Vegans Search for Vegan Award Winners on World Vegan Day as Sales of Vegan Products Driven up by Demand for Free From Foods and Concern Over Environme

(PRWEB) October 30, 2006 -- To celebrate World Vegan Day November 1st and in memory of vegan pioneer and ethical innovator Arthur Ling, a new annual award programme has been set up. People from all around the UK are being asked to help find and nominate worthy winners for this award.

New Vegan Award

Vegan Willy Wonka, Adrian Ling who runs Plamil Foods who initiated this new award said "We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our family's spirit of innovation and also encourage, publicise and reward new people and innovative projects that are making a difference to people, animals and the environment."

From Cornwall to Scotland, Wales to Norfolk, towns such as Bristol, London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh the search is on to find local vegan heroes who are making it easier and more appealing to lead a vegan lifestyle.

Environment

As green environment taxes are considered by the UK government driven by MP David Miliband The UK Vegan Society has produced 2 guides, one to explain the environmental benefits of veganism and one about nutrition explaining how vegan foods can help you be more healthy.

Vegan companies such as Plamil tend to have a broader outlook on business ethics, it's not just a focus on health foods, they look at ethics and environmental issues too.

Plamil have been given consistently high marks for their products by Ethical Consumer magazine, source the bulk of their ingredients from worker co-operatives where possible and are converting their chocolate factory over to using more sustainable 100% renewable energy -- possibly a world first for confectionery manufacturing.

More Ethical Conscious Consumers

There are now more people eager to buy vegan products than ever before driven not only by vegetarian friendly shoppers but by people buying organic, free from, fair trade and more environmentally friendly products. There is an increase in the aptly named 'conscious consumers' who are part of a general move to purchase products that lessen the negative impact on the planet and the risks to our wellbeing.

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "The increased availability of free from foods and environmentally aware products is great news. There is no doubt in my mind that most people would benefit from eating less animal fat from meat and dairy and more foods such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains such as quinoa. People can now vote with their shopping purse on a whole range of issues such as fair trade and the environment as well as health and animal wellfare."

Supermarket Choice

The best selling Plamil products such as Dairy free chocolate and egg free mayonnaise are available in supermarkets but it's more likely to be independent local health food stores where vegans can find the full choice of more exotic items such as Plamil's vegan dairy free chocolate and orange spread or lemon grass egg free organic mayonnaise.

"Supermarkets generally have at least one or two varieties in each line but we make 19 different bars of chocolate or carob, 6 different flavours of egg free, dairy free mayonnaise and 3 different flavours of vegan chocolate spread some of which can only be found in health food stores" says Ling.

"The market for Free-From foods has increased dramatically over recent years but local independent retailers are now beginning to take advantage and catch this emerging market" says Ling.

" We have wide range dairy free and egg free products to fill the gaps on the local retailers' shelves and help them take full advantage of a growing market for health foods"


Appeal To Independent Local Newspapers

"It's hoped that local newspapers will be able to help us find people developing vegan alternatives and vegan projects that deserve the 2007 award and the money to help them develop their ideas." Ling says optimistically.

Winner of The Plamil Arthur Ling Memorial Award 2006

This years winner will be announced on World Vegan Day.

Vegan recipes and pictures are available for World Vegan Day features.

Taster kits are available for UK health food stores

Editor's Notes

World Vegan Day
www.worldveganday.org.uk

Plamil Foods -- egg free, mayonnaise and dairy free chocolate
www.plamilfoods.co.uk

Vegan Websites
www.famousvegans.co.uk
www.supervegans.org
www.spotthevegan.co.uk

New Booklets about Environment and Nutrition
www.vegansociety.com

Contacts
Tony Bishop-Weston Pea PR 07944068432
Foods For Life Nutrition - 0871 288 4642

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