German Grocer Opens All-Vegan Store

To meet the growing demand for plant-based food in Germany, supermarket chain REWE will open an all-vegan store in Berlin, reports Plant Based News.

Named REWE Voll Pflanzlich (translation: “REWE completely plant-based”), the new store will be the grocer’s first dip into a fully plant-based market. The supermarket chain is the second largest in the country with roughly 3,300 locations.

The chain has gradually increased its plant-based offering assortment over the last few years and recently introduced innovations including a dedicated vegan meat counter and stocked service counters with plant-based options.

Germany has the highest rate of vegetarianism in Europe and supports over 1.5 million vegans in addition to over 40 million in the country who self-identify as flexitarian, according to data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The German government also emphasizes plant-based eating, recently promising to invest roughly $41 million (converted to USD) to promote vegan foods and alternative proteins in an effort to protect the environment, according to the report. Full Story