20 Dec 2018 --- Unilever has acquired Netherlands headquartered meat alternative innovator The Vegetarian Butcher, as it seeks to expand its portfolio into plant-based foods that are healthier and have a lower environmental impact. With the acquisition, Unilever is responding to the growing trend among consumers opting frequently for vegetarian and vegan meals, says the company. In the Netherlands alone, some 750,000 people now identify as vegetarian. But flexitarians, who regularly choose to eat less meat, now make up two-thirds of the Dutch population, according to research from the University of Wageningen.
