How Brands Are Reacting to 2017’s Vegan Explosion
Vegan eating is “in” for 2017. Rarely does a day go by without a new vegan-related headline, and every week we’re astounded by the new plant-based options popping up on menus and supermarket shelves across the UK.
We’re experiencing the surge at PETA, too. Orders of our free vegan starter kit have increased each year: 14,000 Brits requested a copy in 2013, 28,000 in 2014, 35,000 in 2015, and a whopping 72,000 in 2016.
In January, more than 8,000 people signed PETA’s vegan pledge, joining thousands of others who also made the switch with help from organisations such as Animal Aid, Veganuary, and The Vegan Society. Among those taking PETA’s pledge, a massive 85 per cent of survey respondents were planning to stay vegan after the initial 31 days!
The examples below are just some of the ways in which food brands and restaurants are getting on board with plant-based meals and snacks.
We’re seeing more interesting and varied options popping up all the time, including the UK’s first vegan fried-chicken shop, with the country’s first-ever vegan fish and chip shop set to follow soon.
All Bar One’s impressive vegan menu for January has been such a hit that the chain has decided to extend it for the month of February. Show it some love and it may become a permanent addition.
Zizzi reports that its vegan options are more popular than ever. The restaurant chain sold a whopping 30,000 plant-based dishes in the first month of the year and will launch even more vegan delicacies in March!
https://instagram.com/p/BP8JCpbgbL1/?tagged=veganzizzi
Pret A Manger released a range of new vegan items at the beginning of the year – including the Rainbow Veggie Pot, Spiced Corn & Quinoa soup, and Mango Chia Pot. The sandwich chain is also trialling a coconut milk option for drinks at some locations – try the Coconut Hot Chocolate for a luscious treat.
https://instagram.com/p/BPKupkvBJid/?taken-by=petauk
Harvester is rolling out its brand-new vegan menu, which includes the Aubergine & Red Lentil Tagine and the Vanilla & Raspberry Rice Pudding.
https://instagram.com/p/BQBhUmIBLWV/?tagged=veganharvester
So far in 2017, we’ve already seen Quorn add Fishless Fingers to its expanding vegan range, while Fry’s Family Foods has released five new flavours of ice cream, including “Tons of Cookies” and “Salted Caramel“.
Marks & Spencer revealed that it receives tons of requests for plant-based food items, and its stores now offer more than 1,800 products for vegans, including two new sandwiches and a dairy-free soya yoghurt.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s reported that sales of its new own-brand vegan cheeses were 300 per cent greater than it expected.
Vegan Cheese Surpasses Expected Sales By 300% https://t.co/ZlVFwm36LR
— Vegan Future (@veganfuture) January 30, 2017
People are becoming increasingly concerned about cruelty to animals, climate change, and their own health, and as a result, Google searches for “vegan” have increased by 380 per cent in the last five years. Here’s what the exponential increase looked like in the UK.
With so many exciting new food options available, going vegan is easier than ever. A plant-based diet is the obvious choice for compassionate people, and we’re here to help you make the transition. Give it a try!
