Ethical Firm Redwood Launches Foodservice Division To Cater For Growing Demand For Its Vegetarian And Vegan Foods

12 March 2012

Award-winning ethical firm The Redwood Wholefood Company is launching a food service division to cater for growing demand for its vegetarian and vegan products from the ‘out of home’ sector, caterers and food manufacturers.

Redwood currently produces more than 50 different animal-free foods under the Vegideli, Cheezly and Cheatin’ brands and is the main supplier of vegan foods to the health food trade.

Now the company is making many of its free-from lines available in formats that will specifically allow the ‘out of home’ sector, caterers and food manufacturers to capitalise on the unmet demand* for innovative and convenient meat-free foods.

The formats have been designed to meet the needs of hotels, pubs, travel and leisure outlets, in-flight and on-board catering as well as schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and sports stadiums. The company plans to work with food manufacturers too on the development of new lines such as ready meals and lunchtime snacks.

The Redwood range includes award-winning meat-free sausages and burgers as well as alternatives to bacon, beef, pork and poultry. The company also produces dairy-free ‘cheeses’, including a super melting mozzarella ideal for pizzas, fish free steaks, fish free cakes and fishless fingers, falafel and dairy-free fair-trade flapjacks.

Everything is made from natural plant-based ingredients so free from animal products and derivatives as well as cholesterol, artificial colours/preservatives, lactose, hydrogenated fats and GMOs. This makes them suitable not just for vegetarians and vegans, but also for people suffering from lactose or casein intolerance and anyone looking for a healthier and more ethical lifestyle. 

Redwood products are also kosher certified and the company itself is halal process certified.

“As out of home dining trends continue to grow, we’ve seen a surge in demand for our products, so a foodservice division was the logical next step,” says Lee Rockingham, director at Redwood, the UK’s most ethical vegetarian foods supplier according to The Ethical Company Organisation and The Good Shopping Guide. 

“We’re already working with food manufacturers to develop own brand ranges for supermarkets and are keen to work with sandwich and pizza manufacturers to create a wider choice of free-from options for vegetarians and vegans,” he said. “As well as driving sales, we’re confident it will attract new customers to the market.”

According to Mintel, the meat-free and free-from foods market is expected to grow by 44% to a total of £1.25 billion in 2016, with future potential largely depending on the market’s ability to tap into the ‘healthy lifestyle’ mindset.