Whether you slather it on toast, add it to cakes and brownies or spoon it straight into your mouth from the jar, there’s no denying that Nutella is the superior choice when it comes to chocolate spread.
As such, many fans will likely be overjoyed to learn Ferrero – the company that makes it – is launching a brand new version of the hazelnutty treat.
Very soon a plant-based version of the iconic spread is going to be available in the UK, which contains a rather surprising ingredient – chickpeas.
According to the manufacturers, the new product boasts the same ‘flavour and creaminess fans know and love’ but has been ‘specially crafted to offer a delicious new choice, blending Nutella’s signature roasted hazelnuts and cocoa with plant-based ingredients like chickpeas and rice syrup’.
The vegan-certified spread hits Sainsbury’s stores nationwide from May 25, but you won’t find it in any other supermarkets for a while, as a full roll out isn’t planned until 2026.
Nutella, which was first created in 1964, has vastly remained the same for the last 60 years, with the brand’s range expanding in recently to include biscuits, ice cream and dunkable &Go pots.
However, this is the first time that a plant-based alternative has been offered here. Those across Europe have already had a taste, as it previously launched in Italy and beyond in September 2024.
The UK release comes after research revealed that around 2.5 million adults (4.7%) in the UK now follow a vegan diet, with a furter 5.8% identifying as vegetarian and 13% choosing a flexitarian lifestyle.
And it’s been predicted that more than a quarter of adults plan to make plant-based eating part of their routine by the end of 2025, according to research by Finder.com
Speaking about the launch, Mathieu Maggi, Marketing Director Nutella UK&I, Ferrero, said: ‘For over 60 years, millions of people around the world have, been enjoying the unique taste of Nutella, and we are excited to welcome even more consumers to the brand with the launch of Nutella Plant-Based.
‘We developed this innovation to provide a delicious new choice that delivers the unmistakable Nutella experience in a plant-based version, replacing milk with vegetal ingredients without compromising on quality and taste.’
So how does plant-based Nutella compare to the original?
Metro’s specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, gave the new spread a try ahead of its release in supermarkets and was a big fan.
‘Whenever I hear a chocolate product is vegan, I become a little prejudiced towards it, convinced there’s no way it’ll taste as creamy or sweet as the regular stuff,’ she said.
‘However, Nutella’s new spread well and truly proved me wrong.
‘Despite containing some unexpected ingredients, it tastes almost identical to the original version and looks just as good too.
‘If you handed me a piece of toast covered in this spread without saying a word, I honestly don’t think I’d notice anything was out of the ordinary – it smells the same, is super creamy and is delicious. But if you really want me to nitpick the subtle differences between the two, I can…
‘The plant-based Nutella is a little less sweet than the regular one. This might sound like a negative thing, but it actually just means it tastes nuttier. For those who find the OG too sickly, this will be a much better option for you.’
She added: ‘I don’t buy vegan products very often, but I can definitely see myself getting this instead of the other one from now on. I’m a convert.’
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