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UK supermarket Waitrose is set to add a dedicated vegan section in its shops – for the first time ever.
In addition, the upmarket retailer will double its veggie and vegan range – by adding more than 50 products – due to launch in stores on June 4.
The products will include a number of ready-meals and meat-alternatives.
Exclusives
As part of the expansion, Waitrose has exclusively teamed up with two brands – The Happy Pear, plant-based and wholefood chef duo David and Stephen Flynn, and The a Dutch company which makes meat substitutes.
Chloe Graves, Waitrose Chilled Vegetarian and Vegan Buyer, said: “Our current selection of products has been selling really well week after week, with requests for more choice coming from our customers and partners, so we could clearly see there was an appetite to have more vegetarian and vegan options in our shops.
“Increasing our range builds on the work we did last year to increase choice for our customers in this area. We are working with some fantastic exclusive brands to ensure our shoppers have a really unique selection of food to choose from.”
The Happy Pear – aka David and Stephen Flynn – are known for their upbeat cookery style
‘Chuffed’
David and Stephen Flynn, Co-founders of The Happy Pear, added: “We are chuffed to be entering the UK market with our products and really honoured to be working with Waitrose to expand its vegan range.
“We have been working with Waitrose since 2016, creating vegan recipe videos and on customer events, and this is a great, growing partnership, which supports our mission to help people live healthier and happier lives.”
Growth
These new options are just part of a surge in vegan and vegetarian products becoming available in the UK.
Earlier today, it was revealed that supermarket giant Tesco will be launching a new plant-based steak across 400 of its UK stores – aimed at targeting the burgeoning flexitarian, as well as veggie/vegan market – the same group Waitrose wants to appeal to.
According to Graves: “With flexitarianism also on the rise, we have made sure we have dishes and ingredients for those looking to opt for a meat-free meal, that was suitable for the whole family to enjoy.”
