The plant-based food industry is seeing tremendous growth, with sales up 20% since last year. According to a new study from Nielsen commissioned by the Plant-Based Foods Assn. (PBFA), plant-based food sales topped $3.3 billion over the past year.

Since PBFA released Nielsen the retail sales data last year, the growth of plant-based sales has more than doubled. Sales of plant-based meats grew 24%, compared to 6% the previous year, topping $670 million in sales. Meanwhile, animal meat sales climbed only 2% for the year.

“Plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are not just for vegetarians or vegans anymore. Now, even mainstream consumers are enjoying these innovative options in the market today,” PBFA executive director Michele Simon said in a press release.

Nielsen compiled the data on specific categories over a 52-week period ending June 16, 2018. This is the second year that PBFA, which represents 114 companies such as Beyond Meat and Blue Diamond Growers, commissioned the report.

The data show that “other” plant-based dairy alternatives, which exclude milk, are experiencing strong growth, with sales up 50%.

Plant-based dairy alternatives are an explosively growing category, with 50% growth. This category includes plant-based cheese, creamer, butter, yogurt and ice cream (but not plant-based milk). Plant-based creamers increased 131%, plant-based cheeses are growing at 43% and plant-based yogurts are growing 55%.

Related:FDA asked for stricter enforcement of milk labeling standards

Plant-based milk now represents 15% of the total milk market, Simon noted. As a result, sales of milk from cows is down 6%, the study found. Overall, the plant-based milk category is up 9% from last year to $1.6 billion in sales.

“The new data confirm what we are hearing and seeing every day from our members: sales are up, investment is increasing and new jobs are being created in the plant-based foods industry,” Simon said. “It is important that regulators and legislators treat our industry fairly and the playing field for plant-based foods is level and fair at the state and national levels.”

The Nielsen data represent plant-based foods that directly replace animal products, including meat, seafood, eggs and dairy, as well as meals that contain direct replacements for these animal products. Within each category, both branded products and private-label items were included.

Nielsen scanned all outlets for the data, including grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, dollar stores and military stores, plus Whole Foods.