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 flavour, ethics, or quality, but fit with the needs of our customers and members.”
Vegan at Co-op
Co-op launched its vegan brand, GRO, in 2020, with a product range including plant-based chilli con carne, steak bakes, and sticky toffee pudding. At the time, the chain said it was “the largest ever product rollout of own-brand vegan products by a supermarket”.
The previous year, Co-op introduced an own-brand “bleeding” burger and trialled dedicated plant-based freezers.
“Being a convenience retailer, with more than 2,600 stores covering the length and breadth of the country, it’s important that we have an offering for vegans in the UK,” Kevin Sargent, Senior Product Developer at Co-op, told vegconomist. “We are continuing to grow our offering and have introduced vegan-friendly products across our own-label range.”
