Leading frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched a new range of vegan options for the food service sector.
The introduction of the KaterVeg! Vegan Quarterpounder, the KaterVeg! Vegan Meatballs, the KaterVeg! Vegan Sausage and the KaterVeg! Vegan Banger follows the successful launch of KaterVeg! Vegan Mince last year.
Perfect for serving across the whole food service sector, the new products are made with seasoned textured soya protein and are high in protein, low in saturated fat, low in sugar, a source of fibre and have salt levels below PHE 2024 targets.
Gordon Lauder, MD of Central Foods, said: “Vegan and plant-based options continue to rise in popularity and all the indications are that this trend will carry on once we’re through the pandemic. CGS’s MealMetrics service has predicted that consumers’ focus on health during lockdown is likely to make vegan and vegetarian options more prominent on menus.
“Some 6% of people already follow a meat-free diet and CGA’s separate BrandTrack research found that a quarter of Brits were seeking to cut their meat consumption. According to Mintel, a quarter of young British millennials say that the coronavirus pandemic has made a vegan diet more appealing, while the survey last year also revealed that since the start of the pandemic, a vegan diet was proving more attractive to around 12% of Brits, rising to more than 20% of Londoners.
“In addition, a survey by The Vegan Society last year found that one in five Brits has cut down on meat consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The new products are the latest additions to an extensive range of plant-based options offered by Central Foods.
They offer food service operators an easy way to serve meat-free menu swaps for popular and traditional culinary options. Serve the burger in a gourmet bun with crunchy salad, use the vegan sausages in a hot cassoulet or serve with mash and gravy, and add the vegan meatballs as a pizza topping or to a sub roll for a delicious hot snack. All instantly recognisable and great-tasting options for your vegan customers that are sure to go down with meat-reducers too!
At 28g, the KaterVeg! Vegan Banger has been designed for children’s portions and is ideal for schools, as well as outlets offering special menus for youngsters.
“We believe that vegan and plant-based options will continue to be one of the top trends for 2021, fuelled not only by the increasing number of vegans but also by those who are reducing their meat intake and choosing a flexitarian diet for health and environmental reasons,” added Gordon Lauder.
“Central Foods offers an exciting and extensive frozen range for operators that works across all serving platforms, including eat-in, takeaway, click and collect and delivery and we’re delighted to be able to supply our customers with a superb selection of products so that they in turn can meet the demands of their customers whether restrictions are in place or not.”
Northamptonshire-based Central Foods supplies hundreds of different lines into foodservice, ranging from vegan, 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 schools, universities, pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, leisure centres, garden centres, cafés, care homes and many other outlets.
