A fifth of ready meals sold by UK supermarkets are now plant-based or vegetarian and are the cheapest option at the majority of retailers, according to a survey.
Among the ready meal category, plant-based options are the fastest growing, up by 92% since the Eating Better alliance’s first survey in 2018.
The organisation named Aldi and Tesco as its two best performers for increasing their plant-based options by 175% and 103% respectively after surveying 2,743 ready meals across 10 UK supermarkets.
Tesco and the Co-op have significantly reduced their meat-based, ready meal ranges but Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s “continue to have very meaty ranges”, while Iceland’s range remains at its 2018 level of 85% meat-based, the report said.
THERE has been a change at the head of Malvern Hills District Council, with a new chairman taking the reins. Cllr Dean Clarke stepped down at the annual meeting of the council this week, with former Mayor of Malvern Cllr Cynthia Palmer being chosen in his place. In his outgoing remarks, Cllr Clarke thanked the leaders of the council’s groups, the officers and individual councillors for their help over his two years in the role. He also thanked his wife Pat for her support throughout. Nominating Cllr Palmer for the role, Cllr Mick Davies said: “She comes with a fresh and independent view of our venerable organisation and I know she has a heart and soul she will devote to this job.”