British supermarket chain Waitrose has launched a new seitan burger as a response to increased consumer demands for vegan products.
The new Seitan Pattie is a mix of seitan (a protein-rich food made from wheat gluten) and mushrooms combined, giving an “intense smoky flavour”.
The supermarket said that searches on its website for vegan burgers have increased by 86%, with seitan searches up by 148%. There has also been a growing trend for vegan barbecue products, with searches up by 175% compared to last year.
Simona Cohen-Vida, Waitrose & Partners vegetarian and vegan product developer, said: “We are really excited to be launching the first seitan burger. The modern barbecue is an inclusive affair with delicious products catering to all tastes and demands and we are thrilled to be able to offer a fantastic selection of vegan options.”
The supermarket has also announced the launch of Mediterranean-style vegan sausage whirls, available in two flavours.
An Italian-style whirl contains aromatic roasted garlic, fennel, basil, porcini powder and sun-dried tomatoes, while a Spanish version boasts a smoky flavour that comes from paprika, cumin, roasted garlic, chilli flakes and sun-dried tomatoes.
Last month, Waitrose announced a partnership with Scottish biotechnology company CuanTec to explore the potential for eco food packaging made from langoustine shells.
The supermarket hopes the new packaging could be used as an alternative to conventional plastic film on some of its fish products in 12-18 months’ time.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024
