One peek at a chain restaurant’s menu or a supermarket’s shelves is enough to see just how mainstream vegan food is today – and we couldn’t be more excited.
From Sainsbury’s meat-free butcher’s shop to Greggs’ vegan sausage roll, a large number of food companies, major supermarkets, and restaurants have stepped up to meet the ever-growing demand for vegan food. People are increasingly moving towards a compassionate diet, and progressive brands are changing with the times.
Now in their seventh year, PETA’s Vegan Food Awards highlight some of the most delicious and exciting new vegan offerings. Check out the award winners before heading out to try them for yourself:
Best Vegan Burger
LEON The Love Burger
LEON warmed hearts with the launch of its aptly named The Love Burger – and we’re head over heels for this meaty beetroot patty topped with non-dairy Gouda-style cheese, LEON burger sauce, tomatoes, pickles, and vegan Carolina mustard mayo.-
Best Vegan Chicken
THIS Isn’t Chicken Tikka Pieces
Are you kidding? Look at this stuff! This animal-friendly chicken is delicious, fortified with iron and B12, loaded with protein, and completely vegan. It makes a clucking wonderful addition to a wrap, salad, or curry. Best Vegan Hot Dog
Moving Mountains Hot Dog
The game-changing hot dog from Moving Mountains could fool even the staunchest meat-eater. Made with sunflower seeds, carrot, onion, and coconut oil, the sausage is as rich in flavour as it is in vitamins. Its naturally smoky flavour proves no pig is needed to make a “dog”.
Best Vegan Bacon
THIS Isn’t Bacon
This vegan bacon makes an ace bacon butty or breakfast side – without the cruelty. The texture, flavour, and look are right on the money, and the best part is that THIS Isn’t Bacon is 100% kind to piglets.Best Vegan Sausage
Sainsbury’s Chorizo Style Shroomdogs
These sausages’ unique combination of paprika, mushrooms, and chilli purée make them a deserving wiener of PETA’s award. Their strong flavour works particularly well on the BBQ or used to spruce up tomato-based pasta dishes.Best Vegan Sandwich
Caffè Nero Sundried Tomato & Pesto Tostati
Caffè Nero is the first coffee chain in the UK to launch a vegan cheese toastie – and the groundbreaking Sundried Tomato & Pesto Tostati doesn’t disappoint. It contains dairy-free mozzarella, vegan pesto, vegan tomato mayonnaise, sun-dried cherry tomatoes, and salad leaves. What a world!Best Vegan Cheese
Applewood Vegan
This dairy-free cheese has a smooth, creamy texture and a smoky taste – a superb vegan take on smoked Applewood that melts beautifully. If you’re a cheese lover, get this ASAP and add it to a cheeseboard, pasta dish, or sandwich.- Hellmanns
Best Vegan Mayonnaise
Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo
Hellmann’s vegan mayonnaise is perfect for veggie burgers, chips, sandwiches, and salads. Its smooth, thick consistency makes it ideal for dolloping and spreading on all your favourite dishes – mayo dreams come true. Best Vegan Fish
Cosy Club Vegan Fish & Chips
The Cosy Club has locations across the country, and its vegan fish and chips is a real catch. Made with battered nori-wrapped tofu, the dish brings a fish-friendly taste of the sea to your plate. The British classic is served with minted mushy garden peas, vegan tartare sauce, and of course, chips.Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
Starbucks Vegan Mac
Anyone who loves a hearty, comforting meal will want to try Starbucks’ vegan mac and cheese. The coffee chain’s take on the classic dish is made with butternut squash, spinach, and dairy-free cheese and topped with a parsley crumb. Totally yum!Best Vegan Ready Meal
Aldi I Am Vegan Yellow Thai Curry
Part of Aldi’s growing vegan range, this yellow Thai curry is fragrant and flavoursome – and at just £1.99 a pop, you can stock up for those days when you just can’t face cooking. You’re so ready for this meal.- Zizzi
Best Vegan Pizza
Zizzi Jackfruit Italian Hot
This new beauty from Zizzi will be available nationwide from 15 October. Everyone who loves pizza – and who doesn’t? – will enjoy the chain’s vegan options, and this pizza featuring vegan jackfruit pepperoni, spicy harissa, Roquito chillies, and non-dairy mozzarella topped with fresh basil is a slice of heaven. You want a pizza this. Best Vegan Cake
Wagamama Mango + Matcha Layer Cake
This innovative and delicate treat is an experience. The layered cake is made with matcha cream, vanilla sponge, yuzu cream, and mango and passion fruit purée. To top it off, it’s served with a raspberry compote that’s simply wonderful.Best Vegan Cookie
Costa Chocolate, Caramel & Hazelnut Cookie
Costa’s Chocolate, Caramel & Hazelnut Cookie has a rich chocolate exterior that hugs a gooey caramel centre, making every bite a delight. Its melt-in-your-mouth goodness will leave you with a cosy feeling.Best Vegan Dessert
Bella Italia Vegan Cookie Dough Al Forno
If you’re having a meal at Bella Italia, make sure that you leave room for this decadent dessert – a treat for the senses. The cookie has a melty middle and is topped with vegan vanilla gelato and caramel sauce.Best Vegan Pastry
Carluccio’s Croissant Vegano
Carluccio’s vegan croissants are made with sourdough using a traditional Italian recipe and are just the right combination of flaky, crunchy, and soft. They’re available at all 77 locations – and while you’re there, also grab one of the vegan Saccottini al Cioccolato, a traditional Italian take on a pain au chocolat.Best Vegan Chocolate
NOMO Creamy Choc
NOMO Creamy Choc is made in Norfolk by a dedicated team of chocolatiers. Chocoholics who want the best of the best without harming animals will love the creamy milk chocolate–style deliciousness of this indulgent treat.Best Vegan Doughnut
Doughnut Time
Doughnut Time has a variety of vegan doughnuts on offer, ranging from a simple but delicious raspberry and plum jam variety right up to the elaborately tasty Ice Ice Bae Bae, made with vanilla “buttercream”, vegan cookie pieces, chocolate chip cookie dough, and chocolate drizzle.Best Vegan Milk
Plenish Oat M*lk
However you spell it, this is one fine oat milk: good for you, good for cows, good for the planet – just oatrageously good! It’s a great source of soluble fibre, folate, zinc, iron, and magnesium. Made with only 100% organic oats, filtered water, and a pinch of sea salt, this plant-based milk is utterly drinkable.Best Vegan Yogurt
Alpro Greek Style
Alpro’s Greek Style yogurt is thick and creamy with a mild flavour and a velvety texture. It’s great as an addition to your favourite breakfast, as a base for dips, stirred into a curry, or straight from the pot!Best Vegan Ice Cream
Magnum Vegan Classic
No cows were harmed in the making of this luxurious frozen treat. The Magnum Vegan Classic has a generous velvety vanilla ice cream centre covered with cracking vegan chocolate. Soon, we’ll be able to build a house with the wooden sticks.Best Vegan Pie
Fray Bentos Vegan Steak and Kidney Bean
Here’s an exclusive: we’re delighted to reveal the Vegan Steak and Kidney Bean pie. PETA worked with the team at Fray Bentos to bring this nostalgic delight to the table. The limited edition pie will be available from the end of December to make your New Year’s dreams come true. Stock up for the apocalypse!Best Vegan Cookbook
Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats by Rachel Ama
Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats takes inspiration from Ama’s Caribbean and West African roots as well as naturally vegan dishes. The cookbook has full-flavoured recipes that won’t require all-day cooking, such as Caribbean fritters, carrot cake waffles with cashew frosting, and peanut fried rice.Launch of the Year
Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll
In January, the world experienced full-blown #VeganSausageRoll mania. The hashtag dominated the Twittersphere, tasting videos became a staple on YouTube, daytime TV presenters dedicated segments to the pastry, and everyone everywhere was desperate to get their hands on one. Cheap, cheerful, and delicious, the vegan sausage roll came after years of urging from PETA.
Vegan living is growing at an astonishing rate as more and more people recognise that other animals have just as much of an inherent desire to live as we do – and that eating vegan is better not only for animals but also for our planet and our own health. As a result, you’ll find delectable animal-friendly options almost anywhere you go to shop or eat.
After you’ve tasted these award-winning foods, get cooking with the recipes in our free vegan starter kit:
