Vegetarian for Life announces the winners of its 2024 awards

With an event that was organised to coincide with World Vegan Month, Vegetarian for Life (VfL) returned to the iconic Houses of Parliament, to host its eighth annual Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian and Vegan Care Catering.

With the number of vegan and vegetarian residents in UK care homes rising by 24% over the past decade, this event recognised the chefs, caterers, and suppliers who are transforming plant-based dining in care settings across the country.

Amanda Woodvine, VfL’s chief executive, opened the event with an inspiring address, during which she shared insights from a recent VfL survey. She reveals: “Today, nearly one in three UK care homes have residents who follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. This growth signals an urgent need for compassionate and inclusive catering, which is why these awards are so crucial. By offering vegan fine dining in care, we’re not just providing meals; we’re delivering joy, dignity, and community.”

The 2024 VfL Award winners are:

Care/Hospital Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Middleton Foods

Matthew Thornton, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, for expanding vegan options to provide creative and accessible meals with wide patient appeal.

Vegan/Vegetarian Supplier of the Year, sponsored by allmanhall

Vegetarian Express, recognised for its extensive plant-based product range and commitment to sustainability in catering.

Chefs’ Hero Product, sponsored by Bullseye Food Packaging

Henderson’s Relish, a versatile vegan sauce beloved by chefs for its depth of flavour and adaptability across diverse dishes.

Most Innovative Vegan/Vegetarian Recipe

BOSH! for its Ultimate Vegan Lasagne, a deliciously layered, flavourful dish that is easy to prepare and ideal for care dining.

The day also featured interactive workshops that enabled attendees to explore vegan fine dining techniques.

Participants engaged in hands-on sessions to discover how nutrition, plating, and dining ambiance can all be used to help elevate the care dining experience, making it not just healthful, but truly memorable.

Woodvine also announced the launch of Gourmet Vegan, a new VfL guide of innovative vegan recipes that are designed to inspire care caterers.

Additionally, she highlighted a recent collaboration between VfL and the Care Inspectorate, resulting in the UK’s first self-evaluation tool for care providers,that helps them to meet the unique dietary and ethical needs of vegans and vegetarians.

VfL continues to champion compassionate catering, empowering care caterers to create menus that meet the growing demand for vegan and vegetarian options.

This year’s awards celebrated not just excellence in catering but a future where thoughtful, inclusive dining is part of every care setting.

For further details, visit: Shaping the future of plant-based care: VfL Awards for Excellence in Veg*n Care Catering 2024 | Vegetarian for Life

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