Burns Night 2019: Tesco launches vegan haggis across the UK

Sales of the meat-free alternative have soared by 120 per cent over the past year

Tesco has introduced a vegan version of haggis to UK stores ahead of Burns Night on Friday.

Sales of vegan haggis in Scottish branches of the supermarket have soared by 120 per cent over the past year due to the UK plant-based food boom.

Now, Tesco has now revealed that it is trialling the vegan version in stores across England and Wales to keep up with demand.

Traditionally, haggis is made from sheep heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with onion, oatmeal, and stock.

However, the vegan options on sale feature a blend of pulses, seeds, and vegetables mixed with oats and spices.

The supermarket’s two best-selling vegan haggis’ are made by brands Simon Howie and Macsween, both of which have recently been approved by The Vegan Society.

“The current clamour for vegan and vegetarian food has really helped send sales soaring for the non-meat version of the haggis,” said James Lamont, a food buyer for Tesco.

“Even though vegetarian haggis has been around for a few years we’ve never seen anything like the current demand – and it’s not just during Burns’ week, it’s all year round.”

Tesco isn’t the only UK supermarket to stock vegan haggis.

Tesco’s two best-selling vegan haggis’ are made by Simon Howie and Macsween

Macsween can also be purchased from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Co-Op, while other meat-free versions of haggis include The Scottish Butcher’s Vegetarian Haggis, Stahly Vegetarian Haggis and Crombies of Edinburgh (not suitable for vegans).

The vegan alternative of the Burns Night staple has been welcomed by plant-based foodies but it seems butchers aren’t as convinced.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Douglas Scott, chief executive at the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders, said that Robert Burns, the person the annual occasion was launched to celebrate, would not approve.

“Robert Burns enjoyed haggis so much that he stood up and competed a address to it,” Scott said.

“If you listen to this, he gives the impression that its going to give you power and strength. That is not the impression you get from the vegan haggis and, I think he would be scoffing at it.”