JUST Egg at Caribou, New Eats at Costco, and More Vegan Food News of the Week

It seems that every week in vegan food news is more exciting than the last and this week is no exception. New JUST Egg flatbreads launched at Caribou Coffee as the chain’s first vegan food option. Native Foods is celebrating spring with a rainbow-inspired menu crafted by its new Executive Chef. Our friends in the United Kingdom are overjoyed by the news that Percy Pigs—a pig-shaped gummy candy—have officially gone vegan. Read on for more.  

1Caribou Coffee’s new vegan egg flatbreads

This week, coffeehouse chain Caribou Coffee added its first vegan option to its All-Day Breakfast menu at all 400 locations in the Midwest, West, and South. Served warm, the JUST Egg Roasted Tomato and Pesto Flatbread includes JUST Egg Folded (a patty format of the popular vegan egg), Violife dairy-free smoked provolone cheese, roasted tomatoes, and vegan pesto. 

Eat Just

“We are thrilled to partner with the innovative team at JUST Egg. We’re always looking for new, innovative choices to meet our guests’ needs,” Matt Reiter, Vice President of Merchandising and Product at Caribou Coffee, said in a statement. “Caribou’s food menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian menu items today, and with an increased demand in the marketplace for plant-based options, we knew we wanted to provide a great- tasting option for our guests.”

While JUST Egg is available on the menu at chains such as Peet’s and Philz, this launch makes Caribou the largest coffeehouse chain in the country to serve the mung bean-based egg. “To finally have a delicious and versatile vegan option on our menu showcases our commitment to providing quality products that are not only better for your health, but for the planet,” Reiter said. “This sandwich is a delicious option for all guests, whether they follow a plant-based diet or not.”

2Eat the rainbow at Native Foods

Vegan chain Native Foods just welcomed a new executive chef to the team, Chris Bertke, and he has been hard at work crafting its spring menu. Inspired by the colors of the rainbow, the new menu is loaded with ingredients that epitomize the freshness of spring. 

The new items include a Szechuan Asparagus Appetizer (asparagus spears in light tempura batter, peanut ginger garnish, and Szechuan dipping sauce);  Wasabi Crabcake Sandwich (plant-based crab cake, edamame cilantro pesto, pickled red cabbage, lettuce, and wasabi aioli served on a toasted hamburger bun); and Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait (strawberry compote, cheesecake filling, graham crackers, and fresh mint). 

Native Foods

“It’s unique for us to have a menu that changes as the seasons change because most fast-casual restaurant concepts lack that elevated aspect to their menu,” Chef Bertke said in a statement. “The spring menu’s theme and bold colors offers customers the opportunity to enjoy holistic vegan options through July 13.”

In addition to the new rainbow-inspired spring menu, Native Foods is launching a meaty special chef Bertke created for the month of May. The Beef n Bettah Sandwich—a riff on “Beef and Cheddar”—is piled high with roast beef-style seitan slices, vegan cheddar cheese sauce, plant-based horseradish aioli, caramelized onions, and pepperoncini, which all comes served on a toasted pretzel bun.

The chef also tweaked Native Foods’ mac and cheese recipe to make it “the cheesiest ever.” 

3New vegan eats at Costco

A new vegan and keto-friendly dessert option has arrived at Costco locations in the Southeast region (which includes South Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico), along with stores in Central California, greater Los Angeles, and Hawaii.

Simply Delish

Made by Simply Delish, the sugar-free Chocolate Keto Pudding comes in six-cup packs and contains three net carbs and 100 calories per serving. “We set out to create incredibly healthy desserts that don’t taste like you are giving up the rich flavor,” Martin Pamensky, Founder and CEO of Simply Delish, said in a statement. “We’re delighted to provide a healthy dessert/snack option that tastes amazing for people who suffer from allergies, are diabetic, or suffer from celiac [disease]. They can take it anywhere they go.”

And starting on Monday, 21 Costco locations in Southern California are adding something else to their shelves for a limited time. The new Meatless Sausage Scramble Breakfast Bowl features a vegan sausage made by Alpha Foods, vegan egg made by Zero Egg, along with red and green peppers, and herbed potatoes. The breakfast bowls will be available at Costco in a four pack for $12.49.  

4Percy Pigs ditch gelatin, beeswax

Over in the United Kingdom, this week marked a momentous occasion for Brits young and old. That’s because popular gummy candy Percy Pigs by Marks and Spencer is now officially vegan. Three years ago, the brand announced it would remove pork gelatin from its formulation, leading to excitement about the candy potentially being vegan friendly. However, the treats—which were relabeled with a “v” that stood for “vegetarian”—still contained beeswax which rendered them not vegan. 

This week, shoppers rejoiced when they spotted packs of Percy Pigs clearly labeled as “vegan” and free from beeswax (previously on the label as E901) at M&S locations across the UK. Small bags of the pig-shaped candies will be available at first with other sizes planned for future release. 

5Sweet treats for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and we can’t think of a better way to honor the mother figures in our lives than with dairy-free chocolates. This year, the artisan chocolatiers at Casse Cou—a vegan shop launched last year by acclaimed chef Matthew Kenney—are crafting some delectable truffles, pralines, and bonbons in flavors such as Pecan Whiskey, Peanut Butter Caramel, Marzipan, and Raspberry Violet Milk Chocolate. Customers can select from pre-set boxes or customize their own and get 15-percent off for Mother’s Day with the code MOTHERSDAY15.

Cinnaholic

And if mom’s not a fan of chocolates (the horror!), cinnamon roll chain Cinnaholic has just the thing. On Sunday, all locations of the shop will offer the Signature Gift Boxes (starting at $24.99; price varies by location) that include two cinnamon rolls, two mini cookies, two brownies, and two chocolate-covered strawberries. Customers are advised to pre-order the boxes two hours in advance of pickup. 

For the latest in vegan news, read:
Chef Matthew Kenney Expands Vegan Restaurant Empire to 57  
A Vegan KitKat McFlurry Just Hit the McDonald’s Menu
49 Percent of Gen Z Is “Ashamed” to Order Milk in Public