Cadbury to Launch 'Vegan Chocolate Bar' for Consumers

It's similar to Dairy Milk, but without the dairy. A plant-based version of Cadbury's classic bar will be available in the UK next month as part of a big food company push to extend their vegan offerings.

The Cadbury Plant Bar, which took two years to produce, replaces a large portion of the "glass and a half" of milk in each bar with almond paste. The new recipe "provides a similar flavor and texture to milk components while providing a hint of nuttiness," according to the company.

Smooth chocolate and smooth chocolate with salted caramel pieces will be offered in two flavors, and will be packaged entirely of plant-based materials derived from renewable sources. They will be available at Sainsbury's in November, and at other shops beginning in January, at a suggested price of £2.50 for a 90g bar - more than double the price of a regular Dairy Milk bar.

The launch is part of a rising trend for vegan goods, which is being pushed by customers' desire for healthier, more ecologically friendly alternatives.

According to the Vegan Society, one in every five individuals has cut back on meat consumption since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and one in every ten has cut back on egg and dairy consumption.

Veganuary, a separate charity-run campaign, garnered more than half a million sign-ups world- wide in January. During the month, 825 new products and menus were launched.

"With 500,000 participants in this year's Veganuary...the rising public appetite for various snacking options and plant-based alternatives has never been more obvious," said Louise Stigant, UK managing director of Cadbury's owner, Mondelz International. At Mondlez, A changing customer expectations have long inspired our objective of creating a diverse variety of goods that works for everyone, and the new Cadbury Plant Bar range is the next stop on this journey."

Wagamama, a restaurant company, said on Wednesday that half of its menu is now plant-based, after the addition of new vegan options for consumers.

Among the new items are a spicy vegan "short rib" ramen made with mushroom and soya, a jackfruit option, and other meals based on a chicken substitute that "mirrors the flavour and texture of pulled chicken.