How to Shop for Vegan Products in UK Supermarkets
Eating vegan, which means that no animal suffered for your food, has never been easier – regardless of your budget. From vegan protein and plant-based milk to sweet treats and ready meals, you’ll find delicious animal-friendly options almost anywhere you shop.
We’ve put together a few pointers for finding vegan foods at some of the UK’s top supermarkets. All these stores sell a huge variety of plant-based staples – including fruit, vegetables, beans, rice and other grains, pasta sauces, cereals, and much more – that vegans can enjoy. Below, we’ve noted some additional highlights.
ALDI
Offering a selection of vegan curries, yoghurts, meats, and ready meals, Aldi’s Plant Menu vegan range is excellent value for money. If you’re not sure where to start, we’d recommend the No Chicken Masala and Meat-Free Hot Dogs – both of which have received PETA Vegan Food Awards! Or why not use the Plant Menu vegan mince and some fresh veg to whip up a vegan family classic like lasagne or cottage pie?
ASDA
The launch of ASDA’s affordable Plant Based range has given vegans a great choice of meals, which start from the fantastically low price of £1. For summer BBQs and picnics, try the meat-free mini eggs, veggie burgers, and meat-free sausage rolls as well as its Roasted Veg and Houmous Pizza. The spaghetti bolognese and its Sweet Potato Katsu Curry make speedy, satisfying dinners, while the chicken-style burgers, veggie fingers, and meat-free chicken nuggets are perfect for children.
ASDA also stocks great branded products, such as Violife dairy-free cheese slices, Chicago Town vegan pizzas, Sacla vegan sauces, and vegan items from Quorn, Squeaky Bean, and Meatless Farm as well as an impressive selection of animal-free snacks.
CO-OP
The bags of jam and custard doughnuts in Co-op’s bakery section have long been cult favourites among vegans. The supermarket’s PETA Vegan Food Award–winning GRO range, which is all vegan, offers convenient, budget-friendly, and delicious options. For a nutritious lunch, try the Falafel and Houmous Wrap or Slow Roast Tomato & Veg Pasta Salad, and go for the mushroom and spinach Wellington, spicy bean burgers, or Meatball Marinara Linguine for dinner. For some seriously chocolatey treats, don’t miss GRO’s dark chocolate chunk cookies or chocolate orange rocky road.
HOLLAND & BARRETT
Holland & Barrett isn’t a supermarket, but it’s still a great source of vegan delights, including PETA Vegan Food Award winner Oumph!, any vitamins or supplements you might want, and a variety of dairy-free chocolates, whole grains, nuts, and meat alternatives and ready meals.
For some savoury delights, look out for THIS bacon rashers and Fry’s soya and quinoa wellington. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, try the LoveRaw peanut butter cups (they’re palm oil–free!) and the own-brand dairy-free ice creams.
ICELAND
Iceland has one of the UK’s largest vegan frozen ranges, boasting items that are versatile, low-cost, and free of animal suffering. Look for the No Meat Company’s No Bull, No Chick, No Duck, and No Porkies products in store – the No Bull burgers won a PETA Vegan Food Award for being both animal-friendly and totally delicious. For all of our fellow Greggs lovers: you can now get your hands on boxes of the bakery chain’s frozen vegan sausage rolls and vegan steak bakes exclusively at Iceland!
LIDL
We love Lidl’s Too Good To Waste scheme: for just £1.50, the retailer is offering a 5 kg box of fruit and veg that is still good to use but would otherwise have been thrown away. For a wholesome and affordable meal, pick up a Lidl veg box and some vegan meats from the retailer’s vegan Vemondo range. Little ones will love Lidl’s Vemondo vegan fish fingers and nuggets, and we’d recommend ready meals such as its Vegan Medaglioni, gnocchi, or pizza for busy grown-ups.
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M&S
M&S is home to its own vegan product range, Plant Kitchen, which includes 175 meals, snacks, and ingredients. If you’re not sure which of the delicious options to start with, we suggest you try its New York–Style No-Salt-Beef Pretzel Roll, No Lamb Shawarma, or a ready meal such as vegan lasagne.
For kids and big kids alike, Veggie Colin the Caterpillar sweets are a must. Or try the Plant Kitchen sticky toffee pudding for a comforting delight for the whole family.
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MORRISONS
Morrisons offers plenty of own-brand vegan treats. The affordable vegan Plant Revolution range has a Butternut Squash & Coconut Curry, mini chipotle sausages, and Sweet Potato Shawarma, and the No Moo-zarella Sticks from its V Taste line should not be missed. With its Little Kitchen Vegan Spag Bol, Morrisons even has dinner for your little one sorted.
Some of our favourite sweet goodies include indulgent dark chocolate mint thins and, in the bakery section, red velvet cupcakes or tubs of gingerbread people and vegan chocolate chip shortbread. You’ll also find plenty of branded goodies, including vegan Babybel cheese, White Rabbit vegan pizzas, and Loma Linda vegan fish.
OCADO
Ocado has more than 3,000 popular vegan products, including plant-based milks, non-dairy cheeses, dairy-free ice creams and cakes, and vegan meats from Squeaky Bean, Quorn, and Linda McCartney Foods. Some of our other favourite finds include vegan croissants, Clive’s pies, and vegan condiments from The Vurger Co. Since Ocado has partnered with M&S, you can now find all your Plant Kitchen classics and Veggie Colin the Caterpillar treats.
SAINSBURY’S
Look for the Plant Pioneers range to indulge in delicious plant-based burgers, pizzas, and vegan meats, homely pre-made meals like No Chicken Chow Mein and cottage pie, and snacks including No Chicken Samosas, No Prawn Toast, and vegan potato salad. For warming soups and a range of falafel and dips perfect for any picnic spread, make sure to check out the Love Your Veg! line.
The chain also carries other vegan goodies, including croissants from French company La Boulangère, Lazy Vegan curries, and a huge range of vegan chocolate snacks from Lindt, Cadbury, OGGS, and Deliciously Ella, to name just a few.
TESCOS
Offering more than 70 delicious options across its two PETA Vegan Food Award–winning plant-based ranges, you can be sure to find everything you need for a vegan meal at Tesco. The family-friendly Plant Chef line features convenience meals such as mushroom fettucine pasta and meat-free spaghetti bolognese, vegan meats, and even wraps and sandwiches perfect for food on the go.
The products in its popular Wicked Kitchen range also make for satisfying, speedy meals when you need to put your feet up. Options include the spinach and garlic ravioli and vegetable paella. Make sure to leave space for pudding – with its decadent Cinnamon Scrolls and Seriously Sticky Toffee Pudding on offer, you’ll be glad you took our advice! You’ll also find an impressive selection of vegan products in Tesco’s “free-from” line, including cheese, yogurt, chocolate buttons, green pesto, and crème caramel desserts.
WAITROSE
Waitrose has some seriously luxurious vegan goodies throughout its stores. You’ll find favourites such as Booja-Booja chocolate truffles, decadent vegan ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s and Wall’s, Taifun smoked tofu, and a range of vegan meats from the Vegetarian Butcher and Meatless Farm.
The chain’s own vegan label, Plantlife, offers a good range of vegan goodies including No Chorizo Tortelloni, Crisp-Crumbed Mac Bites, moussaka, and other ready meals as well as many ingredients for whipping up your own delicious feasts. For pudding, look no further than the Plantlife Chocolate & Caramel Pots or the indulgent Vegan Chocolate Celebration Cake for special occasions.
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General Tips
If you want to do your research and plan ahead, most supermarkets have a comprehensive list of vegan products available to download from their websites.
“May contain”–type labels can cause confusion, but they are usually added for people with severe allergies and simply indicate that the product has been manufactured in an environment where allergens are present, meaning there’s a chance that a minuscule amount could end up in the product. Most vegans are happy to eat products with “may contain milk/egg” labels.
Most non-vegan ingredients are easy to spot. However, there are a few sneaky animal-derived ones that not everyone knows about, such as the following:
- Gelatine – made from the boiled skin, tendons, and ligaments of animals
- Albumen – usually made from eggs
- Casein, lactose, and whey – these all come from milk
- Carmine and shellac – made from ground-up insects (yuck)
Why Shop Vegan?
The meat, fishing, egg, and dairy industries are a nightmare for animals, who are treated like products rather than sentient individuals who have the ability to feel pain, fear, and joy, just as we do. Learn more about the reality of animal agriculture:
Being kind to animals is simple. To help you get started with making the transition to a compassionate lifestyle, our free vegan starter kit has tips and information on going vegan – for animals, the environment, and your health. Download a copy today!
Happy vegan shopping, everyone!
