Chile's vegetarian market expands

The myth that eating vegetables is boring no longer seems true in Chile. It seems that each month there are more vegetarian food products, stores, and restaurants, all featuring new options that may even attract the typical meat-eater. Photo by Roberto Silva, Santiago Times

“There were very few vegetarian food stores five years ago,” said César Sanchez, owner of the Diprovena vegetarian food store. “People had to look everywhere to find good products.”

Four years ago Sanchez created a vegetarian mail-order and delivery service. After his sales doubled within the first year, he realized the demand for the products was large and decided to try his luck opening a store of his own, which today has turned into the successful Diprovena.

“We can guarantee to serve different dishes than the rest of the restaurants of Santiago,” said Pilar Alamparte, owner of the vegetarian restaurant Unicornio. “We base our cooking on tofu and wheat without starch”.

Chilean vegans can find what they want , too, things like soy hot-dog meat, mayonnaise, salami, and cheese, all made from a vegetable base.


Chilean small and medium sized companies, who specialize in vegetable protein food products are expanding extremely rapidly. Effourt company was initially created for the production of vegan mayonnaise. The firm has now diversified into soy burgers and soy milk. These alternative food companies are developing new tasty products including mushroom, olive and red-pepper paté, chocolate soy milk and vegetable-based steaks.

Chile’s booming organic food market could well contribute to the growing vegetarian trend (ST July, 8).

Publication: Santiago Times
Provider: Chip News
Date: July 18, 2008