// M&S Food announces plan for all own-label wines to be vegan by 2022
// It is the first major retailer to make this pledge
// M&S’s own-label wine range is already vegan-friendly
M&S has announced plans to an entirely vegan-friendly own-label wine range by the end of 2022, making the first major retailer to make this pledge.
The retailer’s food division said that while 70 per cent of its own-label wine range is already vegan friendly, it will now make sure any animal products used to make its wine is substituted with plant-based alternatives such as pea protein.
Animal-based ingredients commonly used in wine production include egg whites, milk protein and animal gelatine.
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The announcement ahead of World Vegan Day tomorrow.
M&S was an early pioneer of this movement, first labelling its own-brand wines as “suitable for vegetarians” back in 1998, with “suitable for vegans” following in 2005.
“We’ve made this commitment as part of our overall aim to make M&S products more relevant to more customers and to take action to reflect their changing dietary demands,” M&S winemaker Sue Daniels said.
“Obviously, such a large-scale commitment isn’t without its challenges – however we have been working on alternatives with winemakers for several years and have already seen radical changes in more traditional areas such as France and Spain.
“We will be supporting the rest of our partner wineries every step of the way towards this goal.”
The vegan wine pledge follows M&S’s focus on plant-based eating, having earlier this year launched its vegan-friendly range Plant Kitchen.
This Christmas, the retailer is extending its vegan range to offer a complete vegan-friendly Christmas dinner.
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