[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":86},["ShallowReactive",2],{"pages-686bcdac50b71cc505088e15":3},{"_id":4,"state":5,"name":6,"category":7,"theme":8,"components":9,"keywords":77},"686bcdac50b71cc505088e15","active","Targets for the number of plant-based foods on shelves in supermarkets ","discover","european_food_system_dashboard",[10,21,30,37,44,51,59],{"type":11,"index":12,"variation":13,"imageURL":14,"title":15,"description":16,"button":18},"header",0,"image_left","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/8acbb2a1-7483-43c5-a3c4-5f587e5f3010",{"en_GB":6},{"en_GB":17},"- Food system activity: Retail & markets\n- Governance level: European\n- Cluster: Improve nutrition for better health\n- Origin: EU\n- Type of policy intervention: Regulatory",{"label":19,"URL":20},{"en_GB":20},"",{"type":22,"index":23,"variation":24,"imageURL":25,"title":26,"description":28},"image_and_text",1,"image_right","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/1c0aace6-2325-4a53-96d6-5d50235b85c7",{"en_GB":27},"Intervention Details",{"en_GB":29},"This intervention emerged from the EU-level summit and involves setting formal or voluntary targets for the share of plant-based foods on supermarket shelves. This is an intervention designed to reshape retail environments in support of sustainable, health-promoting diets. This measure seeks to increase consumer access to plant-based protein sources, legumes, and minimally processed meat alternatives, by requiring or incentivising retailers to allocate a minimum shelf space percentage to such products. The intervention can be framed through public-private partnerships, regulatory mandates, or voluntary codes of conduct, with some retailers already engaging in self-set targets. This intervention can indeed be effective to promote plant-based food consumption, as Trewern et al. (2022) showed in their intervention at a major UK retailer where they increased the visibility, accessibility, affordability and availability of some plant-based foods. This intervention resulted in a significant (57%) increase of sales of these products, although meat sales did not decrease (Trewern et al., 2022).",{"type":22,"index":31,"variation":13,"imageURL":32,"title":33,"description":35},2,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/c32b40e5-d2c2-44bb-a1ed-0e0d2ba39795",{"en_GB":34},"Examples of implementation",{"en_GB":36},"While there is no binding regulation in any EU member states to establish a target for plant-based foods in supermarkets, some countries have taken initial steps to promote plant-based offerings in retail, often through non-binding agreements or corporate responsibility frameworks. For instance, the Dutch national protein strategy includes a target to shift national protein consumption to 50% plant-based by 2030 (Rijksoverheid, 2020), with almost all major Dutch supermarkets having pledged to sell more plant-based protein than meat by 2030 (ProVeg Nederland, 2023). France has included plant-based promotion in its national food strategy and through its EGAlim law, encouraging availability in public canteens, though retail targets remain voluntary (Assemblée Plénière, 2018).",{"type":22,"index":38,"variation":24,"imageURL":39,"title":40,"description":42},3,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/afec88ea-040b-4549-a51c-f75cc9a63be5",{"en_GB":41},"Key implementation challenges",{"en_GB":43},"Implementing plant-based shelf targets faces several barriers. First, without legal mandates, reliance on voluntary compliance may result in uneven uptake across regions and retailers. Retailers may also be hesitant due to profit concerns, supply chain uncertainties, and perceived consumer demand limitations. Coordination between national governments, food manufacturers, and supermarket chains is therefore essential to ensure viable supply and to avoid tokenistic or overly processed plant-based products dominating shelf space. Moreover, while promoting plant-based foods in supermarkets may increase plant-based food consumption, this does not necessarily translate into the reduction of meat consumption (see for instance Garnett et al., 2019). Therefore, additional interventions or targets are required to also impact meat consumption in order to achieve meat substitution instead of consuming plant-based foods simply in addition to meat. ",{"type":22,"index":45,"variation":13,"imageURL":46,"title":47,"description":49},4,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/b466ae36-722e-4837-9540-cd11b3d71ab9",{"en_GB":48},"Expert Evaluation",{"en_GB":50},"Experts rated the effectiveness of this policy intervention at an average of 2.88/5.00 (SD = 0.99), reflecting a moderate assessment and ranking lowest among the 20 interventions. The survey respondents’ justifications for the bottom ranking included concerns about the wide variability in the nutritional quality of plant-based products, many of which are highly processed. They also noted existing availability of plant-based foods in European supermarkets, arguing that prices, cooking skills, and consumer preferences are more important drivers of food choices. Moreover, experts also pointed out that such a binding regulation could lead to political polarization, and even if adopted, large retailers may find ways to circumvent it. The average feasibility score was 3.05/5.00 (SD = 1.03), indicating a moderate assessment and ranking 17th overall. Survey respondents highlighted that retailers are “unlikely to accept the imposition of product quotas or requirements on shelf placement” and that compliance would be difficult to monitor. ",{"type":52,"index":53,"variation":54,"imageURL":20,"title":55,"description":57},"title_and_text",5,"title_image_description",{"en_GB":56},"List of References",{"en_GB":58},"•\tAssemblée Plénière (2018). LOI n° 2018-938 du 30 octobre 2018 pour l'équilibre des relations commerciales dans le secteur agricole et alimentaire et une alimentation saine, durable et accessible à tous.\n\n•\tGarnett, E.E., Balmford, A., Sandbrook, C., Pilling, M.A. & Marteau, T.M. (2019). Impact of increasing vegetarian availability on meal selection and sales in cafeterias, *Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.* 116 (42) 20923-20929, [https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907207116](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907207116) \n\n•\tProVeg Nederland. (2023, November 7). *Supermarkten publiceren eerste meting eiwittransitie: Eiweet* [Supermarkets publish first protein transition measurement: Eiweet]. ProVeg International. Accessed on 29 July 2025, at [https://proveg.org/nl/nieuws/supermarkten-publiceren-eerste-meting-eiwittransitie-eiweet/](https://proveg.org/nl/nieuws/supermarkten-publiceren-eerste-meting-eiwittransitie-eiweet/)\n\n•\tRijksoverheid. (2020, December 22). *Nationale Eiwitstrategie* [National Protein Strategy]. Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit. Accessed on 29 July 2025, at [https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2020/12/22/nationale-eiwitstrategie](https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2020/12/22/nationale-eiwitstrategie) \n\n•\tTrewern, J., Chenoweth, J., Christie, I., & Halevy, S. (2022). Does promoting plant-based products in Veganuary lead to increased sales, and a reduction in meat sales? A natural experiment in a supermarket setting. *Public health nutrition*, 25(11), 3204-3214.",{"type":60,"index":61,"variation":62,"title":63,"contact1":65,"contact2":71,"contact3":74},"contacts",6,"title_top",{"en_GB":64},"CONTACT",{"imageURL":66,"name":67,"description":69},"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/771281e8-fca5-4ec7-a45c-0addca312f67",{"en_GB":68},"Jeroen Candel",{"en_GB":70},"Associate professor of food and agricultural policy​",{"imageURL":20,"name":72,"description":73},{"en_GB":20},{"en_GB":20},{"imageURL":20,"name":75,"description":76},{"en_GB":20},{"en_GB":20},[78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85],"retail","markets","improve nutrition for better health","nutrition","health","EU","regulatory","policy intervention",1776157873439]