Vegans up in arms as Woolworths scraps some of the plant eaters’ most beloved meat-free products

‘Why are they going backwards?’ Vegans up in arms as supermarket giant Woolworths stops stocking several meat-free products

• Woolworth came under fire after announcing discontinuation of vegan products
• A concerned customer took to Facebook to say the product lines being ended
• Total of 2.5 million, or 12.1%, of Australians now have a meat free diet

By Adam Mccleery For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 13:15 BST, 4 September 2019 | Updated: 03:00 BST, 5 September 2019

Vegans have reacted angrily to Woolworths discontinuing several meat-free products, accusing the supermarket chain of regressing on that product line at a time of growing demand.

A vegan woman posted to Facebook some screenshots of a chat with a Woolworths representative which listed some of the products to be discontinued.

They include meat replacement brands Fry’s, Linda McCartney and Quorn, news.com.au reported. 

A vegan group was up in arms after a member posted screenshots from informing her some of Wooloworths’ meat replacement products are being discontinued

Woolworths gave the concerned customer an official reply giving her more details about the discontinuation

Woolworths said stock of the product was almost exhausted and ‘now being discontinued at our stores, nationwide’.

‘I’m actually so sad, why are they going backwards?!’ one Facebook user responded. 

‘Wtf is happening feel like more people are going vegan yet supermarkets seem to be getting rid all of vegan products so what is happening?’ another added. 

A Woolworths  spokesperson said: ‘We work hard to keep up with the changing needs of our customers, and have seen more and more shoppers looking to incorporate vegetarian or vegan-friendly options into their weekly diets.

‘As a result, we have moved frozen vegan and vegetarian products to their own space in the Freezer section to accommodate our growing range, including new lines from Gardein, Sophie’s Kitchen, Veef, and Vegie Delights.

‘We continue to offer customer favourites including lines from Frys, Quorn and Linda McCartney.

‘There is also a new range of vegan and vegetarian friendly frozen meals, snacks and even a vegan pizza.’

Recent research from Roy Morgan found 2.5 million, or 12.1% of Australians now have a diet which exclusively contains plants and vegetarian based products. 

Recent research from Roy Morgan found 2.5 million, or 12.1% of Australians now have a diet which exclusively contains plants and vegetarian based products (pictured)

The news comes after Woolworths announced big increases in sales for vegan products in its stores

Since 2016 an additional 400,000 Australians have chosen to go meat-free. 

The news comes after Woolworths announced big increases in sales for vegan products in its stores. 

‘Every indication tells us this category will only continue to grow and we’re focused on building a vegan range for our customers that is high quality, convenient and affordable,’ a Woolworths spokesperson told CanStar Blue.

Woolworths also introduced ‘dozen’ of new vegan friendly items in the past twelve months including ‘dairy free cheeses, ice cream and vegan meals’.

Data showed vegan food sales jumped by 10% in 2017 alone and the industry is expected to be worth $200million by 2020.  

A Woolworths spokesperson said the discontinuation was not a sign of the supermarket chain moving away from vegan friendly options

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