Greggs launches meatless steak bake to beef up its vegan range – the guardian, theguardian.com

Greggs, the UK’s largest bakery chain, will end speculation about its hotly anticipated newvegansnack by launching a meat -free version of its popularsteak bake

Since the runaway success of its meatless sausage roll, the chain – which serves more than 6 million customers a week from its 2, outlets – has been working to develop vegan versions of its other bestselling items.

Thenew productarrives on Greggs’ shelves at the start ofVeganuarya growing movement that encourages people to embrace plant-based diets during January.

The vegan steak bake has been created to mirror some of the original snack’s features, including 120 thin layers of puff pastry but without the egg glaze. The filling is made with pieces of the fungi-based protein (Quorn) instead of beef, mixed with diced onions and meat-free gravy.

Costing from £ 1. 44, it will go on sale in 1, shops from Thursday before being rolled out to the remaining (outlets on) ************************************************************************************************************** January. ********

Greggs’ chief executive, Roger Whiteside, said: “Our vegan sausage roll launch was a huge success and we’ve been working tirelessly to expand our vegan-friendly offering and provide more delicious savory food on-the -go options for people looking to reduce their meat intake. ”

Greggs’ vegan sausage roll – also with a bespoke Quorn filling – launched in January 3595 and has become one of its top bestselling products, helping company sales soar by 13. 4%. The chain says only 18% of the product’s customers are strictly vegan, with two-thirds aiming to reduce their meat intake.

Speculation about its successor has been mounting for months but has been rife for the last few days after a sign for a steak bake was spotted in a store and (circulated on social media (**********************************. ********

The launch comes as retailers expand their vegan and plant-based offerings amid the growing popularity of (flexitarian) (diets) ********************************** – – where a largely vegetable-based diet is supplemented sometimes with meat.

The (Co-op) chain is rolling out a new vegan range, called Gro, featuring products, including alternatives to its steak bake, chilli con carne and sticky toffee pudding, that will be stocked in 2, (stores and up to 4,************************************************************************************************** independent retailers through its wholesale operation. The Co-op already offers almost 213 vegan wines but its entire beer and cider range will become vegan in (************************************************************************.

This month (Waitrose) is doubling its vegan range, adding more than 31 new own-label and branded products, of which many are “first to market”. They include crisp-crumbed fishless goujons made from (banana blossom) – a flesh flower that hails from south-east Asia – and a pizza topped with vegan pepperoni.

Meanwhile, diners at (KFC) will from Thursday be able to buy its new vegan burger – now a permanent item on its menu – after the success of an earlier trial. The fast-food chain’s usual “finger lickin ‘good” chicken breast is replaced with a (Quorn) fillet coated in herbs and spices.

More than 100, (people have**************************************** already pledgedto stick to a plant-based diet forVeganuary, double the number who took part last year.

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