The plant-based category is gearing up for its biggest Veganuary yet, with a range of new launches hitting supermarket shelves. From quick-cooking tofu to meaty meatless pizzas, brands are tapping into growing demand for sustainable and innovative alternatives.
With brands like Beyond Meat, This, and Aldi introducing exciting options, can Veganuary 2025 fight back against the slump in plant-based launches in the UK? Here’s a first look at the standout innovations set to inspire shoppers this month
Ben & Jerry’s
Rsp: £5.75/465ml
Ben & Jerry’s is kicking off 2025 with a new vegan ice cream variant.
It has revived its discontinued Bohemian Raspberry tub (rsp: £5.75/465ml) – containing vanilla ice cream with fudge brownie pieces and a raspberry sauce swirl – to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Queen’s hit song, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Initially launched by Ben & Jerry’s in 2007, Bohemian Raspberry has been given a vegan overhaul for 2025. It now contains Ben & Jerry’s oat-based ice cream.
Proceeds from Bohemian Raspberry will go to HIV/AIDS charity Mercury Phoenix Trust, in partnership with Queen.
Beyond Meat
Rsp: £3.25/2x76g
Available: Tesco
Beyond Meat has announced the launch of its Beyond Smash burgers into Tesco stores nationwide.
The ‘smash’ burgers (rsp: £3.25/two-pack) are designed to have the same taste and texture as the Beyond Burger, but with a slimmer patty that crisps up in the pan.
There is 16g of protein per 100g serving and the burgers are designed to deliver a “meaty, juicy flavour with a satisfying crunch”.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Beyond Smash to Tesco stores, making it easier for Beyond Meat fans to enjoy an on-trend plant-based burger, no sacrifice required,” said Lee Crane, regional sales manager retail UK&I. “Whether it’s kicking off Veganuary or supporting a balanced lifestyle, Beyond Smash helps burger lovers smash their goals in January and beyond.”
The brand said it was perfect ahead of Veganuary and could be used in a burger or crumbled over a salad.
Beyond Smash is also kosher, halal and vegan certified.
Read the full article here
Julienne Bruno
London-based vegan cheese brand Julienne Bruno has unveiled a plant-based alternative to mozzarella pearls, dubbed Mozzafiore Pearls.
The NPD, described by Julienne Bruno as a “world first”, is made with a combination of soya and coconut oil, using traditional cheesemaking techniques to obtain a “springy, soft texture with a creamy yet subtle salty tang” naturally through the brand’s fermentation process.
The product, the first line from Julienne Bruno’s Collection 02 (with more NPD to follow this year), was said to be perfect for salads, pasta, pizza and sandwiches, and can also be marinated with extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs.
It will go on sale exclusively in Whole Foods Market UK stores on 9 January (rsp: £3.95/115g).
Read the full article here
Vivera
Rsp: £2.85/180g
Available: Asda
Plant-based meat alternative brand Vivera is launching Protein Bites.
A duo of Tex Mex and Garden Greens Protein Bites are available in Asda stores to target shoppers on a health kick.
The new bites are made only from vegetables, grains, and legumes, rich in protein, fibre and low in saturated fat, as scored by the traffic light system.
“We are changing the language with this launch. We are no longer talking about replacing meat, but instead about enriching your meal. You enhance and improve a meal without meat with a tasty fibre-rich protein bite which makes you feel full for longer,” said marketing director Karin Lowik.
Cauldron
Rsp: £2.65/160g
Available: Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose
Plant-based supplier Cauldron Foods has launched Tofu Pieces, claiming it to be “the quickest cooking tofu ever”.
Ready to eat in five minutes, with no need to press, the NPD comprises lightly fried, bite-sized cubes of unflavoured tofu. It was “set to disrupt the market”, the Monde Nissin brand said, and was “the perfect base ingredient for aromatic, veg-packed curries and stir-fries or flavourful flatbreads and salads”.
Tofu Pieces (rsp: £2.65/160g) is available now from Asda. It will be in Morrisons later this month and in Waitrose from spring.
This
Rsp: £3.75 and £4.95
Available: Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons
This has announced the launch of two chicken alternative lines in the new year.
The brand is launching This Isn’t Chicken Kyiv into chilled and This Isn’t Chicken Wings into frozen.
The This Isn’t Chicken Kyiv (rsp: £4.95/250g) will launch into Sainsbury’s on 1 January. It is made from soya and fava protein, stuffed with a wild garlic plant-based butter and covered in sourdough breadcrumbs.
The brand said it delivered on taste and protein, and has a succulent texture.
“The ‘retro’ dish has never gone out of fashion, and is a favourite in homes across the country,” it added.
The “hyper-realistic plant-based alternative” to wings (rsp: £3.75/110g) will launch into Asda on 6 January and Morrisons on 13 January.
Read the full article here
Superfoodio
Rsp: £1.80/30g
Available: Co-op, Amazon
Plant-based snacking startup Superfoodio has unveiled its own take on Reese’s-style peanut butter cups.
Called Better Cups, the NPD boasts a creamy peanut butter filling encased in a peanut butter shell, rather than “sugar-laden chocolate that takes away the goodness”.
The treats are available in Original, No Added Sugar and PB & Jelly variants (rsp: £1.80/30g). All are vegan and gluten-free with no palm oil.
Original has rolled into over 130 Co-op stores nationwide. All three variants have launched DTC via Amazon and Superfoodio’s website, with further retail listings to be confirmed.
Read the full article here
Squeaky Bean
Rsp: £2.50 and £3.50
Available: Sainsbury’s, Waitrose
Squeaky Bean has kicked off Veganuary with two “first-to-market” launches: ready-to-eat tofu slices and a fermented rye burger.
The former has launched into Sainsbury’s chillers in two variants: Red Pepper & Tomato and Spinach & Basil Tofu (rsp: £2.50/80g).
Super Grain & Vegetable Burger (rsp: £3.50/2x100g), meanwhile, combines red pepper, carrot, and paprika with fermented rye grains “to deliver a uniquely meaty texture”. It has rolled into Waitrose chillers.
Both innovations responded to growing consumer demand for “healthier, cleaner-label plant-based foods”, according to Squeaky Bean.
Read the full article here
Nush
Rsp: £3.25/350g
Available: Ocado
Nush Foods has unveiled its new high-protein recipe in time for Veganuary.
The new formulation is made with ethical European almonds and fava beans, and will refresh existing flavours including Natural, Strawberry, Blueberry and Raspberry.
The brand is also launching a Vanilla Fudge option made with a refined sugar-free coconut caramel, which is designed to offer a sweet treat without compromising consumers’ health goals.
Nush yoghurts will now contain a minimum of 16g of plant protein per tub, with the natural SKU offering 23g of protein in a 350g format.
The reformulation, which came after extensive trials, hopes to support rising consumer demand for high-protein products, with sales up 16.6% in the past year [NIQ 52 w/e 27 July 2024].
Nush will also reformulate on-the-go almond yoghurt tubes in Blueberry and Strawberry, available online from Ocado in 5x40g packs.
Read the full article here
Meatless Farm
Rsp: £5/400g
Available: Sainsbury’s
Meatless Farm has launched new sourdough pizzas into Sainsbury’s.
The hand-stretched sourdough, stone-baked pizzas feature tomato sauce and plant-based mozzarella-style cheese, and come in two flavours: Ham & Mushroom Style and Spicy Pepperoni Style Sourdough Pizzas.
“Our new Meatless Farm product ranges have been created to cater for the growing demand for flavoursome, plant-based foods that replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional content of meat,” said brand manager Lydia Brook.
“Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian, our versatile and easy-to-cook ranges provide an environmentally-friendly solution that tastes great and enables you to cook your everyday favourites without sacrificing on taste. With that, we’re hoping to encourage more people to make the switch for the sake of the planet.”
Aldi
Aldi is launching its biggest-ever range of vegan food for Veganuary, with prices starting from £1.49.
The discounter is landing a raft of new additions to its Plant Menu range from 30 December, catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The new lines include Kimchi Koftas (rsp: £1.99/240g), claimed to contribute to good gut health, and Tempura Frickles (rsp: £1.99/200g) – deep-fried pickled gherkin chips which are proving popular in restaurants and making waves on TikTok.
Read the full article here
Tofoo Co
Rsp: £2.50-£3
Available: Asda, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s
The Tofoo Co has announced the launch of four added-value products in time for the new year.
The range includes Sweet Chilli Cubes, Dippers, Veggie Balls and a Stir Fry block, and is designed to entice new users to try tofu for the first time.
The Stir Fry block (rsp: £2.75/280g) is a soy, garlic and ginger-flavoured tofu block which makes an “easy plant-based protein swap for stir fries”.
The Veggie Balls (rsp: £2.85/180g) blend tofu and vegetables with Italian-style spices to provide a high-protein, whole-food alternative to plant-based meatballs.
The Sweet Chilli Cubes (rsp: £3/240g) build on the success of Tofoo Co’s existing Lightly Spiced pieces, offering consumers an easy-to-cook, pre-diced tofu cube in a sticky sweet chilli marinade.
Lastly, the Tofoo Dippers (rsp: £2.50/160g) are a tofu nugget with a crisp crumb coating designed for snacking or as part of a midweek meal.
All four lines launch at the end of December 2024, with the Stir Fry block launching in Waitrose, the Sweet Chilli Cubes in Tesco and Asda, the Veggies Balls in Sainsbury’s and the Dippers in Asda.
Read the full article here
Tiba Tempeh
Rsp: £4.85/2x200g
Available across: Aldi, Ocado, Sainsbury’s
Tiba Tempeh has announced the launch of the Original Tempeh Block XL into Ocado on 20 January.
The new line (rsp: £4.85/2x200g) is designed to provide greater value to heavy users of tempeh and larger families, the brand said.
The launch coincides with increased distribution for the brand, with three products becoming available in Aldi from 2 January.
Original Block, Soy Marinated and Curry Spiced pieces will be available in over 1,000 stores.
“We are delighted to be working with Aldi to bring more naturally healthy plant-based options to consumers and to capitalise on the category growth opportunity,” said Alexandra Longton, co-founder of Tiba Tempeh.
The brand’s recent Plant-Based Mince NPD will also be launching in Sainsbury’s on 2 January, extending the retailer’s range to three Tiba Tempeh products. It joins the Original Block and Sweet Chilli Pieces.
Read the full article here
No comments yet