Christmas Archives - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

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Which UK Supermarkets Are Selling Vegan Pigs in Blankets This Christmas?

December 20, 2023

Aldi this week announces that, as it is reportedly the most popular supermarket in the UK for vegan products (whereas Lidl was found to be the most affordable for vegan Christmas foods), it is adding to its Christmas offering with new Plant Menu Ultimate No Pigs in Blankets. The discount retailer states that it projects sales of over half a million units of the plant-based bacon-encased mini sausages this festive season. On inspection, most of the large retailers are offering a similar product this year; here we list all (to our knowledge) of the pig-free pigs in bacon products from the UK’s main supermarkets and give a comparison in terms of price and ingredient. Aldi: Pea protein, £2.99 Plant Menu Ultimate No Pigs in Blankets: …

The Vegetarian Butcher has introduced handmade holiday specials, including stuffed vegan Christmas turkey at its newly opened plant-based butchery in Rotterdam.

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

The Vegetarian Butcher Launches Vegan Christmas Turkey in Rotterdam’s First Plant-Based Butchery

December 19, 2023December 19, 2023

Unilever’s The Vegetarian Butcher has introduced handmade holiday specials, including stuffed vegan Christmas turkey at its newly opened plant-based butchery in Rotterdam. The brand’s team crafted 60 vegan whole turkeys (including vegetable legs) for lovers of traditional Christmas dishes. Interested customers had to purchase the turkey in person on a pre-order basis like in traditional butcher shops (the reservations closed on the 17th of December, and the product is unavailable at supermarkets), reports RTL Nieuws. However, before Christmas Eve, customers will receive their turkeys pre-sliced into fillets stuffed with a mixture of apricots and nuts rather than obtaining the entire roasted turkey. The Vegetarian Butcher’s team also prepared other limited-edition menu items for the holiday table: a vegan meatloaf that comes with a cherry ketchup glaze …

Organisations and brands:

The Vegetarian Butcher

Albert Heijn plant-based Christmas magazine

Marketing & Media

Dutch Retailer Albert Heijn Promotes a Plant-Based Christmas With New Magazine

December 11, 2023

Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn is encouraging customers to try a plant-based Christmas with a special version of its magazine, Allerhande. The 24-page insert is included in the regular Christmas issue of Allerhande, providing a wide range of plant-based recipes for the festive season. It includes multiple dishes for every course, with options such as a beet tart, a vegan roast dinner, and chocolate mousse. Some of the recipes have been contributed by well-known figures such as Instagram influencer Judith van Willigen, actor and director Sanne Vogel, and illustrator Enzo Pérès-Labourdette. The magazine also provides suggestions for how Albert Heijn’s selection of meat and dairy alternatives could be used to make Christmas dishes. The supermarket chain launched its new own-brand plant-based line, AH Terra, in …

Organisations and brands:

Albert Heijn

Asda vegan turkey - part of the vegan Christmas range

Retail & E-Commerce

One in Three Brits Have to Bring Their Own Food to Christmas Celebrations

December 7, 2023December 6, 2023

Recent data coming from UK supermarket Asda indicates that 29% of Brits are uncertain about preparing a vegan-friendly Christmas dinner, while 75% of vegans often feel compelled to bring their own main dish to festive celebrations. Addressing this issue, Asda has introduced the OMV! Turkey & Trimmings for One, priced at £3.50. This vegan alternative includes a plant-based turkey, cranberry and orange stuffing, vegan sage and onion stuffing balls, and ‘no pigs’ in blankets, aiming to simplify the vegan Christmas dinner experience. Concerning Christmas Day preparations, according to the survey, about 17% of Brits express anxiety over cooking a separate meal, and 19% are unsure about vegan meal options. Additionally, 21% fear their offerings might not meet expectations. In response, 28% of Brits have researched …

Organisations and brands:

ASDA

Retail & E-Commerce

Research Finds Lidl is the Cheapest UK Supermarket to Buy a Vegan Christmas Dinner

November 24, 2023

Lidl has been found to be the cheapest UK supermarket to buy the ingredients for a vegan Christmas dinner. The costs of nine plant-based Christmas dinner staples were compared — nut roasts, parsnips, roast potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and vegan gravy granules — at the UK’s top nine supermarket chains. As reported by Wales Online, Lidl came out on top, with all the ingredients coming to just £8.83. The total also came in at under £10 for four other supermarkets — Morrisons (£9.19), Aldi (£9.42), Asda (£9.55), and Tesco (£9.70). With the use of a Nectar card, the ingredients also cost under £10 at Sainsbury’s, dropping from £10.21 to £9.51. Loyalty cards did not make a difference to the total …

Organisations and brands:

Lidl

Food & Beverage

Asda Launches Extensive Vegan Christmas Range, Including Turkey With “Skin”

November 20, 2023

This year, UK supermarket chain Asda is offering an extensive vegan Christmas range featuring 57 products. Some of the highlights of the range are: Whole No Turkey — Made from a combination of wheat, pea, and soy protein, this turkey alternative features a unique crispy “skin” coating. Like conventional turkey, it also has a light-coloured “breast” and darker-coloured “legs”, with the two plant-based meats having different textures. Oyster & Porcini Mushroom Wellington — Designed for those who prefer a more vegetable-based option, this wellington contains white and oyster mushrooms with pea protein. The filling is topped with chestnut and porcini mushroom duxelles and wrapped in pastry. Mushroom Pigs in Smoky Aubergine Bacon — A plant-based version of traditional pigs in blankets (small sausages wrapped in …

Organisations and brands:

ASDA

Food Service

Costa Coffee Launches New Festive Vegan Options, Including Turkey-Style Toastie

November 6, 2023

British coffee chain Costa Coffee has revealed its Christmas menu for 2023, featuring new vegan-friendly options. The Vegan Turkey & Trimmings Toastie contains plant-based turkey slices with stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegan mayo, vegan gravy, and fried onions. It is served on bar-marked white bread. For a sweet option, the new Christmas Cake Slice — a rich fruit cake bar topped with marzipan and icing — is also suitable for vegans. The gluten-free and vegan Mince Tart, which features a pastry case with a fruit filling, is also making a comeback this year. The new options add to Costa’s existing vegan food range, which includes the Sausage Bap, Fruited Teacake, Fruity Flapjack, Chocolate & Caramelised Biscuit Loaf, and Rocky Road. Festive drink options Vegan customers can …

Organisations and brands:

Costa Coffee

Food & Beverage

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

October 30, 2023

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 & …

Organisations and brands:

Tesco

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Scotland’s Sgaia Launches Plant-Based Roasts Made From Seitan & Pea Protein

October 24, 2023

Scottish meat alternatives producer Sgaia has launched two new plant-based roasts for the festive season. Available in the flavours Apple & Cranberry and Sage & Onion, the roasts feature a chicken-style outer layer filled with homemade sausage stuffing. They are made using a base of seitan and pea protein, combined with spices and seasonings. The roasts are available in two sizes — 500g and 1kg — and are pre-cooked, meaning they can be prepared in just a few minutes. Despite not containing any preservatives, they have a long shelf life, lasting for six months in the fridge and even longer in the freezer. The new products join Sgaia’s previously launched Garlic & Rosemary roast, which has proven to be extremely popular. Handmade meat alternatives Sgaia …

Organisations and brands:

Sgaia

Image: ProVeg International

Food & Beverage

Use Christmas as a Springboard for Your Plant-Based Products

December 19, 2022

Winter holidays give food-and-drink retailers and brands the chance to maximise their sales more than at any other time of the year. In fact, Christmas is the most lucrative period for food-related businesses, with the celebration revolving largely around multiple festive feasts. For businesses looking to target the ever-growing number of consumers eating plant-based products, engaging with Christmas should be integral to your Q4 strategy. Understanding festive food choices ProVeg International has recently published an infographic that focuses on why and how you should use Christmas to boost your plant-based product sales. Among these pieces of advice is understanding festive food choices, and using this knowledge to tailor your offerings. Animal meat, whether fish, poultry, or other, tends to be a large aspect of Christmas …

Organisations and brands:

ProVeg

Marketing & Media

Key Moments for Plant-Based Promotions: Christmas

December 12, 2022

Christmas is one of many end-of-year celebrations that revolve around food, and probably the most lucrative for businesses in the food industry. For companies looking to target the ever-growing number of consumers eating plant-based products, engaging with Christmas should be integral to your Q4 strategy. ProVeg International recently published an article – the third of a special three-part series – that shares actionable insights for engaging with plant-based consumers at Christmas. The article begins by taking a look at consumer involvement and shopping habits during Christmas time. Research shows that people are often willing to spend more money on food during December, with the average Italian family budgeting the highest amount in Europe for food at Christmas time, averaging €‎220 compared to the rest of …

Organisations and brands:

NFH

ProVeg

Facts & Figures

Waitrose Reports 188% Surge in Searches for Vegan Christmas Food

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022

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, …

Organisations and brands:

vegan Waitrose

Waitrose

©Tesco

Studies & Numbers

Survey Reveals UK’s Best Value Own Brand Vegan Mince Pies

December 8, 2022

Personal finance site money.co.uk has analysed the own brand vegan mince pies offered by various major UK supermarkets to establish which is the best value. Made from a blend of spiced fruit in a shortcrust pastry case, mince pies are a classic UK Christmas treat. While many brands contain butter, most supermarket chains now offer a plant-based option. At £0.25 per pie, Tesco Plant Chef mince pies are by far the most affordable. The Free From mince pies offered by Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Morrisons, and Co-op all cost about the same, coming in at between £0.44 and £0.50 each. As expected, the most expensive vegan mince pies are made by upmarket supermarkets M&S and Waitrose, costing £0.63 and £0.68 each respectively. On average, a vegan mince …

Products & Launches

Leading French Frozen Food Retailer Picard Offers Discount Vegan Xmas Meal With Foie Gras

December 6, 2022

Picard, the leading frozen food supermarket with over 400 stores across France, has unveiled a vegan foie gras and a 100% plant-based Christmas menu totalling of €12.16 per person. Délice Végétal (Vegetable Delight) with Cashew Nuts and Mushrooms is Picard’s plant-based alternative to foie gras. Retailing at €5.99 per 220g box, or €27.22/kg, the product is far cheaper than duck foie gras, which costs a minimum of €50 per kilo. The vegan menu, entitled Noël Veggie (Veggie Christmas), also includes the following products Chestnut and mandarin jelly appetizers Sweet potato gnocchi with butternut squash sauce Pan-fried potato, mushroom, snow pea and chestnut Red fruit, mango, lemon and pear ice cream log “We present the Délice Végétal which is our vegan version of foie gras. It …

juicy marbles' plant-based whole cut loin pictured on a wooden board and being cut by a man

Products & Launches

Juicy Marbles’ Whole-Cut Plant-Based Loin to Launch in the UK in Time for Christmas

November 30, 2022

Juicy Marbles‘ latest plant-based meat product, a whole-cut beef-style loin, will be available for UK customers to purchase over the festive season. The beef-style loin, which according to the company is the “biggest piece of plant-based meat ever conceived“, will go on sale via the company’s website from December 1st. Raw and unseasoned Juicy Marbles’ whole-cut loin is a versatile piece of plant-based meat that can be grilled, broiled, or boiled. It can also be used to make broth, or cut into fillets, chunks, or slices. The main ingredients are non-GMO soy, sunflower oil, and beetroot powder, and the product has a Nutri-Score rating of A. It comes uncooked and unseasoned to allow customers to express their preferences and creativity. Plant-based whole-cut pioneer Although other …

Organisations and brands:

Juicy Marbles

Retail & E-Commerce

Morrisons Launches Vegan Christmas Range Including Gammon Joint & Cheesecake

November 29, 2022

UK supermarket chain Morrisons has revealed its vegan Christmas range for 2022, including eight brand-new products. Mains Three vegan mains are on offer, all part of Morrisons’ Plant Revolution line and made with wheat, pea, and soy protein. They are: Roast No Turkey Crown — Finished with horseradish and herb crumb along with a parsley and sage vegan butter melt. Beefless Wellington — A beef-style dish topped with mushroom duxelles and encased in flaky pastry. Vegan Gammon Joint — A plant-based joint finished with a maple and orange glaze. Sides and starters Morrisons is offering two vegan Christmas sides — a stuffing pack and the No Pigs in Blankets, made of meat-free sausages wrapped in plant-based bacon. Starters and small dishes include: No Prawn Toast …

Organisations and brands:

Morrisons

Cheese Alternatives

Violife’s Celebration Platter With “New to Market” Vegan Blue Cheese for Christmas

November 22, 2022

Violife reveals its Christmas vegan cheese offering for the UK market with the launch of its Celebration Platter which includes “new to market” Vegan Blue cheese and Le Rond Camembert. The new Plant-Based Celebration Platter, retailing around £6, rolls out into Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose including Vegan Blue, a crumbly block with added spirulina “veins” for an authentic look. Vegan Blue can also be found as an isolated product in Tesco for £3.25. The platter also features best-selling flavours Le Rond Camembert flavour, Mature Cheddar Flavour and EPIC Smoked Cheddar Flavour. Earlier this month, Violife parent company Upfield rebranded its food service business from Upfield Professional to Violife Professional, to reflect the company’s dedication to encouraging and supporting the hospitality industry’s increasing demand for plant-based …

Organisations and brands:

Upfield

Violife

Fast Food

UK Chain Oowee Introduces Three New Festive Vegan Products

November 17, 2022

Oowee announces it is to add three festive vegan products to all menus, entailing both savoury and sweet items. Oowee has enjoyed a successful year, opening a new flagship store in Brighton in March and in July partnering with OmniFoods for the Ocean Burger, a vegan fish fillet burger described as being highly realistic. The new festive dishes launch in all Oowee locations in London, Bristol and Brighton this week and will be on the menus until 4th January. The three dishes are: Oowee’s Classic Christmas: A classic Crispy Chick’n burger, filled with crunchy red cabbage, a creamy stuffing mayo, a hash brown, crispy fried onions, cranberry sauce, and spinach pesto in a bun. Classic Christmas Poutine: A generous portion of fries, Crispy Popcorn Chick’n, …

Organisations and brands:

Oowee

vegan panettone served on a plate with a woman grabbing a piece

Products & Launches

OLIVIERI 1882’s Traditional Panettone Recipe Goes Vegan for Christmas

November 10, 2022

Italian panettone specialist OLIVIERI 1882 is launching an all-natural, vegan panettone for authentic Italian holiday celebrations. The new Vegan Christmas Cake is 100% prepared by hand, according to Olivieri. Surveys reveal that one in four consumers worldwide identifies as a flexitarian, and half of the consumers globally are interested in plant-based foods or beverages. With these trends in place, vegan sales expectations are high for this Christmas. “Doted on by Italians for centuries, panettone reigns as the bel paese’s holiday treat of choice. The tall, dome-shaped sweet bread traditionally calls for butter and eggs, but Olivieri 1882’s take on the classic means vegans can have their cake and eat it, too!” says the company. Swapping animal ingredients OLIVIERI 1882 has been baking panettone for …

Food Service

Costa Christmas Menu Features Vegan Options Including P’gs & Blankets Panini

November 3, 2022

British chain Costa Coffee has launched its 2022 Christmas menu, featuring vegan options such as the P’gs & Blankets Panini. The stonebaked panini contains plant-based sausage and bacon with sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayo, and vegan cheese. It is a vegan version of Costa’s popular Pigs Under Blankets panini. Other plant-based options include the Vegan Gluten-Free Mince Tart — featuring spiced fruit in a sweet pastry case — and Vegan Santa Gingerbread. Costa will also offer the M&S Plant Kitchen No Turkey Feast Sandwich, which consists of plant-based meat, bacon-flavour dressing, spinach, cranberry chutney, and fried onions on malted bread. Vegan at Costa Costa has been gradually increasing its plant-based options in recent years, launching a vegan bacon breakfast roll, gingerbread, and a …

Organisations and brands:

Costa

Costa Coffee

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers