Dussman partners with plant-based startups

Team members from Dussman and all four startups © BettaF!sh

Food Service

German Caterer Dussman Partners With Plant-Based Startups for “Diversity Instead of Sacrifice” Campaign

This Veganuary, German caterer Dussmann Food Services has joined forces with four plant-based startups — planted, BettaF!sh, BOONIAN, and Brew Bites — as part of its Vielfalt Statt Verzicht (Diversity Instead of Sacrifice) campaign. Dishes featuring plant-based products made by the startups have been available at around 60 German business canteens throughout the month. Restaurant Ursprung, a sustainable restaurant located in Dussmann’s Berlin-based cultural media store Das KulturKaufhaus, is also participating. About the startups planted uses extrusion and fermentation to make meat alternatives from clean ingredients such as peas, sunflower, and oats. One planted schnitzel emits 87% fewer greenhouse gases and requires 90% less water than its animal-based equivalent. BettaF!sh produces a canned tuna alternative called TU-NAH, made from seaweed, pea protein, and fava beans. …

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Land of Kush

© Land of Kush

Charity & Campaigns

Veganuary 2024 Sees Major US Cities Embracing Plant-Based Living

Veganuary, a global movement encouraging people to try vegan in January, has seen remarkable growth in the United States. With the highest number of participants among all of Veganuary’s participating countries and over 400 US businesses participating in 2023, the campaign is gaining substantial momentum. Cities across the nation are embracing this trend, each offering unique highlights and specials to celebrate Veganuary. Baltimore Baltimore set a national precedent by declaring January as the official Veganuary month, a move initiated by the Black Veg Society and Veganuary, supported by DefaultVeg. Mayor Brandon M. Scott emphasized the city’s commitment to “resilient, sustainable, and healthy” communities, urging residents and businesses to explore plant-based options. He proclaimed “the month of January as ‘Veganuary’ in Baltimore, and urges residents, restaurants, …

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Costa Coffee and BOSH! launch plant-based range

© BOSH!/Costa Coffee

Products & Launches

Costa Coffee Partners With BOSH! to Launch New Plant-Based Range for Veganuary

British coffee chain Costa Coffee has teamed up with vegan chef duo BOSH! to launch a new range of plant-based sweet and savoury products for Veganuary. For lunch, customers can opt for the new Plant-Based Saucy Chicken Fajita Wrap, which consists of plant-based chicken with spicy tomato sauce and roasted red peppers in a tomato tortilla wrap. Those looking for a sweet option can choose the Caramelised Biscuit Rocky Road, consisting of a dark chocolate biscuit base with marshmallows and cherries, topped with Speculoos biscuit spread, Speculoos biscuit pieces, and dark chocolate ganache. Alternatively, there is the new Double Chocolate Cookie, which is studded with dark chocolate pieces. Existing vegan range The new menu options are not the first products launched by BOSH! and Costa. …

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Veganuary billboard times square

© Veganuary

Food Service

New York City Spearheads Veganuary 2024 in the US With Plant-Powered Menus

In celebration of Veganuary 2024, New York City is leading the charge in the USA, with restaurants across the city offering plant-based specials throughout the month, following a PSA kickoff in Times Square on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Veganuary’s journey in the US began with an advertising campaign in the Boston subway in December of 2017, following a successful campaign in the London Underground the year prior. The initiative has since witnessed a significant rise in popularity. Growing interest in Veganuary By 2022, the US had the highest number of participants among over 200 participating countries, according to Veganuary’s reports. This growing interest is mirrored in the latest YouGov study commissioned by Veganuary, revealing that 71% of US adults are aiming to …

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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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UK food service outlets launch new Veganuary options

© LEON

Food Service

From Bhajis to Bulgogi: UK Food Service Outlets Introduce New Veganuary Options

As Veganuary gets underway, many UK food service outlets are launching new menu options to cater to customers who are trying a plant-based diet. Here, we take a look at some of the newly introduced dishes. Leon Healthy fast food chain Leon is celebrating Veganuary with an updated plant-based menu. One new option is the Bangin’ Bhaji Wrap, which contains courgette and pea bhajis topped with Kachumber (an Indian salad), crispy onions, and herby mayo. Another new dish is the Rainbow Squash Salad, containing roasted butternut squash, herby mayo, pink kraut, greens, and grains, seasoned with Mediterranean-inspired spices. “Get ready for a line-up of plantilicious dishes that are not only a treat for the taste buds but are a treat for the gut too,” said …

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veganuary's banner for the end of the vegan diet challenge

© Veganuary

Charity & Campaigns

Veganuary 2023 Breaks Records with 700,000 Participants Trying Vegan Diet

Veganuary 2023 has broken all previous records with more registered participants than ever, with 706,965 people officially signing up for the vegan diet challenge from nearly every country in the world, reports the organisation. At the beginning of the month, the international charity announced that one person every 2.4 seconds was signing up for the diet challenge. With this year’s participation figures, Veganuary can joyously celebrate the 10th year of its global campaign, supported by actress Lucy Watson and famous French restaurateur Alexis Gauthier who became official Ambassadors for the charity this year. Participation could be significantly larger According to Veganuary, several studies have suggested that the total participation in the challenge is significantly larger than the number of registered people through Veganuary’s website.  In a YouGov survey conducted this …

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Veganuary TV Ad

©Veganuary

Society

Study Reveals Impact of Veganuary in UK and Netherlands

Marketing research firm Toluna surveyed consumers in the Netherlands and the UK on the impact of Veganuary on their diets in 2023. To find out just how much the trend has caught on, the Toluna Germany team conducted a survey of Veganuary participants in the UK and the Netherlands for the second year running. The results of the survey, which was conducted among consumers on 21 and 22 January, show that the consumption of vegan food continues to rise. Participation and overall impact In the 2022 Toluna Veganuary study, an increase in popularity was noted compared to 2021. However, this figure stagnated in 2023. In the UK, 54% of consumers said they were thinking about participating in the Veganuary – similar to the 55% who …

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Redefine Meat and Classic Fine Foods collaborate

© Redefine Meat

Company News

Redefine Meat Reports Record Veganuary With 70 New Restaurant Partnerships

Redefine Meat reports a record Veganuary with over 70 new food service customers onboarded across Europe. In the 12 months following Redefine’s impressive $135 million financing round, the Israeli company has seen continued success, bolstered by its partnership with Giraudi Meats, Europe’s leading importer of high-end meat, and further expedited by this year’s Veganuary campaign. The “New Meat” products have now launched commercially across the UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Austria and Finland, as detailed below. Netherlands New restaurant partnerships in the Netherlands include Boterlap, Koks gemert, Wildschut, Luxembourgh and Shakshuk. Redefine commercially-launched Redefine Pulled Beef, Pulled Pork, and Redefine Bratwurst within the Dutch market. Germany Across Germany, hundreds of restaurants nationwide are serving New Meat following accelerated growth during Veganuary.  Mundfein, launching its first Redefine …

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© Just Eat Takeaway

Society

Mars, Just Eat, the MoD & the NHS On Why They Are Embracing the Veganuary Workplace Challenge

Veganuary reveals the latest in the currently 80+ strong list of organisations signing up for this year’s Veganuary Workplace Challenge. So far this year, we have reported on new vegan food service offerings from McDonald’s, Burger King, Heavenly Desserts, Hungry Horse pubs, Wagamama, Domino’s (in Germany and UK), and Sushi Daily; as well as new vegan NPDs from Heinz, Cauldron Foods and THIS. Additionally, further news came through today with new plant-based menu items at high street chains Starbucks and Greggs. Some of UK’s largest organisations sign up Veganuary today reports that Suffolk County Council; NHS Supply Chain: Food; the MoD; London North East Railway; Odeon Cinemas; Mars Food Europe; Just Eat Takeaway and Jude’s ice cream are also joining the 80+ organisations joining Veganuary’s …

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veganuary workplace challenge

Jo Mackie, Customer and People Director at Superdrug. © Veganuary

Fairs & Events

Harrods, Superdrug, and Other Major Companies Join Veganuary Workplace Challenge

Several large British companies have joined the Veganuary Workplace Challenge 2022, encouraging their entire teams to eat a vegan diet for the month of January. Among the companies that have signed up is Harrods, the world’s leading luxury department store, along with Sky, Superdrug, Papa John’s, Volkswagen Group UK, NHS Supply Chain, and Adept Carehomes. Most of the companies cited sustainability as their primary motive for taking part, with many hoping it will cut their carbon footprint. Health and beauty retailer Superdrug said it was participating as part of its cruelty-free philosophy. “As a business, we care deeply about our continued commitment to initiatives such as Veganuary, our vegan and cruelty-free offering, CSR strategy and being the go-to place on the high street for vegan …

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veganuary 2022 backed by stars

Venus Williams. © Veganuary

Fairs & Events

Veganuary 2022 Backed by Stars Including Joanna Lumley, Venus Williams & Bryan Adams

Veganuary 2022 backed by stars from across the globe, as campaign urges the public to “take climate action into your own hands”. Next year’s Veganuary campaign, which urges people to try a vegan diet for the month of January, will be supported by a huge lineup of celebrities. Actor Joanna Lumley and poet Benjamin Zephaniah will join New York mayor Eric Adams, renowned chef Matthew Kenney, and businesswoman Deborah Meaden of Dragons’ Den. All Veganuary participants will receive the campaign’s cookbook, which in 2022 will contain recipes from tennis player Venus Williams, ethologist Jane Goodall, musician Bryan Adams and more. Additionally, the campaign video will feature TV presenters Chris Packham and Jasmine Harman alongside soap stars Eva O’Hara and James Moore. The impact of Veganuary …

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Leon Sweet Carolina Burger

©Leon

Fairs & Events

Veganuary 2021: Vegan Deliveroo +146%, M&S Vegan Beef Sells Every 30 Seconds, Vegan Meatballs Fastest Best-Sellers in Pret’s History

Veganuary 2021 has come to an end and has revealed some outstanding figures. In total, an official number of 582,538 people signed-up (not counting those who took part unofficially without signing up), far exceeding the target of 500,000. The groundbreaking initiative has also inspired an explosion of plant-based product launches, menu items and market activity.  Hundreds of new plant-based products launched in conjunction with the organisation and many initial sales have exceeded expectations. UK restaurant Leon released its Vegan Sweet Carolina BBQ Burger and in just one week was its bestselling burger. Department store Marks and Spencer reporting selling one of its new No Salt Beef Pretzel Roll every 30 seconds. Pret a Manger’s new Meatless Meatball Hot Wrap was its first new product to …

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©Veganuary

Sustainability / Environment

An Open Letter from Veganuary: “2021 IS THE YEAR FOR POSITIVE CHANGE”

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE! 2020 has been an unforgettable year, with our attention divided between fears over coronavirus and anxiety over climate change. What has become increasingly obvious is that these two threats have something in common; both are heavily linked to our consumption of animal products. Animal agriculture is responsible for an estimated 14.5 percent of all human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. Oxford University researchers found that almost every animal product creates far more emissions than almost every plant product. Quite simply, we cannot tackle climate change while we farm and eat animals on an industrial scale. Pandemic experts warn that because of overcrowded, squalid conditions, factory farms – especially chicken farms – are breeding grounds for the next global pandemic.1 Already …

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Joaquin Phoenix

©Veganuary

Celebrities

Celebrity Support for Veganuary 2021 Including Alec Baldwin, Joaquin Phoenix and Alicia Silverstone

Non-profit organisation Veganuary is inviting people to try out a purely plant-based diet in January. The aim of the joint New Year’s resolution is a better, healthier, and safer future for all. Hollywood stars like Alec Baldwin, Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone and Mayim Bialik are on board with this year’s campaign.

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©LiveKindly Co

Fairs & Events

Veganuary 2021: Fry’s and Oumph! Sign Up as Official Sponsors

To put the importance of Veganuary into perspective: if just 350,000 humans go plant-based for January, 41,200 tons of CO2EQ, 2.5 million litres of water, and over a million animals can be saved.  The Fry Family Food Co. and Oumph!, today announced their official sponsorship of Veganuary 2021 to help promote this urgent cause.

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Society

Joaquin Phoenix, George Monboit and Others Join Veganuary Campaign

Veganuary today releases passionate personal messages from climate-conscious celebrities urging everyone to ‘Join the New Year’s Revolution’ and sign up to the 31-day plant-based pledge. The urgent call to action marks the launch of Veganuary’s 2020 campaign and is backed by Hollywood actors, and high profile environmentalists and athletes.

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