Asda is launching a vegan-only aisle to hundreds of stores
ASDA shoppers will soon find it easier to hunt out vegan items in store as it launches a brand new dedicated plant food aisle.
From this week, the supermarket will have at least two bays solely for meat and dairy free products in 359 stores in a move it claims is a first in the UK.
It means the range will be stocked in around half of Asda's almost 600 UK supermarkets.
One bay will be brimming with savoury products including proteins, cooking sauces and condiments, while the other bay will contain snacks and sweet lines.
Currently, these items are spread around the store, although vegan frozen and chilled items will remain where they are.
Stocked in the aisles will be 104 new products including Asda's own brand vegan range, as well as items from brands such as Bosh, Galaxy, Mrs Crimbles, and Vego.
How to cut the cost of your grocery shop
MONEY.CO.UK has shared some top tips with us to help you keep your supermarket spend down to a minimum.
- Write yourself a list - Only buy items that you need. If it isn't on your list, don't put it in the trolley
- Create a budget - Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry - You are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don't buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit - The extra they'll charge for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media - Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal - You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print - It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards - Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently - work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
Asda promises prices will be "market leading" and adds it will also include exclusives you can only buy directly from the supermarket - at least at first.
Examples include Asda's own brand pasta lentil bowl and Asda's rice bowl for £1.50 each. When we checked online at Sainsbury's and Tesco we couldn't find similar items being sold.
Meanwhile, Asda exclusives include a Bosh falafel mix for £1.99 and Galaxy bars in mint and cookie crumble for £2.50. We've asked Asda for the weight of its vegan items so we can conduct a full price comparison.
But elsewhere, the cheapest price we could find for falafel mix was £1.20 (120g) at Sainsbury's, while Morrisons sells vegan Galaxy bars (100g) in caramel and sea salt, orange, and caramelised hazelnut for £3 each.
The move comes as searches for vegan lines have gone up by 275% since 2019 online at Asda, while research it carried out in January found 17% of households were reducing their meat intake or following a plant-based diet.
It follows a recent focus on vegan lines from major restaurant chains. Earlier this month Domino's launched its first vegan range.
more on asda
While McDonald's launched its vegan dippers in January, although these have since been recalled over quality concerns.
Sarah Thornewill, Asda’s buying manager, said: “We understand that customers want a quick and simple shopping experience, and this shouldn’t be restricted by dietary requirements.
"By merchandising all our vegan items together, we hope to save customers time and offer inspiration, whether for those following a plant-based diet, or those looking to reduce their meat consumption.”