Vegan new year

There’s a huge opportunity on the horizon for operators to drive up sales and welcome a whole new customer base and it’s called Veganuary

Put eggs to one side...

...and instead crumble up some tofu, season it and heat in a pan in a little oil. Serve up with vegan sausages and bacon and, hey presto, you have a vegan breakfast (pictured above).

Top tip

ADD TURMERIC TO MAKE THE SCRAMBLED TOFU YELLOW!

It’s the trend that keeps on giving. Yes, veganism is here to stay and getting onboard will not only see an uptake in your sales but an increase in footfall and reputation as well.

Here are a few stats for you. According to the Sainsbury’s Future of Food Report, vegans and vegetarians look set to account for a quarter of the UK population by 2025 and this is right across the board, not just millennials. In fact, the number of residents in care homes that adapted a vegan diet almost trebled between 2014 and 2019 (Vegetarian for Life commissioned research; Waitrose & Partners Food and Drink Report 2018-2019).

The number of vegans in the UK continues to climb and never more so than in January, or Veganuary as it’s become known. This highprofile and well-respected, trusted campaign has a credible following and provides your business with the opportunity to draw in the lucrative vegan and healthy eating crowd, so use it to spotlight your vegan offering.

EASY SWITCHES

Hit the ground running by looking at the produce you already buy in and how dishes can be tweaked to create plantbased options. Or, explore dedicated plant-based ranges such as Garden Gourmet, which includes burgers, breaded fillets, fillet pieces, meatballs and mince alternatives, which you can use to easily build a varied and exciting menu from.

To inspire you, we’ve created a collection of ideas and simple swaps to get you started or to enhance and increase your vegan menu.

Did you know?

1 IN 3 BRITS HAVE STOPPED OR REDUCED THEIR MEAT INTAKE

98% WOULD RECOMMEND VEGANUARY TO A FRIEND

Overnight oats...

...is a popular breakfast option: simply mix rolled oats, chia seeds, unsweetened almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt together in a jar. Give it a shake and chill. Top with fresh berries, banana, sliced apple, nut butter or dried fruits and nuts ready to serve.

Simple swaps

Try these simple swaps to embrace vegan products on your menu:

MEAT FOR SOYA MINCE OR GRAINS IN BURGERS AND BEANS IN CURRIES

EGGS FOR TOFU OR CHIA SEEDS – TOFU IS IDEAL FOR MEALS AND CHIA SEEDS FOR BAKING

BUTTER FOR COCONUT OIL, AVOCADO OR NUT BUTTER

COW’S MILK FOR ALMOND, SOY, COCONUT OR OAT MILK

MILK CHOCOLATE FOR 70%+ DARK CHOCOLATE

STANDARD YOGURT FOR ALMOND, SOYA OR COCONUT YOGURT

CHICKEN FOR JACKFRUIT OR EGGPLANT

A BURGER PATTY FOR A PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM

Did you know?

You’ll be staggered to discover that many of the everyday products you have in your kitchen are actually vegan, and below are just a small selection. Include them in recipes and have them on display for customers to grab and go

Top tip

Always check the labels to be sure but most of the ingredients you’ll have in your kitchen are vegan such as pasta, rice, peanut butter, most breads, tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, jam and marmalade, coconut milk, curry pastes, tomato puree, baked beans, herbs and spices, tea, coffee and fruit juice.