The Co-op expands vegan portfolio with 23 wines

By Michelle Perrett

Published: 09 January, 2018

The Co-op is set to expand its vegan wine portfolio with 23 new offerings by the end of 2018, taking it to 100 lines.

Eight new wines will be launched 12 February, including a Gran Familia Rioja Tino (£5.99), with the remaining 15 poised to hit shelves in the autumn.

The Co-op, which claims to be the UK’s first food retailer to label allergen and ingredients on its wines, said it had been working closely with winemakers globally to pioneer the use of vegan-friendly fining agents to filter the wines.

“Our range will be expanding throughout the year to offer greater choice to our vegan shoppers and we will continue to challenge suppliers to make wines vegan, where they can without affecting the attributes of the liquid,” said Simon Cairns, category trading manager for Co-op wines.

The focus on vegan followed a rise in popularity captured across social media channels, with an 84% increase in mentions of vegan wine and food year-on-year, said Cairns.

The Co-op anticipated the interest in vegan wines would continue to grow throughout 2018, he added.

According to the Vegan Society, 542,000 people in the UK opted for a plant-based diet as of May 2016, up from 150,000 in 2006.

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