Some 91 per cent of vegans in the UK say they regularly struggle to find ‘grab and go’ food options, according to a new surveyby The Vegan Society.
Food options for vegans have dramatically improved over the last few years, and according toMintel's Global New Products Database, there was a 185 per cent rise in the number of vegan products launched in the UK between 2012 and 2016.
Chain restaurants like Zizzi, Wagamama and Wetherspoons all have dedicated vegan menus, while coffee shops Pret A Manger, Starbucks and Caffe Nero are offering more and more animal-free products. In October Pret A Manger opened its third vegetarian and vegan friendly Veggie Pret outlet.
But the Vegan Society’s survey of 2,500 UK vegans suggests there is still considerable room for improvement. The organisation’s Vegan on the Go campaign aims to bring attention to the growing demand for vegan options and to highlight to businesses that veganism is a market trend that is here to stay.
The charity has urged vegans tocontact retailers to ask for more vegan options,as well as approaching local independent cafes and restaurants with itscatering guides.
Elena Orde, communications officer at The Vegan Society, said: “We’ve seen some fantastic strides forward in terms of new, affordable vegan products in supermarkets and restaurants, but we want to make it even easier for people to go vegan and stay vegan.
“Offering vegan food options makes clear commercial sense,” she added, explaining that the consumer market for vegan products is vast.
On top of Britain’s half a million vegans, Orde pointed out that the market includes a million more vegetarians, people trying to cut down on meat and dairy, the lactose intolerant, the health-conscious, and others who simply enjoy vegan food from time to time.
