Lidl will more than triple the amount of plant-based products on offer after seeing a 12 per cent increase in demand over the past year.

The budget supermarket will begin rolling out the new range to selected stores this month, with it the vegan items launched across all stores by January 2025.

Products in the range include tofu, meat alternatives, dairy-free ranges, ready meals and deli items.

The discounter predicts that demand for plant-based protein will continue to rise, with the company anticipating that it will account for around a quarter of its total protein sales by 2030.

Lidl added that it is also committing to doubling the proportion of sales of plant-based protein from dairy alternatives. These new targets are part of its pledge to achieve Net-Zero by 2050.

Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said that Lidl is the first UK retailer to set specific plant-based protein targets which would contribute “significantly” to reducing scope 3 CO2 emissions.

“Meat, poultry and dairy play an important role in our diets, which is why we’re investing heavily in British farming to ensure that our suppliers are set up for future growth, and customers have access to the best quality British produce,” he added. “At the same time, we know that as a society we need to incorporate more plant-based foods into our diets to ensure balance.

“That’s why we are proudly standing behind the planetary health diet, which is key to achieving a more healthy and sustainable future and supports our Net-Zero ambitions.”

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