Palace Culture Kimcheeze

© Palace Culture

Cheese Alternatives

Organic Vegan Cheese Brand Palace Culture Gains First Major Retail Listing at Waitrose

Palace Culture, an organic vegan cheese producer based in London, UK, has gained a nationwide retail listing at supermarket chain Waitrose. Three of the brand’s cheeses are now available at Waitrose stores: Mouldy Goaty — An alternative to aged goat’s cheese, made from cashews and almonds for a creamy texture. The product received a Great Taste award earlier this year. Kimcheeze — Made from cashews combined with kimchi brine. Holy Smokes — Also made from cashews, with the addition of cayenne pepper, garlic, and smoked paprika. All the cheeses are fermented with live cultures, which are said to be beneficial for gut health. Palace Culture cheeses are also available at retailers such as Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Selfridges, Abel & Cole, and The Vegan Kind. …

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Juicy Marbles plant-based mignon steak

© Juicy Marbles

Company News

UK: Juicy Marbles Announces Long-Term Filet Mignon Deal with Waitrose

Whole-cut vegan steak producer Juicy Marbles announces it has secured a long-term supply deal with Waitrose for its Thick-Cut Filet — considered the industry’s first plant-based filet mignon.  Juicy Marbles’ steaks have been available at Waitrose since April in a two-piece package at £9 — a lower price than comparable beef steaks. The product’s sales have performed “exceptionally well” in the first few weeks of the permanent run, increasing 83% since its launch in April, explained the Slovenian company. Catherine Shacklock, Vegan Buyer at Waitrose, said: “Our customers went wild for Juicy Marbles steaks last month and have been anticipating their return with searches on Waitrose.com for the plant-based alternative not showing any signs of slowing down.” Fastest-ever selling The partnership follows a successful first-for-all trial. Juicy Marbles …

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Waitrose vegan meal deal

© Waitrose

Products & Launches

High-End UK Supermarket Waitrose Launches First Vegan Meal Deal

British supermarket chain Waitrose has launched its first ever vegan meal deal for Veganuary. The £9 Plant-Based Night In offer includes two mains plus a side or dessert. The featured products are all part of Waitrose’s own-brand PlantLiving range, with the exception of two desserts by The Coconut Collaborative. There is a choice of nine mains: Sweet & Sour Tofu & No Egg Fried Rice Tikka Masala with Vegetables & Cashews Firey Korean Style Udon Noodles Singapore Noodles Smoky Vegan Chilli with Rice Dhal Makhani with Vegetables & Rice No Chicken & Mushroom Tagliatelle No Beef Bourguignon with Mash Moussaka. The sides are Rainbow Vegetable Fritters, No Beef Empanadas, Moroccan Style Falafels, Spiced Cauliflower Pakora, and No Chicken Samosa. For dessert, customers can choose between …

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vegan Christmas food

© Waitrose

Facts & Figures

Waitrose Reports 188% Surge in Searches for Vegan Christmas Food

Upmarket UK supermarket chain Waitrose says its customers are preparing for the “biggest ever vegan Christmas”, with searches for the term “vegan Christmas food” up 188% since last year. Searches for “vegan roast potatoes” have also risen by 166%, while “vegan panettone” has seen an increase of 110%. Waitrose Entertaining, the chain’s food made-to-order service, has seen sales of vegetarian and vegan food rise by 49%, with a further increase expected. Waitrose says it is offering its largest ever vegan Christmas range this year, with more than 20 products available. These include brand new party options such as Vegan Mini No Beef Empanadas and Vegan Thai Style No Fishcakes. The chain has also seen a rise in searches for vegan food on its recipe site, …

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© Pieminister

Products & Launches

Pieminister Launches Vegan-Friendly Gravy at Waitrose and Ocado

UK pie brand Pieminister has launched its classic vegan-friendly gravy for retail in a ready-to-serve format. The company says it has been perfecting the recipe, which is also gluten-free, in its restaurants for the past two decades. Describing the gravy as “rich and full-bodied”, Pieminister suggests serving it over Sunday roasts, sausage and mash, casseroles, and more. Vegan options by Pieminister Pieminister is an award-winning B Corp-certified pie brand. The company operates a chain of restaurants of the same name, and its pies are also available for retail and food service. Pieminister currently offers three vegan pies: The Mooless Moo — jackfruit “steak”, ale, and pepper. Mock-A-Doodle — tofu with leek, smoked garlic, and white wine. Kevin — chestnut mushrooms, tomato, quinoa, baby onion, and …

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soup by the brand Plants by Deliciously Ella

© Safia Shakarchi

Products & Launches

UK: New Brand ‘Plants by Deliciously Ella’ Launches Exclusively at Waitrose

The UK plant-based food and wellness platform Deliciously Ella has launched a new sister brand, Plants by Deliciously Ella, in collaboration with Waitrose supermarkets. Plants by Deliciously Ella debuts with a range of natural plant-based yoghurts and soups exclusively for retail at Waitrose.   In the past year, Waitrose has been increasing its offer of alternative products by listing, launching and signing distribution deals with different vegan and plant-based brands. Deliciously Ella was founded in 2012 by Ella Mills. The company started as a recipe website and blog. After some years, the business evolved into a restaurant called Plants — hence the name of the new brand. In 2015, Mills created her own food brand offering a range of plant-based foods. Deliciously Ella also owns a wellness app, has …

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La Fauxmagerie Camemvert

Camemvert © La Fauxmagerie

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

UK’s First Vegan Cheesemonger La Fauxmagerie Seals National Waitrose Deal

La Fauxmagerie, which describes itself as the UK’s first vegan cheesemonger, announces it is to launch its artisan plant-based cheeses into Waitrose, marking the company’s first national supermarket distribution deal. The vast range of 100% vegan cheeses, which includes Shoreditch Smoked, Truffle Camemvert (pictured), Betta Feta, and Brixton Blue, are currently sold online and at 20 Waitrose stores and are now set to launch nationwide. The Cheese Cellar In addition to the hugely popular brick and mortar and e-commerce stores, The Cheese Cellar at La Fauxmagerie is a dining experience where customers can experience an evening of vegan cheese and wine pairings at the Shoreditch location. The founders have collaborated with local, organic bakery, Fabrique, and food ingredient experts at Belazu to create a specially …

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The Flavourists

©The Flavourists

Products & Launches

Plant-Based Meal Kit Brand The Flavourists Launches With Major UK Backing

The Flavourists, a new plant-based meal kit brand, has launched in the UK. Hitting the shelves of Waitrose, Booths and Ocado this April, the brand is backed by major British food manufacturer, Samworth Brothers.  Following data analysis of over 27.5 million conversations on plant-based meals in the UK, The Flavourists discovered meal kits and new flavours as two emerging trends, with consumers increasingly seeking quick and easy home cooking solutions. The brand claims its next generation of plant-based meal kit innovations will inspire consumers to discover the joy of creative cooking.   The Flavourists will be launching two ranges: Sizzle Kits including Creamy Makhani Style Curry and Yellow Thai Style Curry and Sizzle & Stir including Sticky Teriyaki and Herby Green Pesto, retailing from £3.45 at Waitrose in-store and online from …

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vegan chicken wing with a bone

© Biff's

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Biff’s Launches Vegan Street Food Range Into Retail Including Chick*n Wing on the Bone

UK-based vegan street food brand Biff’s is launching six products, including what it claims is the world’s first vegan chick*n wing on the bone, at Waitrose supermarkets. The Crispy Fried Jackfruit Wingz contain a sugarcane spear to replicate the bone in a conventional chicken wing. The product was first created for Biff’s original street food stall, Biff’s Jack Shack, in 2017. Also launching at Waitrose are five other Biff’s products — Crispy Fried Jackfruit Burgers, Smoky Chilli Cheeze Waffle Fries, Banging Bhaji Loaded Fries, Plant Based Burger Sauce, and Maple-Lime Chipotle BBQ Sauce. The Wingz and Burgers are made up of at least 50% jackfruit, with natural seasonings such as mushrooms, carrots, herbs, and spices. Expansion Biff’s has seen rapid expansion since its launch as …

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DUG's potato milk

© DUG

Products & Launches

DUG’s Potato Milk Launches at Waitrose as Sales Rise by Almost 50%

DUG’s potato milk has launched at 280 Waitrose stores in the UK. It comes just a month after the Swedish brand, owned by Veg of Lund, became available via online supermarket Ocado. Additionally, the potato milks have now rolled out into the convenience and wholesale sector through an agreement with Bestway. DUG is made from a blend of potatoes, rapeseed oil, water, vitamins, and additives such as chicory fibre and pea protein. The potato milk is said to foam perfectly, and to have a neutral taste that makes it ideal as a replacement for cows’ milk. In Waitrose’s 2021-22 Food & Drink report, the supermarket described potato milk as a trend to watch due to its low sugar and saturated fat content. The chain said …

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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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Waitrose Vegan NoLobster MarieRose Roll

©Waitrose

Products & Launches

Waitrose Continues Vegan First-To-Market Run With Christmas No-Lobster Roll

UK supermarket Waitrose has released its new Christmas range for 2021. In total, the range includes 20 new vegan products, with Waitrose continuing its first-to-market strategy with the introduction of a vegan lobster roll. As reported in January 2020, Waitrose successfully introduced first-to-market products, including Vegan No Egg Fried Rice and Crisp-Crumbed Fishless Goujons made from banana blossom. In September 2021, Waitrose continued its vegan first-to-market strategy when its largest-ever vegan and vegetarian launches included several first-to-market products in the supermarket prepared meal sector, such as the Crispy No Beef with Sweet Chilli Sauce. The Christmas No Lobster Marie Rose Roll is filled with roasted king oyster mushroom and vegan Marie Rose sauce in a vegan brioche-style roll with semi-dried tomato and lovage. Other vegan …

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waitrose

©Waitrose

Products & Launches

UK: Largest Vegan and Veggie Launch to Date at Waitrose with 36 new products

UK supermarket Waitrose has announced its largest-ever vegan and vegetarian product launches with two new ranges. Featuring the new Plantlife and GoVeggie ranges, the new products provide healthy and simple meals, snacks, and treats.  After recently launching its Holistic Living brand, Waitrose plans to continue to expand its meat-free offerings, with the brand quoting recent research from Veganuary as an inspiration. The study found that six months from Veganuary 2021, 82% of participants have maintained a dramatic reduction in their animal product consumption. The new Waitrose ranges feature ‘first to market’ products in the supermarket prepared meal sector, including Crispy No Beef with Sweet Chilli Sauce, Thai Style No Fish Cakes, No Chorizo Tortelloni and Mushroom Scallop Linguine. More products are expected for October 2021 …

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©Waitrose

Agriculture / Agribusiness

Waitrose Trials App That “Assesses Emotional Wellbeing” of Farmed Animals

UK supermarket Waitrose has revealed what it calls a “pioneering”mobile app which it claims will “assess and begin to understand the emotional wellbeing” of animals that are bred and slaughtered to create products made of their flesh. Vegan charity Viva! says in response that “they seem to be missing a fundamental principle of animal sentience.”

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