Vegan Meat Brands That Are Changing Everything
From popular bakeries like Greggs to takeaway giants like Papa John’s, vegan meat options are popping up everywhere – and everyone wants a slice.
Vegan living is the fastest-growing lifestyle movement in the UK: there are four times more vegans now than there were four years ago.
This alone makes it easy to see why so many brands are tapping into this booming market. Yet with so many choices available, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out which products are worth the hype and which aren’t – luckily, we’re here to help. Here are some of our favourites:
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THIS
THIS is a game-changer. Its vegan bacon and chicken isn’t just fortified with iron and B12 – it’s also higher in protein than most cuts of meat, tofu, lentils, tempeh, and almost all veggies. Whether it’s the vegan bacon rashers, dark soy and garlic chicken pieces, or chicken goujons, THIS is bound to fool even the staunchest of meat-eaters.
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Beyond Meat
This innovative company has massively disrupted the vegan meat game. What’s its secret? Beyond Meat’s delicious products are made with non-GMO, gluten-free pea protein. After the sensational Beyond Burger launched, the company unleashed the equally delicious Beyond Sausage, which is now available across the UK.
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Gardein
We love that Gardein offers vegan seafood, including a golden fishless fillet and crabless cakes. The plant-based favourite also offers vegan protein in the form of chicken strips, crispy tenders, and meatless meatballs.
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VBites
VBites has plenty to offer, including vegan pâté! All products are made in the UK, and the vegan company has been dishing out beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and turkey made from plants for over two decades. But that’s not all – it also produces pasties, pizzas, quiches, roasts, and sausage rolls.
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Vivera
When the 100% plant-based Vivera steak launched in the UK, it sold over 40,000 units within a week. In some supermarkets, the product sold out in just one day. It’s safe to say that it’s a must-try for any vegan meat fiend. And, for those craving more, the brand also makes delicious Greek and shawarma kebab meat, bacon pieces, fish and chicken goujons, meatballs, and more.
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The Vegetarian Butcher
Don’t be fooled by the name – The Vegetarian Butcher has plenty of vegan options. Made with soya protein and broad beans, its products include vegan mince, chicken shawarma, smoked sausage, and teriyaki chicken. Its famous nuggets are everything they’re cracked up to be.
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Tofurky
Although Tofurky first rose to fame for its festive roasts, it now has many more mouth-watering vegan products for us to obsess over. Its Italian Sausage, Smoky Maple Bacon tempeh, and Hickory Smoked Deli Slices are all perfectly delectable and perfectly vegan. Animal lovers, rejoice.
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Fry Family Food
Fry’s uses plant protein to create vegan alternatives to popular foods like burgers, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs. It also makes beef- and chicken-style strips for stir-fries. For a sure hit at a get-together, cook up the hot dogs – and add a squiggle of mustard and ketchup for maximum yum. Check out PETA’s video below to see what happened when we brought Fry’s hot dogs to the streets of London with Carl Donnelly:
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Oumph!
Oumph! meats are made from soya beans. Some are seasoned with herbs or organic spice mixes – and they’re all very tasty. Try Pulled Oumph!, which has a rich BBQ flavour, or the Kebab Spiced variety, which is seasoned with a host of classic doner flavours. Once you taste it, you’ll know why it’s called Oumph!
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Linda McCartney Foods
Not only does Linda McCartney offer a huge variety of products that are made without animal suffering, most of them also come in 100% recyclable packaging containing no plastic. Although all the vegan options are delicious, we especially recommend the Vegetarian Sausage Rolls and the Vegetarian Scampi Bites.
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Quorn
Fillets, fajita strips, burgers, smoky ham, chicken slices – you name it, Quorn most likely has a vegan option for you. Just make sure that you check the label, as some of its offering is vegetarian but not vegan. If you’re debating what to try first, go for every kid’s (and adult’s) favourite: Fishless Fingers. You won’t regret it.
Pro tip: UK supermarkets also have some tasty own-brand vegan products, including Iceland’s phenomenal vegan range, Sainsbury’s Love Your Veg! brand, Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen and Plant Chef lines, and more. Plenty of vegan products are hitting supermarkets almost daily in the UK, so keep your eyes peeled for new launches and fill your belly with existing options in the meantime.
Interested in going vegan? Take our 30-day pledge today. Pledgers receive regular advice and support to help them make the transition to vegan living.
