Lidl has become the first major retailer to use The Vegetarian Society’s new Plant-Based Trademark, designed to be the “gold standard of plant-based accreditation”.
The trademark will appear on Lidl’s Vemondo Plant! range, which includes a variety of plant-based options such as ready meals, ingredients, and vegetable-based products.
“It’s fabulous to have Lidl on board with its fantastic Vemondo Plant! range now being certified to use the Plant-Based Trademark,” said Vanessa Brown, Head of Trademarks at the Vegetarian Society. “Customers are looking for reassurance from an easy-to-read label and will be able to see the Plant-Based Trademark on products in Lidl stores soon.”
Plant-based terminology
The Vegetarian Society has already offered vegetarian and vegan trademarks for many years, but the Plant-Based Trademark was added late last year due to demand from manufacturers. It reportedly goes beyond the proposed ISO definition of plant-based foods, ensuring that products are not only free of animal ingredients but have a key plant-based characteristic.
The UK rollout of the trademark began at Plant Based World Expo Europe on November 13, and an international rollout will follow. The trademark was developed with consultancy after a review of case law and the industry in general.
“Developments in the marketplace see customers looking for different terminology,” said Brown. “‘Plant-Based’ is a term which resonates with them and manufacturers too. The Vegetarian Society offers third-party checking, registration, and trademark services for products which meet the plant-based criteria and companies who would like to use plant-based terminology, to give customers the confidence to make informed purchases.”
