As demand for meat substitutes continues to rise in the United Kingdom, frozen food distributor Central Foods is now offering foodservice operators another plant-based ingredient for creating meals that will especially appeal to vegetarians and flexitarians. High in protein while low in fat, KaterVeg! vegan mince can be used in a wide range recipes featuring faux meat components, such as spaghetti bolognaise, chili, lasagna and shepherd’s pie.
Vegan and plant-based options have been growing in popularity in the UK for some time. Recently, according to the London-headquartered Mintel market research firm, a quarter of young millennials in Britain say that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has made a vegan diet even more popular.
“Mintel’s June survey revealed that a vegan diet was proving more attractive to around 12% of Brits, rising to more than 20% of Londoners, since the start of the pandemic. This illustrates how important it is for foodservice operators to include vegan options on their menus,” said Gordon Lauder, managing director of Northamptonshire, England-based Central Foods.
Vegan mince is versatile, easy and convenient to use. Additionally, it is gluten-free and a good source of fiber. The seasoned product is made with textured soya protein and distributed in 1kg packs, making it suitable for home orders and delivery as well as bulk sales to foodservice customers.
In business since 1996, Central Foods supplies hundreds of different lines into foodservice channels, including baked goods and canapés, buffet products, desserts and puddings. Its client base consists of independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers, and caterers ranging from school and university kitchens to pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, leisure centers, garden centers, cafés, care homes and other outlets.
