Co-op announces ‘biggest rollout of vegan products’

Supermarket introduces new vegan range, featuring 35 meat-free products

Co-op Gro Kashmiri Spice (Co-op)

Co-op has announced a new range of vegan food for 2020, describing the launch as what is “believed to be the largest ever product rollout of own-brand vegan products by a supermarket”.

This month, to coincide with the annual observance of Veganuary, the supermarket is launching a new vegan food range called Gro.

The full range features more than 35 meat-free products, which will be made available in 300 Co-op stores across the UK.

From Wednesday 8 January, selected Gro items will be on offer in 2,000 Co-op stores and up to 4,000 independent retailers across the country.

The range features a variety of dishes, including the Kashmiri Spice Pizza, a stonebaked pizza garnished with spiced cauliflower and red chillies; Chilli Con Nachos; Spicy Squash and Mexican Bean Salad and the Vegan Steak Bake, which is due to be launched on 22 January.

According to research conducted for Co-op’s Ethical Consumerism report, published in June 2018, the vegetarian and plant-based food market recently topped £1bn, more than doubling over the past two decades.

In addition to the launch of its new vegan food range, in 2020 Co-op is also offering same-day online city-centre deliveries in 650 stores.

“We have to provide fantastic products and services with strong ethics and a purposeful focus on convenience,” said Jo Whitfield, CEO of Co-op Food.

“Our new vegan range taps into the latest consumer trends and our online services meet the growing appetite for fast home deliveries.”

Co-op Gro Katsu Curry (Co-op)

Greggs is one of several food retailers to have already announced new vegan food for 2020.

Following weeks of speculation, Greggs finally confirmed the launch of its new Vegan Steak Bake, which is available from some stores on Thursday.

The dish is made using 96 layers of puff pastry, diced onions, a gravy filling and Quorn pieces instead of meat.

Greggs said the vegan steak bake has been in development for months, with the company recruiting a panel of vegan and non-vegan taste testers to perfect the flavour.

The baked good costs £1.55 and will initially be rolled out across 1,300 shops from 2 January before expanding to a further 700 shops on 16 January.

For all the latest news on vegan food launches, click here.