Manchester-based The Authentic Food Co. (TAFC) has announced a partnership with award winning vegan chef, Matt Nutter, as part of the food manufacturer’s plans to develop a quality plant-based range for grocery and foodservice.

Stockport local Matt is working with the company as a consultant chef to support its impressive plans to develop a frozen vegan range, to tap into the ever growing plant-based trend, with a view to launch in summer 2018.

With over 20 years’ experience in the kitchen, Matt owns and operates Stockport-based The Allotment Vegan which recently won Restaurant of the Year in the City Life awards 2018. His passion for plant-based propelled Matt to be a champion for the vegan trend and create incredible dishes at his restaurant, such as his famous cauliflower hot wing poppers, that will be translated into the new range with TAFC.

With a manufacturing centre located in Greater Manchester, the new partnership represents the next chapter for TAFC as well as a boost for Greater Manchester’s food credentials. The company is currently on track to break £100m sales this year following continued success and launching on trend food with major retail, branded and foodservice partners.

Speaking about the partnership, Matt Nutter said:

“I’ve been eating and cooking vegan for over 10 years and have seen so much change in that time. The lifestyle was once considered to be limiting in terms of food but the trend has exploded over the past few years with restaurants everywhere now offering vegan options, but these dishes can often be uninspiring.

“Through the partnership with The Authentic Food Co, I want to take mainstream vegan food to the next level and my mission is to create an incredibly flavoursome and inspiring range that is more accessible in supermarkets and restaurants, and will entice non-vegans as well as those who live a plant-based life.”

With more than half a million people now vegan in the UK, an increase of 360% in 10 years, and the surge in popularity of alternative diets such as flexitarian and pescatarian, the new partnership will help TAFC’s grocery and foodservice customers maximise on the opportunity and bring tasty vegan dishes to the mainstream.

Nik Basran, Managing Director of The Authentic Food Co., added:

“We’ve been in the food manufacturing industry for over 30 years, creating bespoke ranges that tap into key trends to help our customers reach a wider audience, and we’re confident that vegan is the right next step for us.

“A lot of our customers come to us with requests for free-from or vegan solutions that go beyond vegetarianism and also appeal to a more health conscious consumer.

“With Matt’s credentials and creative flare, he’s the right man for this partnership and is light years ahead of others in the industry. We’ve got big plans for our vegan range and this partnership marks the first step on our vegan journey which we anticipate will continue to grow for years to come.”