Vegan Food & Living Supermarket Awards 2023: The Winners

Supermarkets have spent a lot of time investing in vegan recipe development over the last few years and the Vegan Food & Living Supermarket Awards aim to celebrate that and say a big thank you to our favourite supermarkets for offering high-quality, own-brand vegan products.

So, we asked you to vote for your favourite own-brand products in categories ranging from Best New Product Launch of 2022, to Best Own-Brand Vegan Meat Alternative, Best Own-Brand Vegan Fish Alternative, Best Own-Brand Vegan Dessert and Best Own-Brand Vegan Ready Meal.

Now it’s time to officially announce the winners of the Vegan Food & Living Supermarket Awards 2023…

• Best new product launch
• Best own-brand milk alternative
• Best own-brand cheese
• Best own-brand burger
• Best own-brand sausage
• Best own-brand meat alternative
• Best own-brand fish alternative
• Best own-brand pizza
• Best own-brand dessert
• Best own-brand ice cream
• Best own-brand ready-meal
• Best own-brand vegan range
• Best supermarket for vegan options

Best new product launch

GOLD: M&S Plant Kitchen Cheese Flavour Twists (£1.50)

Marks & Spencer answered our prayers with these deliciously flaky, vegan cheesy twists.

“This flaky puff pastry treat was an instant hit and a gamechanger in the cheesy vegan snacks market.”  – Holly Johnson, VFL Editor

SILVER: Waitrose PlantLiving Indian Inspired Takeaway Feast (£11)

Pilau rice, Bombay potatoes, vegetable tikka masala, ‘chicken’ korma, naans and onion bhajis – all for £11!

BEST VALUE: Asda Plant Based No-Tuna & Sweetcorn (£1.85)

The perfect, ready-made vegan sandwich filler when you’re in a hurry for a tasty lunch.

Best own-brand milk alternative

GOLD: Aldi Actileaf Oat Drink (£0.95)

Voters loved this product for its creamy taste and bargain price.

SILVER: Co-op Gro Oat Milk – The Oaty One (£1.60)

This is perfect for coffee lovers, as it froths nicely.

Best own-brand cheese

GOLD: M&S Plant Kitchen Grated Mature (£2.90 for 100g)

With a Cheddar-like taste, this fridge staple is handy for nachos or vegan pizzas.

SILVER: Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Smoky No Cheese Bake With Garlic (£5.50 for 150g)

It’s made for melting and paprika and garlic give it plenty of flavour.

BEST VALUE: Morrisons V Taste Mild Cheddar Slices (£2.65 for 180g)

With their mild flavour, these ready-sliced vegan cheese pieces go great in sandwiches.

Best own-brand burger

“Why would anyone bother with a meat burger, when there’s this level of quality and value from vegan burgers?” – Holly

GOLD: Co-op Gro The Incredible Burger (£2.75 for 2)

These thick, succulent vegan burgers have a great texture and taste – there’s plenty to bite into here!

SILVER: Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Ultimate Plant Burger (£2.70 for 2)

Coming a close second, these burgers feel meaty and juicy, which is just what you want from a burger.

BEST VALUE: Aldi Plant Menu Ultimate No Beef Burgers (£1.99 for 2)

Delicious burgers at a bargain price made these a winner.

Best own-brand sausage

GOLD: M&S Plant Kitchen Posh Dogs (£3.50 for 8)

Made from mushrooms, these vegan sausages were voted your favourite for their juicy texture and umami flavour.

SILVER: Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Caramelised Onion Shroomdogs (£2.50 for 6)

Again made from mushrooms, the caramelised red onion chutney makes these sweet and moreish.

BEST VALUE: Aldi Plant Menu Onion & Rosemary Sausages (£1.25 for 6)

Stock up the freezer with these bargain weeknight essentials.

Best own-brand meat alternative

GOLD: Aldi Plant Menu No Chicken Kievs (£1.99 for 2)

Crispy ‘chicken’ with a garlic and herb filling at a bargain price – these vegan kyivs your clear winner!

SILVER: M&S Plant Kitchen No Chicken Southern Fried Tenders (£3.25 for 252g)

With an authentic Southern Fried flavour and realistic texture, these are the ultimate Friday night treat.

BEST VALUE: Asda OMV! Meat-Free Chicken Style Kievs (£2 for 2)

Voters enjoyed the crunchy texture and noted that ‘you wouldn’t know they’re vegan’.

Best own-brand fish alternative

GOLD: Aldi Plant Menu Salt & Vinegar No Fish Fillets (£1.99 for 2)

These vegan fish fillets swam clear at the head of the shoal, are affordable and have a realistic ‘fishy’ flavour.

SILVER: M&S Plant Kitchen Fishless Goujons (£3.70 for 300g)

Crunchy goujons that are perfect in a sandwich.

Best own-brand pizza

GOLD: M&S Plant Kitchen Woodfired Hot & Spicy Pizza (£5.75)

Vegan pepperoni and a sourdough base won 28% of your votes.

SILVER: Aldi Plant Menu BBQ Bacon and Mushroom Pizza

A close second for its oodles of flavour and affordable price point.

BEST VALUE: Tesco Plant Chef Margherita Pizza (£3.15)

For a basic pizza, this has a great depth of flavour from the slow-roasted tomatoes.

Best own-brand dessert

GOLD: Co-op 4 Dark Choc Chunk Cookies (£1.75 for 4)

Can cookies be a dessert? They sure can! These vegan cookies are satisfyingly chewy and contain delicious chunks of sweet, rich chocolate.

SILVER: Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Tiramisu (£2.25 for 2)

Voted for its velvety rice-based mousse and coffee-soaked biscuit.

Best own-brand ice cream

GOLD: Tesco Wicked Kitchen Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Dream Treat (£3 for 500ml)

A clear winner for its deliciously dark vegan chocolate sauce and refreshing minty flavour.

SILVER: M&S Plant Kitchen Vegan Salted Caramel And Biscuit Ice Cream (£3 for 500ml)

Who can resist the combination of salted caramel and biscuit in ice cream form? Not us!

BEST VALUE: Co-op GRO Salted Caramel Swirl Ice Cream (£3 for 500ml)

For the price, this ice cream has a luxurious feel and a decadent flavour. We love the honeycomb pieces.

Best own-brand ready-meal

GOLD: Waitrose Plant-Living: Indian Inspired Takeaway Feast (£11)

Another win for this grab-and-go package of Indian treats.

SILVER: M&S Plant Kitchen Tikka Masala Curry (£4.50)

Made with creamy coconut milk, roasted squash and cauliflower, you voted this vegan curry your second favourite.

BEST VALUE: Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneer No Chicken Tikka Masala with Pilau Rice (£3.25)

With its rich, sweet sauce, soya pieces and rice all ready to go, this is a bargain meal for one.

Best own-brand vegan range

GOLD: Plant Kitchen by M&S

With over 175 products in the range and new ones being added all the time, Plant Kitchen takes the top spot for its innovation and quality.

SILVER: Plant Menu by Aldi

Aldi has continued to delight voters with new and exciting products at an affordable price point, including No Scampi, a Hoisin No Duck kit and battered sausages.

Best supermarket for vegan options

GOLD: Tesco

Thanks to the fantastic and inspirational work of chef and ex-Director of Plant-Based Innovation Derek Sarno over the past five years, Tesco now has one of the biggest vegan, plant-based and free-from ranges available in the UK, including everything from herbs and spices to sauces, ready meals, pizzas, cheese, meat and fish replacements and vegan desserts.

“Tesco takes the top spot, in no small way thanks to Derek Sarno, and has created a terrific range of vegan products across every food category.” – Holly 

SILVER: Sainsbury’s

Following the launch of its Plant Pioneers range in 2020, Sainsbury’s has continued to develop its vegan offering and stocks a huge array of brands including OGGs, Leon, Future Farm, The Vegetarian Butcher and Rude Health. There are now 743 products listed as ‘vegan’ at Sainsbury’s online.

“The Plant Pioneers range and a superb selection of vegan-friendly brands have given Sainsbury’s a deserved second place as Best Supermarket.” – Holly

Hungry for more? Feast your eyes on these luxurious vegan hampers!