Ikea adds more plant-based cafe options

Ikea will roll out vegan hot dogs Australia-wide from 2024. The company says it is transitioning to mostly vegan options images: Ikea

Ikea Australia has announced a “massive” change to its restaurant menu as it continues to push for more planet-friendly vegan meals.

More than 40 years after introducing its classic hot dog, the iconic Swedish homewares giant has announced it will release a plant-based version in Australia.

This week, the company confirmed the new vegan hot dogs, which launched to massive fanfare in Europe in 2018, will be available in all Ikea restaurants Australia-wide from 2024.

It comes after the roaring success of Ikea’s vegan meatballs, which were introduced in Australia in 2020, as well as other plant-based options including vegan ice cream and vegan chocolate mousse.

The new plant-based dogs contain rice protein, onion, apple, salt and pepper, with added smokiness to replicate a classic sausage flavour. They will be offered alongside the original meat-based meal.

Ikea often says its ramped up rollout of vegan products is part of an attempt to push shoppers — and the company itself — towards more climate-friendly choices.

Previously, the retailer said it aims for 50 per cent of meals sold in Aussie Ikea stores to be plant-based by 2025. By the same year, it hopes for 80 per cent of its menu to be red-meat-free.

Ikea says Aussie shoppers are calling for more vegan menu options image: Chris McCormack

Ikea Australia’s head of food, Ivana Frost, previously told news.com.au Aussie shoppers were calling for more vegan options — though not as passionately as their European counterparts.

“There’s an obvious trend of moving towards more plant-based and healthier food options, especially in Europe,” she said.

“We have found our customers asking for more plant-based ingredients on the menu and for more variety here in Australia — not to the same extent as our European partners, but we’ve definitely seen (that demand increase).”

Though consumers often assume fake meat is healthier than the real thing the environmental impact of meat is significant.

The production of beef in particular is considered a major contributor to green house emissions, with about 14 per cent of worldwide emissions stemming from the meat and dairy industry, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Original Article > by Chloe Whelan, news.com.au