The best fast food chains for plant-based food in South Africa

For the first time in the three years since the induction of the ranking, Simply Asia has taken the top spot as the most Plant-Based-Friendly fast-food franchise in South Africa.

This is according to the 2024 ProVeg South Africa Plant-Based-Friendly Fast-Food Franchise-Ranking, which mapped and positioned popular chains according to the prevalence of their veggie options.

In recent years, South Africa’s food landscape has undergone some significant transformations as more individuals ditch meat to embrace plant-based and vegan diets.

Research by ProVeg shows that this market is budding locally, with vegan, vegetarian and ‘flexitarian’ consumers making up between 10% and 12% of the South African consumer base as of 2023.

The plant-based alternatives sector is indeed making notable strides. The 34% sales increase from 2019 to 2023, reaching R382.76 billion.

This growth could be attributed to various factors, including health trends, environmental concerns, and changing dietary preferences. While still smaller than the traditional animal-based market, this upward trajectory suggests a promising future for plant-based products.

As such, many, including that in the fast-food sector, are increasing their plant-based offerings.

The third annual report indicates a continued rise in plant-based options, coinciding with a 41% increase in the national fast-food industry’s turnover since 2019.

“Despite a challenging market environment, both in the food space generally and in the plant-based food sector specifically, there remain significant avenues for quick service restaurants to profit from opportunities created by the continued interest in plant-based offerings,” said Donovan Will, director at ProVeg South Africa

“These include attracting new customers, increasing the spend of existing customers, and highlighting commitments towards improving the health and sustainability of their ranges,” he added.

The ranking

The 2024 ProVeg South Africa Plant-Based-Friendly Fast-Food Franchise Ranking evaluated 26 Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) based on the variety and percentage of plant-based options on their menus, along with the presentation, labeling, and positioning of those items.

• Simply Asia took the top spot with a score of 19.8, moving up from second place in 2023. The franchise offers a variety of plant-based options across different meal categories and scored high in menu labeling and presentation.

• Kauai ranked second with 18 points, praised for its range of plant-based breakfasts, warm bowls, salads, wraps, and smoothies.

• Panarottis maintained its third-place position with 14.3 points. It was recognized for offering a variety of plant-based pizzas, pasta dishes, and side dishes that incorporate meat analogs and vegan cheese.

• Nando’s placed fourth with 13.2 points. It offers both plant-based meat alternatives in its “Great Pretender” range, and vegetable-focused options. However, some menu items in the “Great Pretender” range include animal products, and their “veg” range is primarily vegetarian. It is important to note that Nando’s discontinued the “Great Pretender” range after the scoring for the 2024 ranking was finalised.

• Spur rounded out the top five with 9.9 points, moving up from sixth place in 2023. Spur was commended for integrating plant-based items into its main menu, using appealing descriptions, and introducing a new Vegan-Friendly Breakfast.

The full ranking is:

Overall, key findings include:

Mains

• 55 plant-based main dishes were offered, a 1.9% increase from 2023, but only 4.9% of all mains available.
• 54% of QSRs (14 out of 26) lack any plant-based main courses, highlighting a growth opportunity.

Sides

• Plant-based side dishes grew to 84 options, a 6.3% increase, making up 23.7% of all sides.

Desserts

• Only nine plant-based dessert options were available, just 6.3% of all desserts, with 24 QSRs offering none.

Additional Insights

• Consumer awareness is low regarding existing plant-based offerings, indicating a need for targeted marketing.
• There are opportunities for suppliers to create high-quality plant-based products, especially seafood alternatives, non-crumbed chicken, plant-based cheese, ice cream, and sauces.

ProVeg said that while plant-based sides have grown, mains and desserts remain limited, underscoring the need for improvement to meet rising demand.

Overall, ProVeg said that this report “highlights the continued growth of plant-based menu options in the fast-food industry in South Africa.”

“Several popular brand chains have retained superior plant-based options while continuing to innovate and add new and exciting options to their menus.

“Through the ranking process, we’ve identified numerous opportunities for both QSRs and manufacturers [which] include main-menu expansion, plant-based desserts, menu item highlighting healthy options and carbon footprints, menu item positioning, and increased menu visibility of high-quality plant-based alternatives that can be substituted for meat in multiple meals,” said ProVeg.

The company said that jumping on this opportunity can prove incredibly lucrative for these businesses.

Read: The rise of veganism in South Africa