Tesco’s 2024 Christmas Report, based on two surveys that polled 6375 UK adults, has found that 27% of people plan to serve or will consider serving meat-free Christmas main dishes this year.
Figures also indicate that consumers are increasingly seeking plant-rich options made from pulses, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. These veg-led foods now account for 40% of Tesco’s plant-based sales, according to IRI/Circana figures (data 41 weeks to 12 October 2024 versus last year). This means the retailer has sold almost 600,000 more veg-led dishes this year than in the same period in 2023.
With this in mind, Tesco is focusing on vegetable-based Christmas centrepieces this year. Vegan-friendly options include:
- Finest Roasted Vegetable and Cranberry Star — Seasoned roasted butternut squash and parsnip with cranberries and chestnuts, wrapped in puff pastry and decorated with stars.
- Finest Butternut Wellington — Roast butternut squash with seasoned vegetables and a roast shallot and mushroom duxelles, wrapped in flaky pastry.
- Plant Chef Seeded Roasts with Roast Garlic & Port Gravy — A variation on the traditional nut roast with chestnuts, mushrooms, lentils, and kale.
Those who prefer meat alternatives can opt for the Plant Chef No-Turkey Crown. There are also several veg-led festive side dishes available, including the Vegetable Dim Sum Collection, Plant Chef Aromatic Laksa Cones, and Crispy Mushroom Parcels With Nuoc Cham.
“Finest ever plant-based offering”
Tesco first indicated that it would focus on veg-led options at the beginning of last year, announcing plans to make healthy eating easy and accessible for all customers. The retailer went on to offer an extensive range of plant-based Christmas options for 2023, spanning mains, party food, and desserts.
In January 2024, Tesco introduced a range of new plant-based products for Veganuary, many of which were veg-led. These included Sweet Potato Katsu Style Curry, Bean Chilli & Mexican Style Rice, and Katsu Style Veggie Crispbakes. Two months later, the retailer said it was seeing “phase two of the plant-based revolution”, with rising demand for products such as fish alternatives, tofu, and tempeh.
“There is a growing appetite from plant-based shoppers to try products that are plant-rich, as well as from flexitarians now wanting to take more control over what they eat whilst continuing to reduce their meat intake,” said Tesco Plant-based Product Development Manager Fay Hasnip. “With that in mind, we’ve crafted our finest ever plant-based offering this festive season that we believe will surprise and delight all at the Christmas dinner table.”
