VEGANUARY
Secrets of
success As part of our exclusive Veganuary coverage, we focus on a variety of operators ahead of a significant month for the sector.
battered vegan prawn). Also available are the 30g KaterBake mini bao buns and Menuserve bao buns hoisin jackfruit. Both are suitable for vegans but really tap into the street food trend. The 15g KaterVeg! vegan cocktail sausage rolls complement the 4-inch and 6-inch KaterVeg! vegan sausage rolls, also supplied by Central Foods. Plus, we have updated our vegan Mediterranean vegetable tart to make it even more delicious. Gordon Lauder, managing director of frozen food distributor Central Foods, assesses the plant-based landscape. TICK ALL THE BOXES Veganuary has become an important concept in the foodservice sector, as it’s the perfect time for producers to showcase new plant-based products – and for cafés and other venues to add vegan items to menus or treat customers to ‘specials’. We’ve seen huge development in the pre-prepared frozen vegan sector, so it’s easy for cafés and outlets to include tasty options – and for those reducing their meat and dairy intake. The secret to a successful Veganuary is to appeal to all customers. Among the plant-based products recently launched by Central Foods, and ahead of Veganuary 2024, are the Menuserve gluten-free, vegan Asian prawn snack selection. Made from young jackfruit, vegetables and spices, it features three different varieties of snack – the Torpedo (a filo-wrapped vegan prawn), the Breaded (a crumbed vegan prawn), and the Bubble (a 32 CAFÉ LIFE | THECAFELIFE.CO.UK
"We’ve seen huge development in the pre-prepared frozen vegan sector, so it’s easy for cafés to include tasty options."
Some of our most popular vegan products are our bao buns, the KaterVeg! vegan mince and our KaterVeg! vegan sausage rolls, all of which are perfect for operators keen to extend plant-based menus. GREATER YIELD Much of the growth in demand for plant-based products has come from flexitarians – those avoiding meat or dairy products on a certain number of days a week or just looking to reduce overall consumption.
But there are other factors now in play. Namely, the fact that ingredients of plant-based dishes can be more cost-effective than meat-based meals, but also environmentally friendly. This is becoming an increasingly important consideration, with spiralling costs for everyone and a focus on sustainability. Vegan mince, for example, can be significantly cheaper than standard beef mince and provides a greater yield – up to 20% more – so it’s a great meat swap in many popular dishes such as lasagne, chilli or bolognese. Central Foods has extended its range of plant-based options to cater for demand – making sure that these products appeal to meat-reducers as well as plant-based diners. This avoids menu proliferation and helps foodservice customers overcome some