It’s March, and we all know what that means: spring has finally arrived.
If feeling the sun on your face has inspired you to book a vacation, we’ve got some destination ideas. A recent report from Chef’s Pencil highlighted several European countries where the plant-based scene is thriving, as well as one of the best vegan cities in the US (if you’d rather keep your travel domestic). Intrigued? You can find out more here.
But in between dreaming about summer vacations, catch up on this week’s food news. Below, we’ve got the lowdown on new products from Oatly, Starbucks’ new vegan-friendly spring menu, and more.
Oatly’s popcorn-flavored oat milk is perfect for barista-quality at home lattes. | VegNews
Oatly Matcha lattes and popcorn-flavored oat milk coming in 2026
We love a fancy barista-made coffee as much as the next person, but let’s be honest—they add up quickly when you’re treating yourself every day. Thankfully, Oatly is launching two new flavored oat milks, both ideal for jazzing up at-home iced lattes. Matcha Oat Drink and iKaffe Popcorn Flavor will hit US shelves in late 2026. If you’re in the UK, there’s even better news: they’re already available to buy.
Starbucks’ spring menu is officially here, and a number of drinks can be made vegan with one simple swap. | Starbucks
Starbucks launches new veganizable ube, toasted coconut, and lavender drinks this week
The best time to treat yourself to one of those fancy coffee shop drinks? On a sunny spring day, of course. Starbucks’ spring menu has officially launched, and it includes several vegan-friendly options, including the Toasted Coconut Cream Cold Brew, Toasted Coconut Latte, and Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato. The Iced Lavender Latte and Lavender Crème Frappuccino have also returned.
In addition to these new and returning drinks, the coffee chain is also offering non-dairy cold foams in lavender, toasted coconut, and ube flavors. All drinks can be made vegan by choosing dairy-free milk. Read more about the new Starbucks spring menu here.
Whole Foods expands its 365 range with new meatless steak strips. | Big Box Vegan
Whole Foods launches its own vegan steak strips
Whole Foods Market’s 365 range is a reliable bet for plant-based options. It offers everything from pantry staples like beans, pasta, and sauces to dark chocolate treats and dairy-free milk. Now, plant-based shoppers can also stock up on the brand’s new Meatless Soy-Based Steak Strips, recently spotted in stores for $6.49, per Big Box Vegan. Each serving of the vegan meat product contains 15 grams of protein.
Beyond’s new rebrand expands its product portfolio beyond meat alternatives. | Beyond
Beyond rebrands to Beyond The Plant Protein Company
Back in the summer of 2025, Beyond Meat decided to rebrand to simply Beyond, a sign that it was distancing itself from being pigeon-holed in the plant-based meat category. Now, it has taken the rebrand a step further. In a new post on Instagram, the brand announced it is now Beyond The Plant Protein Company. “A new chapter begins,” the post reads. “Rooted in unlocking the power of plants.”
In a statement sent to VegNews, a spokesperson for the company said: “Our mission has always been about unlocking the power of plants to transform how we think about protein. As we continue to innovate and expand beyond meat mimicry, this updated positioning reflects our commitment to offering nutritious plant protein options made with clean, simple ingredients across a variety of categories and designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers.”
In addition to its rebrand, Beyond The Plant Protein Company (also still known simply as Beyond) also recently announced it was expanding its latest line of protein drinks with four new flavors: Cherry Berry, Strawberry Lemonade, Piña Colada, and Cucumber Grapefruit.
“As demand for protein rises and consumers place greater emphasis on fiber and overall nutritional quality, we are excited to extend our portfolio into new categories, emphasizing compelling macronutrient profiles to meet modern consumer expectations,” the brand said.
Sweet Loren’s recently debuted ready-to-bake scones and breadsticks. | VegNews
Sweet Loren’s to debut break-and-bake scones, breadsticks
It’s only March, but 2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Sweet Loren’s. In February, for example, the allergen-friendly, dairy-free cookie dough brand revealed it was bringing back its bright pink, heart-shaped, Barbie-themed cookie dough for a limited run. Now, it has unveiled two new products: Ready-to-Bake Scones and Sticks. Each comes in two flavors—the scones are available in Chocolate Chunk and Cinnamon Brown Sugar, while the sticks come in Garlic Herb and Cinnamon Sugar.
SaVeg, a vegan café operated by YouTuber Rose Lee and her mom, is closing its doors. | SaVeg
Vegan YouTuber Rose Lee of Cheap Lazy Vegan is closing her vegan café
Rose Lee is best known for her popular YouTube channel, Cheap Lazy Vegan, which has nearly 800,000 subscribers. But the recipe developer has also helped run SaVeg, a vegan Korean fusion café in Calgary, Alberta, with her mom for more than eight years. However, at the beginning of March, a social media post announced that SaVeg would be closing. Her mom, Vera Lee, is retiring, while Lee is choosing to focus on vegan content creation.
However, the post hinted that this may not be the end entirely. “Right now, we are working on something special to leave a little piece of our café behind,” it reads. “We will share updates on this soon!”
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
