Supermarket Bombscare

Breaking News: M&S going all vegan with own wines

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BREAKING NEWS

M&S welcomes World Vegan Day (Friday 1st November) with the commitment to have an entirely vegan-friendly own-label wine range on shelf by the end of 2022 – a UK first for a chain retailer.

Animal-based ingredients are commonly used in wine production across with the most common including egg whites, milk protein and animal gelatine. Substituting these for plant-based alternatives such as pea protein, or modifying vine management and winemaking techniques means the wines are 100% suitable for those following a vegan-based diet.

M&S was an early pioneer of this movement, first labelling wines as ‘suitable for vegetarians’ back in 1998, with ‘suitable for vegans’ following in 2005 – now all bottles are clearly marked on the back label.

Currently 70% of the M&S wine range is suitable for vegans, representing a significant offering already in place. Many customer favourites are already part of the vegan-friendly range, including popular wines such as M&S Prosecco (£7), Chablis (£12), Vinalta Malbec (£9) and Delacourt Champagne NV (£25)

Commenting on M&S’ long-standing dedication to this goal, Sue Daniels, M&S Winemaker, said: “We’ve made this commitment as part of our overall aim to make M&S products more relevant to more customers and to take action to reflect their changing dietary demands.

“Obviously, such a large-scale commitment isn’t without its challenges – however we have been working on alternatives with winemakers for several years and have already seen radical changes in more traditional areas such as France and Spain. We will be supporting the rest of our partner wineries every step of the way towards this goal.”

The commitment supports M&S’ focus on plant-based eating, having earlier this year launched its hugely successful vegan-friendly range Plant Kitchen comprising over 60 products from vegan firsts such as Plant Kitchen Coleslaw to new customer favourites Cauliflower Popcorn Bites and Cashew Mac & Cheese.

This Christmas, the retailer is extending its vegan range to offer customers for the first time a complete vegan-friendly Christmas dinner, whilst this week sees the launch of a brand new vegan sandwich into its popular vegan sandwich range the Plant Kitchen Nutcracker Sandwich, £3.50.

Visit the M&S wine shop online.

Vegans are obsessed with IKEA

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Trends in the vegan world are tough to keep up with as there seems to be a never-ending stream of breaking news and product launches in 2019.

I’ve made it my business to know what is happening when it comes to plant-based developments over the past decade but I sometimes feel like I have vegan fatigue from the ridiculous number of news stories breaking every week.

Yes, I am tired and worn out from trying to stay updated with vegan developments however there is one story within this swell of stories that still has the power to get me excited and hold my interest.

IKEA.

I am obsessed by how obsessed vegans are with the plant-based products of IKEA. This is the strange and wonderful world we find ourselves in right now. IKEA is somehow the hottest global trend in veganism!

I spend a lot of time in Mexico City and we do not have an IKEA here. Can you even imagine?! I’ve got IKEA envy. Every single day I watch vegan after vegan post photos of plant-based foods from their local IKEA and I don’t have one near me.

Because I’m currently out of the IKEA loop, I’ve pulled together a few recent Instagram posts showcasing this love affair between UK vegans and the Swedish-founded mega store… plus a few photos from IKEA-loving vegans from around the rest of the world, too.

And until the Mexico City location reportedly opens next year, these photos are all I have.

Let’s do this!

UK photos first up.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B36W_uZJYs0/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wMkObJB8t/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PuH9upZ2N/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PryWPBgbB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B16HsJBpGjX/

Rest of the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3mWzhDnXjw/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3koXEHJYEn/

If I haven’t showcased your favourite IKEA vegan eats, please let me now all about it in the comments.

In the instance I ever do make it to an IKEA, the first place you will hear about it is my Instagram account.

Fry’s heading to Tesco supermarkets UK

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The Fry Family Food Co is a legendary vegan brand that is known and loved all over the planet.

The family-owned brand is especially famous amongst vegans and the vegan-curious in the UK. Their meat alternatives have been keeping people happy for what must now be a few decades.

In what is great news for lovers of this meat-free brand, The Fry Family Food Co now has products available in Tesco supermarkets around the UK.

You can now find their chilled Pepper Pie, Mushroom Pie, Curry Pie, Med Veg & Squash Slice, and Twin Chicken-Style Sausage Roll (new and seen first in Tesco) in around 800 stores.

Both the slice Slice and Sausage Roll are ready-to-eat straight from the pack, or you can heat them in the oven for a warm and tasty treat.

You can view the entire range of Fry’s products (including the range of pastries available in Tesco) online here.

Fry’s will also be launching three frozen products later this month, so keep your eyes open!

Help this independent vegan shop in the UK stay open

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Friends. I sound like a broken record but it needs repeating constantly.

Shop with independently owned vegan businesses or we will lose them.

The above message was posted by the owner of Kind Earth Vegan Supermarket in Llanelli, South Wales.

They are on the brink of closing.

UK independent vegan businesses are crucial for some many reasons, but I’ll give you just the top few:

  • they create local jobs for local people without exploiting animals
  • they keep more money in local communities
  • they help to keep the focus of animals at the heart of veganism
  • they add social capital to neighbourhoods
  • they are opportunities to cross promote other independent businesses and producers

Kind Earth is a much-loved independent business and the locals want it to stay.

Here are some ways you can help keep it open:

  • if you are in the area, shop there regularly
  • if you are visiting, make a special one-off visit and spend cash
  • sign up to the Kind Earth newsletter to find out how to shop via mail order and join their veg box scheme
  • follow Kind Earth on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

If you are in South Wales, drop in for a visit. You can see the exact location of Kind Earth thanks to Google Maps.

5 online UK vegan shops you should support

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I understand that I rattle on endlessly about the importance of supporting independent vegan businesses, but like anything worth saying it is worth saying until you can’t say it any longer.

With that unstoppable determination in mind, I want to share my list of the top 5 online UK vegan shops that you could be supporting right now.

It includes a mix of groceries, cheese, clothing, wine, footwear, and baked treats.

Shopping online with these businesses keeps money in the pockets of vegan and independently-owned operations, allowing them to offer work to other vegans.

These businesses support other independent traders. Your money spent with these people keeps money in local UK communities, more so than if you shop with huge chain stores.

Are you ready for my list?

The Vegan Kind Supermarket is grocery heaven for online plant-based consumers. Of course the shop grew from the runaway success of their monthly subscription boxes, but the online shop has become an unstoppable force all of its own.

Click here to shop with The Vegan Kind Supermarket. They offer 15% off your first order!

Follow The Vegan Kind Supermarket on Instagram.

The Third Estate is not just the physical vegan boutique in London. Angela and James also operate an online version of their ethical shop. These people care about every aspect of doing the right thing by animals, people, and the planet so expect fairtrade and zero sweatshop goods. Select from a range of gorgeous boots, dress shoes, sneakers, sandals, handbags, belts, backpacks, clothing, and seasonal trinkets and candles.

Click here to shop with The Third Estate. Be sure to check out the online sale section.

Follow The Third Estate on Instagram.

Ms Cupcake is a world-famous, pioneering vegan bakery based south of the River Thames in Brixton, London but did you know they also deliver a selection of their treats all around the UK? Choose from tray bakes, cookie sandwiches, muffins, brownies, branded merchandise, and even the Ms Cupcake recipe book!

Click here to shop with Ms Cupcake. Look for seasonal items available for a limited time.

Follow Ms Cupcake on Instagram.

La Fauxmagerie is a 100% vegan gourmet cheese deli in East London. If you are a cheese lover, this place is your dream come true. If you don’t have a lot of spare time for vegan cheese shopping in that part of the city or you live at the other end of the country, why not shop for their gourmet cheeses online?

Click here to shop with La Fauxmagerie. Spend over £100 for free shipping. It’s easier to do than you think with such a huge range! Perfect for special occasions.

Follow La Fauxmagerie on Instagram.

Vegan Wine Box is THE online place to shop for home delivery wine that is all guaranteed to be vegan. Their selection of mixed cases is perfect for adventurous drinkers. The company has a strong focus on sustainable wines and you won’t get cheap, nasty vino in any of your deliveries. You can order a one-off box or subscribe for monthly deliveries.

Click here to shop with Vegan Wine Box. Look out for the Prosecco and rosé boxes!

Follow Vegan Wine Box on Instagram.

Have I missed your favourite online UK vegan retailer? Tell me in the comments.

Yorica launches vegan vanilla ice cream in UK supermarket

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If you have been to London during the past few years, or you live there permanently, you will probably have visited vegan ice cream parlour Yorica!

The Soho location (along with their travelling ice cream van) really is one of the leading vegan food providers in the UK.

But the great news for those outside London is that Yorica! is now making waves in supermarkets around the UK.

As of today (Monday May 6, 2019) you can now buy the brand new vanilla Yorica! tubs in Waitrose stores around the country.

This is fabulous news.

And if you didn’t already know, their Double Chocolate Cookie tubs are available via Ocado and Waitrose while the Salted Caramel is being sold exclusively via Ocado.

Be sure to follow Yorica! on Instagram to keep updated with their expansion.

New vegan store for Plymouth

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Plymouth Vegan Company is a brand new vegan supermarket located at Faraday Mill, Plymouth.

Not only is the store your one stop shop for compassionate groceries, it is also home to some fabulous vegan events that I know locals are going to adore.

Plymouth Vegan Company is only a few weeks old but has already established itself as THE place to shop for plant-based good. Shelves are packed solid with pantry staples, vegan treats, cheeses, household products, and everything else you need to eat kindly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BurM3JRAB7J/

And in even better news, Plymouth Vegan Company has a series of events planned for their customers.

You can get along to their first vegan cheese tasting event on April 9, 2019.

You can click here for the Facebook event.

You can see the exact location of Plymouth Vegan Company thanks to Google Maps and follow the store on Instagram.

Oumph! goes to Ireland

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Multi award-winning Oumph! is continuing its expansion into new markets, now with Tesco Ireland.

Five Oumph! products are part of the initial launch: Pulled Oumph!, Kebab Spiced, The Chunk, Salty & Smoky and Oumph! Pizza Italian Style.

“Having successfully launched with Tesco in the UK we are delighted that Tesco Ireland have also agreed to launch our delicious Oumph! products”, says Nick Jacobs, Head of Sales for Oumph! in the UK and Ireland.

Jenni Fisher, frozen buyer, Tesco Ireland comments: “We’re very pleased to bring the Oumph! range exclusively to customers in Ireland. We’re delighted to partner with Oumph! to bring high quality exciting products to the vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian customer base in Ireland.”

Oumph! at Tesco Ireland

  • Pulled Oumph! – Oumph! chunks in a flavourful BBQ sauce – delicious in tacos or burgers. Price: €5 (280 g)
  • Oumph! Kebab Spiced – Oumph! strips seasoned with a classic kebab spice mix – just add fresh vegetables and sauces to create your own plant-based kebab. Price: €5 (280 g)
  • Oumph! The Chunk – This is unseasoned for those who like to add their own herbs, spices and creativity to a dish. The Chunk contains only soya beans, water and a little salt. Oumph! Price: €5 (280 g)
  • Oumph! Salty & Smoky – With its salty, smoky and slightly sweet taste Oumph! Salty & Smoky is a perfect partner for brunch, served with American pancakes, or in a bagel. Try it with a full English breakfast, or in an Oumph! ‘O.L.T.’
  • Oumph! Italian Style pizza – inspired by Italy with semi-dried tomatoes, rocket, thyme and garlic seasoned Oumph!, and organic and plant-based cheese. The pizza base is hand-stretched and baked in a wood-fired brick oven. Price: €5 (280 g)

Hey Ireland. Are you excited?

Follow Oumph! on Instagram.

Full vegan range in Iceland

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If you are anything like me, you are actually struggling to keep up with all the vegan changes taking place so rapidly around the UK.

I hadn’t even seen the full vegan frozen range from supermarket chain Iceland so thankfully my buddy Mirel sent me through photos from her recent shopping expedition.

Check it all out below!

The UK sure has undergone a MASSIVE vegan change over the past two years and the most noticeable signpost is radical supermarket changes such as this.