full report &
access the full sensory dataset on our public data dashboard below:
Taste of the Industry 2025:
Data Dashboard
Access the data behind the world’s most comprehensive sensory analysis of plant-based meats in a free, easy-to-use digital dashboard.
Performance Snapshots
For each category, explore performance across a variety of sensory modalities (flavor, texture, appearance, similarity, etc). Use Preference Testing to compare performance of the average plant-based product to the leading plant-based product and the animal benchmark, with statistical significance testing, to see how the category stacks up!
Category R&D Roadmap
Navigate detailed sensory heat maps for each category to identify top R&D priorities across flavor, texture, appearance, and nutrition.
Use Qualitative responses to see what consumers are saying about plant-based meats, by category, and to validate R&D roadmaps, gather sales proof points, and discover innovation white spaces.
Webinar
“NECTAR’s data is such a great resource for emerging brands. It answered the more than vexing question for us on whether to modify salt or smoke.”
— Founder, NECTAR Taste of the Industry participant brand
