Food focus

Subway has unveiled a new addition to its plantbased menu for Veganuary – the T.L.C. Tikka (Tastes. Like.Chicken).

A new spice-inspired twist on the original roastchicken inspired T.L.C., the T.L.C. Tikka is a special addition to the menu exclusively for Veganuary, available from Wednesday 29 December to Tuesday 15 February in select stores across Ireland and the UK, replacing the classic T.L.C. for a limited time.

Made from soybased protein and a unique recipe, with slices of Violife vegan cheese, the T.L.C. Tikka is fully customisable and is available as a 6-inch or Footlong Sub, a salad or a wrap for even more choice.

The T.L.C. Tikka is approved by the Vegan Society

O’Brien’s launches new ‘Power of Choice’ menu in collaboration with Natalya Coyle

Following the recent appointment of sports star Natalya Coyle as its official Brand Ambassador, O’Brien’s Sandwiches and Natalya have spent the past few months collaborating on the healthy new ‘Power of Choice’ menu which will be in outlets from 10 January 2022.

New items on the menu include Poached Eggs on Avocado Sourdough Toast, Spiced Chicken and Chickpea Soup, and the delicious Rainbow Chicken Bowl. Not only are these new dishes lean, but they are also hearty and created to be nutrient dense, filling and above all, tasty and convenient.

O’Brien’s is marking its 33rd year in business this year.

Natalya Coyle is O’Brien’s official Brand Ambassador

McDonald’s Ireland rolls out McPlant nationally

McDonald’s is rolling out its plant-based offering, the McPlant, to all restaurants across Ireland from Wednesday 5 January 2022, following a successful trial last year.

The impressive McPlant, which took over three years to develop, features a patty co-developed with Beyond Meat.

Michelle Graham-Clare, chief marketing officer, McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said the group saw “a remarkable response to the trial period back in October”.

The McPlant features a vegan sesame bun, mustard, ketchup, vegan sauce, fresh onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese. It is cooked separately from other McDonald’s burgers and sandwiches using dedicated utensils. Healthy fast food retailer Freshly Chopped recently signed a new partnership deal with the Dutch company FFF International Holding B.V. (Fresh Food Fast Company) that will see the Freshly Chopped brand open 120 new outlets in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden over the next five years.

Launched in Dublin in 2012, Freshly Chopped already has over 60 stores across Ireland, the UK and Cyprus and employs over 1,000 people.

Brian Lee, founder and CEO of Chopped, says the new partnership represents “an incredible announcement for Freshly Chopped.

“Signing this deal to bring the brand to six new countries is a great moment for us and another important milestone on our global rollout,” Lee said. The master franchise deal will see Fresh Food Fast Company own the Freshly Chopped master franchise until 2032. The first location will open in February in Leiden with a further seven outlets planned to open in the Netherlands in 2022. Both company and franchise restaurants will then open across Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden over the next five years. Hans Wingender, managing director of Fresh Food Fast Company, is confident about the brand’s growth prospects, noting that leading food brands must be able to respond to the consumer demand for healthier options at the right price and fast.

“In 2020, when I first encountered Freshly Chopped, I knew this was the brand that we could grow across Europe,” Wingender said.

Following a successful trial, McDonald’s Ireland is rolling out its first ever plant-based burger to all its restaurants

Freshly Chopped expands to six new countries

Brian Lee, founder and CEO of Freshly Chopped with Hans Wingender, managing director of Fresh Food Fast Company in Leiden, Netherlands

GAA star Philly McMahon teams up with Tesco to provide families with free food packages

Dublin GAA legend, Philly McMahon has teamed up with Tesco to announce a new pilot programme that will provide thousands of meals to feed children and families across Ireland.

Stronger Starts, in partnership with the Good Grub Initiative, will provide 1,000 families per week with free nutritious food packages containing potatoes, carrots, onions, and apples, to support them in preparing healthy meals at home.

Good Grub is a not-for-profit initiative that has, since the start of the Covid pandemic, delivered nutritious fruit and veg parcels directly to the families of a number of DEIS school children around Ireland. During the pilot, home school community liaison officers in over 40 DEIS schools will identify families who may need supplemental support at home this winter. Tesco began partnering with the Good Grub Initiative as a pilot programme in November 2021 and the pilot campaign which will run until February will see Tesco provide the equivalent of over 120,000 thousand meals to families most in need in communities around Ireland. As part of the campaign, Tesco will also partner with a number of Local Heroes from around Ireland who will create compelling video content to demonstrate how healthy and nutritious food is the best ingredient in any recipe. Once the pilot is complete in February, Tesco and the Good Grub Initiative will review and refine the programme with David Kelly, co-founder of The Good Grub the aim of Initiative; Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland; co-founder of The Good Grub Initiative, Denis O’Reilly; with former Dublin GAA footballer, reaching more children and Philly McMahon at the launch of the Stronger families across Starts programme Ireland. ■