Research says UK diets could change radically in the coming years

Azolla pasta (AI generated). Image courtesy of Co-op.

Studies & Numbers

Research Predicts Radical Change in UK Diets by 2054, Including Rise in Alternative Proteins

Research conducted by the FixOurFood project and the University of York on behalf of supermarket chain Co-op has predicted a radical change in UK diets over the next 30 years. The research anticipates a significant rise in alternative proteins as consumers become more health-focused and flexitarianism grows in popularity. Urban farming will become more prevalent, and may be used to produce cultivated meat and seafood products. Meanwhile, little-known ingredients such as azolla (aquatic ferns) may become widespread in everything from burgers to pasta. To illustrate these possibilities, Co-op has created a series of AI-generated images of possible future foods. In the coming decades, rising temperatures may mean that produce such as avocados and olives can be grown in the south of England. Traditional preserving methods …

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Yolo Co Op

©Coop Switzerland

Market & Trends

Coop Switzerland Reports +252% Growth of Vegan Burgers and +350% Growth of Alt Meat

A recent study by Coop regarding plant-based nutrition in Switzerland finds that 63% of the Swiss population is actively reducing their meat consumption, that vegan burgers have seen strong growth of 252% and that sales of vegan meat alternatives increased by more than 350% over the past three years. The third ‘Plant Based Food Report’ in Switzerland, compiled by Coop together with LINK, provides comprehensive facts and figures on vegan nutrition, shows trends over the last few years and takes a look into the future. Key points from the study are as follows. Demand for plant-based in Switzerland The range of meat alternatives on offer in the Swiss market is generally very diverse, finds the study. Vegan burgers continue to account for a fifth of …

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BOL Foods

© BOL Foods

Facts & Figures

BOL Foods Reports Record Sales as it Launches at Almost 2000 Co-op Stores

Speaking to The Express, British plant-based ready meal brand BOL Foods has said that it is expecting its largest ever turnover of £24 million in 2023. BOL claims it was the UK’s fastest-growing meat-free brand last year, spurred on by successful new product launches and two awards — a Grocer Gold and a Great Taste Award. The company is now working to increase the size of its team to 50. A further sales boost is likely after a selection of BOL’s One Pot Meals and Power Soups launched at almost 2000 Co-op stores this January. These include Coconut Lentil Turmeric Daal, Spanish Butter Bean Stew, and Immune Boosting Butternut Squash & Chilli Soup. The brand also has listings at Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, and …

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Plant-based milk shelf at Albert Heijn

Image: ProVeg Netherlands

Market & Trends

Plant-Based Milk Posing a Threat for Swiss Dairy Industry as Demand Increases 80%

As reported by 24HEURES; in Switzerland, the demand for plant-based milk has grown considerably in the last five years. Turnover from sales of milk alternatives rose from 96 to 172 million francs between 2017 and 2021, an increase of almost 80%, according to a Federal Office of Agriculture study. Daniel Koller, secretary of Swissmilk, an organisation that promotes dairy milk, told the news outlet that the rise in demand for alternative milk poses a challenge for the Swiss milk industry because alternative milk brands imitate everything about milk, from its packaging to its nutritional profile, and promote false sustainability claims. Milk as illegal term for alt milk since 2017 According to Swissmilk, the term “milk” has been illegal in Switzerland and throughout the European Union …

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Nojo plant-based cooking sauces

© Nojo

Products & Launches

Award-Winning Brand Nojo Launches Plant-Based Cooking Sauces at Co-op UK

London-based brand Nojo has launched three of its plant-based cooking sauces — Tahini Noodle, Teriyaki, and Sesame — at 114 Co-op stores across the UK. The Teriyaki sauce has previously proven especially popular — it is the top Amazon’s Choice product in the category and the highest-rated sauce on Ocado. All three sauces are free of gluten, refined sugar, and artificial additives. Recently, Nojo won the Small Business 100 Award and collaborated with Holy Carrot, a London restaurant that opened last year with the aim of changing perceptions of plant-based food. The company is a certified B-Corp with a focus on sustainability, using entirely recyclable and plastic-free packaging. Vegan sauces Co-op has previously supported other plant-based sauce producers, such as The Vurger Co. — the …

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Superfoodio Co-op launch

© Superfoodio

Sweets & Snacks

Superfoodio Launches “Category First” Peanut Butter Buttons in Co-op Across UK

Plant-based snack brand Superfoodio has launched its “world-first” Peanut Butter Buttons as part of Co-op’s Apiary Scheme, stating that the innovation creates an extension for the £101M peanut butter category. The launch is supported by a marketing campaign called #nomorebutterfingers. Since the 1800s, peanut butter has been sold in jars, but husband and wife founders Nirali and Jagir Mankodi wanted to develop a way that the spread could be enjoyed “without the constraints of a jar”, transforming it into an on-the-go snack.  Nirali and Jagir explain: “With our Peanut Butter Buttons, we are ready to excite and delight taste buds in the much-loved peanut butter aisles all over the UK. Rather than compete, our range completes the current peanut butter offerings on the market. With …

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vegan chocolate

© picsfive – stock.adobe.com

Products & Launches

Co-op UK Launches Vegan Hazelnut Chocolate Bar With Fairtrade Cocoa

UK supermarket chain Co-op has launched a vegan hazelnut chocolate bar. Called the GRO Gianduja Chocolate Bar, it is made with 100% Fairtrade Peruvian cocoa. Last year, Co-op slashed the price of its GRO range, saying that the price disparity between conventional and plant-based foods was “unfair” and that it shouldn’t cost more to buy vegan food. In line with this, the new chocolate bar costs just £1. “We’re excited to be launching our first ever GRO vegan chocolate bar which has been a year in the making to get the flavour and texture just right,” Co-op Product Developer Emily Haworth told Cheshire Live. “As a convenience retailer, we’re always looking at ways to extend our vegan range with delicious products that don’t compromise on …

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Meat made from upcycled okara © Luya Foods AG

Products & Launches

Coop Switzerland Launches Luya’s “New Category Defining” Upcycled Meat Alternatives

Coop Switzerland is now offering upcycled meat alternative chunks made with okara, a byproduct of tofu and soy milk waste, produced by Swiss startup Luya Foods. Last November, Luya closed a seed round led by Redalpine Venture Partners, stating at the time its mission to redefine the plant-based protein space by creating a new category of animal-free, alt meat products created through the fermentation of upcycled okara. The startup is using the funding to expand production, develop new products, and expand retail footprint.   Repurposing okara Worldwide, over 14 million tonnes of okara are wasted annually, despite its high nutritional value. Through its collaboration with Luya, Coop Switzerland hopes to reduce food waste and improve sustainability. The chain already offers over 1,200 plant-based products, including …

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Vurger Cheese sauce

©The Vurger

Company News

The Vurger Launches Cheezy Vegan Sauce Into 635 Co-Op Stores

The Vurger Co., the UK based plant-based QSR chain which recently announced the opening of its newest location in Manchester, today reveals a national retail deal for its Cheezy Vegan Sauce which is launching into 635 Co-op stores nationwide from this week. The Vurger says it is “on a mission to revolutionise fast-food through the power of plants”, serving dishes and products sourced only from 100% plant-based & ethically sourced products. Having launched in London and expanded into Brighton, the new Manchester location will serve as the chain’s first northern restaurant as well as its biggest location yet. The brand’s range of vegan sauces and mayos first launched in 2020 as a business pivot during the first phase of the pandemic, and are now successful …

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vegan tuna alternative TUNO

© Loma Linda

Products & Launches

Vegan Tuna Alternative TUNO Launches at Co-op Stores in the UK

Vegan tuna alternative TUNO, made by US brand Loma Linda, is to roll out at 500 Co-op stores in the UK. Two flavours, Thai Sweet Chilli and TUNO & Mayo, will be available. TUNO is already stocked at major UK retailers such as Asda and Morrisons, and Loma Linda hopes the Co-op listing will further increase sales and help build a stable growth platform. “We are thrilled to announce Loma Linda’s TUNO will now be available to purchase in Co-op stores nationwide,” said Mike Easterbrook, European Agent at Atlantic Natural Foods (owner of Loma Linda). “As one of the UK’s leading supermarkets, we’re hoping to give more consumers the opportunity to try our plant-based products, while also contributing to tackling wider issues such as overfishing.“ …

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Yolo Co Op

©Coop Switzerland

Products & Launches

Coop Switzerland Expands its Own Brand Vegan Range, Says it Now Offers Over 1,200 Vegan Products

Under its young own-brand vegan label Yolo, Coop Switzerland is launching vegan chicken and egg sandwiches as well as five new meat alternatives. Coop claims that its vegan offerings now surpass 1,200 products. In addition to the YOLO products, Coop announces that it is exclusively launching other vegan novelties from Planted, The Green Mountain, Garden Gourmet and Oumph!

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Co-Op vegan

©Co-op

Products & Launches

Co-op is Offering Vegan Christmas Meat Roast

Co-op UK is the latest supermarket in the UK to release a vegan roast for Christmas dinner. Hot on the heels of Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, this meat-free festive roasting joint is launching in a bid to get a top place in the booming plant-based industry, at this peak time of year for food retailers. The seitan-based joint, which serves 2 people, is made from flavoured seitan with an apricot and cranberry stuffing centre wrapped in smoky meat-free seitan rashers and served with herb gravy, and will be available in selected stores from Thursday 19th December 2019. The British Cooperative, trading as the Co-op, is a brand that is long-established as being more ethical than most supermarkets, so it will be keen to keep up …

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Suma Baked Beans Coop

©Coop

Top Stories

Co-op: “It’s Important That we Have an Offering for Vegans in the UK”

British supermarket the Co-operative has been increasing its presence in the vegan market since the beginning of 2019, and last week vegan consumers were pleased with the announcement of a plant-based sausage & beans tinned product. Daily Mail noted however, the discrepancy in price, and that vegans have to pay .60p more than the standard meat version.

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