Covid accelerates interest in plant-based foods

Frozen food distributor Central Foods is highlighting the importance of including vegan and vegetarian options on fast food menus.

Demand for meat-free menu options has been growing for some time, but as we ease out of lockdown, all the indications suggest that interest in plant-based food has increased as a result of the pandemic.

Gordon Lauder, MD of frozen food distributor Central

Foods, said: “A survey by The Vegan Society earlier this year found that 20% of people had reduced the amount of meat they were eating over the previous 12 months, while 12% had minimised their egg and dairy intake, which means that a quarter of all British people have cut back on some form of animal product since the first lockdown.

“We’re seeing more and more evidence that the interest in, and demand for, great-tasting vegan products is increasing all the time, whether it is for health, environmental or sustainability reasons.

“While the number of vegans and vegetarians has been rising, the largest and fastest-growing group of plantbased consumers consists of flexitarians and reducers, who are aiming to cut their consumption of meat, dairy and animal products. As Barclay’s Alternative Meat Market

Report estimates, 92% of plant-based meals in the UK are actually consumed by the UK’s estimated 22 million flexitarians – that’s one in three of the total population*.”

More than 25% of the Central Foods product range is now vegan and this has been fuelled by the astonishing growth in demand for plant-based products right across the board, from all sectors of the food service industry, including the fast-food sector.

“During the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, we

worked on some further tremendous vegan product development, resulting in our new plant-based range of everyday favourites. This includes KaterVeg! burgers, sausages and meatballs - which are perfect for fast food operators,” added Gordon Lauder. “These products are proving a hit not just with vegan customers, but also with flexitarians who are looking to cut down on their meat/dairy intake.”

Made with seasoned textured soya protein, the products offer fast-food caterers an easy way to serve meat-free menu swaps for popular takeaway options.

“Remember staff must be trained to store/prepare any vegan options in a separate, dedicated vegan area of the kitchen – including using a dedicated vegan fryer - and use dedicated vegan utensils and packaging to avoid any risks of cross-contamination,” added Gordon Lauder.

Central Foods is one of the UK’s leading frozen food suppliers to the food service sector, supplying hundreds of different lines into foodservice, ranging from vegetarian and free-from items, meat products, bakery items and canapés through to buffet products, desserts and puddings. It currently sells to more than 240 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers, and foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry including fast food operators.

Its range for takeaway and fast-food operators includes the popular Golden Valley Foods poultry products, as well as burgers, sausages – including vegetarian and vegan options - and a sizzling selection of sides.

* Barclay’s Alternative Meat Market Report 2019 www.centralfoods.co.uk

That’s Refreshing!I

For fast food operators looking to stay on top of trends, stocking the latest bottles, cans or cartons of drinks can be time consuming (restocking), space consuming (how many can you fit in your fridge) and sometimes expensive as well, yet, it’s important for an operator to offer customers a refreshing cold beverage.

Offering a freshly mixed, chilled, still or carbonated soft drink from the new Multiplex albi range gives operators an on-demand drinks dispensing system that offers significantly higher margins than bottled drinks as well as being compact, quick and easy to install, user friendly and beneficial to the environment. Many operators may have dismissed drinks dispensers due to their size or complexity of installation but this is where the Multiplex albi range comes into its own. Perfect to sit on a counter top, and using standard Bag in Boxes (BiBs), connectors and fittings, it’s speedy installation requires no back-room equipment or python. Just mains power and water (plus CO2 for the carbonated drinks). The compact machine can deliver post mix drinks and covers all the traditional beverages as well as special bespoke flavours via a specialist such as Simpsons Beverages. a stand alone trolley is available

From an environmental point of view, the Multiplex albi really challenges the idea of bottles or cans of drinks in a fridge as 4x10lt BiBs can make the equivalent of around 720 (330ml) serves and the dispensers also help to lower energy bills with up to 30% energy reduction Vs packaged goods chillers (based on a single door chiller).

The Multiplex albi range is perfect for smaller outlets, and from it’s compact footprint, it can offer up to 4 still or sparkling beverages as well as chilled still or carbonated water. A standalone cart is also available (requires water and power supply), a great opportunity to deliver something a little different to customers.

Welbilt UK Tel: 01483 464900 https://www.welbilt.uk/