Juicy Marbles launches at Tesco

© Juicy Marbles

Retail & E-Commerce

Tesco Reports “Phase Two of Plant-Based Revolution” With Rising Demand for Meat-Free Ingredients

The UK’s largest supermarket chain Tesco reports that the plant-based revolution appears to be entering a second phase, driven by consumers cooking from scratch. The retailer noted that while plant-based is “the biggest food trend this century”, there was a slight dip in sales last year, attributed to the novelty wearing off for customers who were buying the products out of curiosity. However, sales of meat-free ingredients and whole cuts are now on the rise again. Over the last three months, sales of fish alternatives have risen by a huge 100% compared to the same period last year, while tofu and tempeh sales are up by about 20%. Plant-based steaks and chicken breasts have also seen a 20% sales boost, while meat-free burgers are up …

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Tesco expands Plant Chef range

© Tesco

Products & Launches

Tesco Expands Plant Chef Range With Frozen Meatballs, Sweet Potato Katsu Curry & More

The UK’s largest supermarket chain Tesco has expanded its vegan Plant Chef range for Veganuary, with several new and updated products. In the chilled category, the range now includes: Meat Free Spaghetti Bolognese — Pasta in bolognese sauce with soy protein, mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs. Sweet Potato Katsu Style Curry — Spiced sweet potato in a mild curry sauce with ciabatta-style breadcrumbs, plus a side of cooked jasmine rice and peas. Sweet & Sour No Chicken & Rice — Soy protein strips in a pineapple and ginger sauce with cooked jasmine rice, water chestnuts, peas, and red pepper. Bean Chilli & Mexican Style Rice — Mixed beans in a spiced tomato sauce, alongside cooked seasoned long grain rice with sweetcorn and black-eyed beans. The meal …

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Tesco vegan Christmas range

© Tesco

Food & Beverage

Tesco Launches Extensive Vegan Christmas Range Featuring Roasts, Desserts & More

UK supermarket chain Tesco has revealed its vegan Christmas range for 2023, featuring a selection of mains, desserts, and party food. The range includes: Mains No-Turkey Crown — Tesco is offering two plant-based turkey-style roasts this year, under the Plant Chef and Wicked Kitchen brands respectively. The Plant Chef option features herb stuffing, while the Wicked Kitchen roast comes topped with a garlic melt. Seasonal Seeded Roasts with Port Gravy — A new take on the traditional nut roast, featuring chestnuts, mushrooms, lentils, and kale. Mushroom & Chestnut Festive Wreath — A wreath-shaped dish made from mushrooms, chestnuts, and brown rice, decorated with cranberries and sunflower seeds. Butternut Wellington — Consists of a pea protein-based centre surrounded by roasted butternut squash and a mushroom & …

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Planted plant-based hoisin duck

© Planted

Products & Launches

Planted Launches at 350 Tesco Stores, Debuts Plant-Based Hoisin Duck

Planted, a Swiss startup producing meat alternatives using fermentation technologies, has secured a major retail listing at the UK’s largest supermarket chain, Tesco. Three Planted products have now launched at 350 Tesco stores nationwide, including a brand new plant-based hoisin duck alternative that is currently not available anywhere else. The meat alternative is made with sunflowers, oats, and peas, and is said to have “the perfect balance of caramelised crispiness and tender juiciness”. The other products launching at Tesco are plant-based kebab meat and lemon & herb flavour plant-based chicken, both featuring updated packaging. All three meat alternatives are described as clean-label, representing a “new standard in the plant-based meat industry”. Planted has also recently achieved B Corp certification, receiving an “outstanding” rating due to …

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© Grubby

Products & Launches

Plant-Based Recipe Kit Startup Grubby Announces First Retail Launch at Tesco

Grubby, a UK startup offering plant-based recipe kits, has announced that it is launching at Tesco following the success of its D2C business. The launch marks the first time Grubby has been available for retail, with three recipe kits on offer — Aubergine Thai Green Curry, Curried Coconut Dahl, and Crispy Gnocchi Puttanesca. Each kit serves two people and will be presented in a dedicated branded display, with more varieties set to be introduced soon. Grubby began as a B2B business delivering to offices, before pivoting into D2C during the pandemic. The brand has over 56,000 customers, with customer spend trebling within the past year. The new launch comes as Tesco reports that plant-based is a “high-growth category”, countering media claims that the industry is …

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Crackd's Quiche Lorraine made with vegan eggs

Image courtesy of Crackd

Products & Launches

Crackd The No-Egg Quiche Featuring THIS Isn’t Streaky Bacon & Applewood Vegan Cheeze Launches in Tesco

British brand Crackd today announces the launch of a new range of vegan-certified quiches featuring its plant-based liquid egg product The No-Egg Egg. The quiches are set to launch exclusively at Tesco stores at the end of May. To develop its Crackd The No-Egg Quiche range, Crackd partnered with plant-based companies THIS and Applewood Vegan to offer three vegan versions of classical flavours: Quiche Lorraine, Cheeze & Broccoli, and Caramelised Red Onion. The new launch responds to consumer research showing an increased demand for ready-to-eat plant-based options. Interest in the category surged during lockdown when quiches became popular among consumers as mealtime options, explains Crackd. A versatile egg replacer Last month, Crackd’s quiche range won silver and bronze awards at the 2023 Farm and Deli …

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New Food Forum 2023 Upfield

©ProVeg International

Retail & E-Commerce

At New Food Forum Conference, Czech Retailers Agree to Innovate and Promote Plant-Based Foods

At the New Food Forum Conference 2023, recently held in Prague, retailers throughout the Czech Republic pledged to boost their plant-based product ranges, in response to increased consumer demand for more plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. In addition, delegates from Tesco and Upfield renewed commitments to boost their plant-based offerings, with Upfield reportedly pledging to make all of its products plant-based within the next three years (vegconomist has contacted Upfield for further information and confirmation.) Organized by ProVeg Czechia, this year’s Conference hosted retailers and food manufacturers from across the Czech Republic, who discussed the need for better availability, quality, and more affordably-priced plant-based alternatives to animal products. Among major topics, participants discussed how innovations and new technologies are key to developing the plant-based sector …

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Vegan mini cupcakes

© OGGS

Sweets & Snacks

OGGS Launches Convenience Packs of Vegan Mini Cupcakes at Tesco Express

British plant-based bakery brand OGGS has launched new, smaller packs of its vegan mini cupcakes at 200 Tesco Express stores nationwide. The products were previously only sold in packs of nine, but the new trays contain six cupcakes to make them more conveniently sized. Available in vanilla and chocolate flavours, the treats are made with aquafaba instead of eggs, with each one coming in at under 100 calories. They are packaged in 100% recycled plastic. Alt eggs and baked goods Claiming to be the UK’s top plant-based bakery brand, OGGS has a range of products available, including lemon, chocolate fudge, and Victoria sponge cakes. Millionaire and brownie bites are also on offer, and the brand launched luxury mince pies over the Christmas period. OGGS also …

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Classic Steak Meati

Classic Steak © Meati

Market & Trends

Sales of Exotic Mushroom Booming Due to Rising Popularity of Plant-Based Food

UK supermarket Tesco reports that demand for exotic mushroom varieties is surging, driven by growing interest in plant-based food. Lancashire-based producer Smithy Mushrooms says its business has grown by three times in as many years, with demand for oyster mushrooms particularly high. Sales have increased from 370,000 packs per year to over a million, forcing the company to turn away customers as it can’t keep up with demand. Smithy is now set to open a new site that will allow it to more than double the production of oyster and shiitake mushrooms. “The plant-based food boom has been the best thing that’s ever happened to our business and suddenly exotic varieties like oyster and shiitake mushrooms, which just five years ago I was struggling to …

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Derek Sarno

Derek Sarno. Image: LinkedIn

Retail & E-Commerce

Tesco Plans New Veg-Led Options Despite Derek Sarno Departure

Derek Sarno has announced he will be leaving his position as Director of Plant-Based Innovation at UK supermarket chain Tesco. Sarno, who co-founded the highly successful brand Wicked Kitchen, has been in the position for six years. During this time, he has overseen the development of both Wicked — which initially launched exclusively at Tesco in 2018 — and the retailer’s more affordable brand, Plant Chef. The launches made Tesco one of the first supermarkets to have its own line of plant-based products. There are now over 180 products in the Plant Chef range alone, and Wicked Kitchen also continues to expand — including internationally. Sarno helped to make Tesco the first UK supermarket to stock alt meat products in the conventional meat aisle, and …

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© Hilton Food Group

Facts & Figures

Hilton Food Group Sees Vegan & Vegetarian Category Increase 40%

Hilton Food Group recently reported that its vegan and vegetarian category grew 40% in the first half of 2022. Over a three-year period, Hilton’s total revenue rose 20.4% to £2,038.7M. Hilton Foods is a company that processes, packs, and distributes meat and other protein products to UK and supermarkets, including Tesco.  According to the company, the rise in plant-based sales has been fuelled by flexitarian and vegetarian trends demanding alternative protein options. But with the continued disruption in global supply chains and rising inflation, Hilton says it has concerns for future profits. “In the first half of the year, Hilton has further strengthened its position as the international protein partner of choice. We have continued to focus on our strategy of diversification and differentiation, driving a further …

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Wicked Kitchen new range

Wicked Kitchen / Tesco

Retail & E-Commerce

Tesco’s Plant-Based Range Expands With 34 New Products

Tesco’s plant-based range has been significantly expanded, with 34 new products launched across a variety of categories. The UK supermarket chain has added meals such as Twisted Thai Green Curry, Spicy Pepper-No-Ni Pizza, and No Steak and Ale Pies to the Wicked Kitchen range. New sides include Eggy Style Tofu Rice and Dough Balls with Roasted Garlic Dip, while the dessert range now features Millionnaire’s Sundaes and Caramel Biscuit Dream Pots. These options can all be bought as part of the Wicked Meal Deal for 2, featuring a main, side, and dessert for £8. New dairy alternatives have also been added to both the Wicked Kitchen and Plant Chef lines. Wicked Kitchen now offers vegan shakes, while plant-based yogurts and cheeses have been launched under …

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Zizzi vegan Italian dishes

© Zizzi

Products & Launches

Zizzi Launches Three Vegan Italian Dishes at Tesco

UK-based restaurant chain Zizzi is to launch three of its best-loved vegan Italian dishes — Jackfruit Pepperoni Pizza, Rainbow Lasagne, and Praline Brownie — into Tesco supermarkets nationwide. Zizzi previously launched 13 dishes at Tesco earlier this year, however these are the first vegan product launches. Tesco customers can now purchase Zizzi’s award-winning Jackfruit Pepperoni Pizza, the first-ever vegan pepperoni pizza to be developed by a high-street restaurant chain. Shoppers can also try Zizzi’s chocolate brownie with hazelnut praline sauce, along with the chain’s colourful rainbow lasagne. The latter was originally intended as a limited-edition menu item, but proved so popular that it became a permanent fixture. The rainbow colours come from red onion, beetroot, butternut squash, and spinach. Vegan Italian food Plant-based options are …

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Vivera salmon

©Vivera

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Vivera’s Vegan Salmon Fillets Now in Tesco at Cheaper Price Than Conventional Salmon

Vivera’s vegan salmon fillet, which launched at the beginning of this month in the Dutch fishing village of Volendam to “the most critical fish lovers”, rolls out into 300 Tesco UK stores this week, retailing around £3 for two fillets. A cursory look at Tesco’s listings for conventional salmon fillets shows the cheapest price to be £3.79 for two. “Creating a vegan salmon fillet is a real challenge because the texture is very different to anything that has been developed before,” Vivera country manager Simon Colthorpe said. “We have invested a lot of time and effort and believe that we have really managed to get close to the mouthfeel of salmon.” As alt seafood continues its global rise, Israeli startup Plantish also debuted a plant-based, …

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Minor_Figures_oat

©Minor Figures

Facts & Figures

Minor Figures Predicts 100% YOY growth as Barista Oat Trio Rolls Out Into Tesco

Minor Figures, which claims to be the UK’s No.1 fastest-growing alt milk brand, today announces the launch of its trio of oat m*lks into Tesco and a list of independent retailers through distributors such as Bidfood & Stores Supply. The product portfolio is now available in over 40 countries worldwide. From next Monday 21st March, Tesco will stock Barista, Barista Organic, and latest addition Barista Light, across 700 stores nationwide. This expansion brings the brand’s UK retail footprint to 2,500 grocery stores and over 5,000 coffee shops and independents, following a reported period of sustained growth which saw its RSV increase by £9million in the last 12 months. Furthermore, Minor Figures states that it is projecting a 100% YOY growth in revenue for the next …

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Philadelphia Plant Based vegan cream cheese

©Philadelphia

Products & Launches

Philadelphia Plant Based Cream Cheese Hits Shelves Across UK for Veganuary

Iconic cream cheese brand Philadelphia has launched a new plant-based alternative available to buy across the UK in Tesco. The freshly launched Philadelphia Plant Based has been developed over two years, combining oats and almonds for a dairy-free option.  “With over half a million people taking part in this year’s Veganuary, the appetite for plant-based alternatives has never been more apparent” Produced by Mondelēz International, one of the largest food and beverage multinationals in North America, Philadelphia Plant Based will be launched in the brand’s 100% recyclable packaging, to be made with recycled plastic later in 2022. Looking to move away from the controversies of its past, Mondelēz has reportedly set long-term sustainability and well-being targets and has recently acquired Hu – a fast-growing plant-based …

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Tesco Mince Pies

©Tesco

Market & Trends

UK: Where to Find the Best Vegan Mince Pies This Christmas

Christmas would not be Christmas without a mince pie. Historically, mince pies contained minced meat along with festive fruits and spices – hence the name – but the modern mince pie is thankfully meat-free. However, most mince pies on the supermarket shelves are still not vegan-friendly, often containing butter, milk, or egg.  Vegan mince pies first hit the mainstream in 2017, with UK supermarket Asda the first to launch its own brand plant-based version with dairy-free pastry. Over the following years, other major UK supermarket brands have released their own vegan versions of the Christmas treat.  According to research by Money.co.uk, Tesco Plant Chef Mince Pies are the best value from the big supermarkets, with each pie costing 21p each. Aldi Free From Mince Pies …

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Plant Chef Tesco

© Tesco

Products & Launches

Tesco Slashes Prices in Plant Chef Range, Aims to Reduce Barriers to Entry for Plant-Based Foods 

UK supermarket Tesco has announced the lowering of prices for dozens of vegan products in its Plant Chef ranges. The price slash is part of the supermarket’s strategy to democratize the category and remove one of the biggest barriers for customers to buy plant-based. Timed to coincide with COP26, the supermarket has launched an ad campaign to advertise such savings as Plant Chef sausages down to £1.45 for 6 and Plant Chef burgers down to £1.30 for 2. Prices have been lowered across the whole range, which includes an array of products from alt meats to vegan coleslaw and dips.  Display content from Twitter Click here to display content from Twitter. Learn more in Twitter’s privacy policy. Always display content from Twitter Open content directly …

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©VFC

Products & Launches

Tesco to Become First Large Retailer to Bring VFC Fried Chick*n to Mainstream Market

After its recent US expansion, vegan fried chicken producer VFC today announces that from World Vegan Day on 1st November, its first major retailer listing will commence with Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain. Derek Sarno, Director of Plant-based Innovation at Tesco, enthuses: “I’m thrilled that Tesco is the first large retailer to bring VFC to the mainstream market. The plant-protein market is growing rapidly, and VFC brings something genuinely exciting to the sector. With no compromise on flavour, it offers a delicious alternative that will help make eating plant-based easier – and tastier – than ever.”   The products rolling out into 370 Tesco stores less than a month from now will be: VFC Original Recipe Chick*n Fillets, 220g RRP £3 VFC Original Recipe …

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Tesco

Neil Rockliff, innovation director at Samworth Brothers. © Tesco

Company News

Meat Product Manufacturer Opens Dedicated Plant-Based Facility to Supply Tesco With Vegan Products

Century-old company Samworth Brothers has long been supplying the UK’s largest supermarket, Tesco, with meat products such as Cornish pasties and pork pies. But as consumer tastes change, it is turning its attention to plant-based alternatives.

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