Veganuary Office Catering London: Plant-Based Team Lunches for January

Veganuary is an annual January campaign encouraging people to try plant-based eating for the month. This post covers the background of the campaign, what plant-based eating involves nutritionally, how the office food environment affects whether people sustain the commitment, and what genuinely good plant-based catering looks like.

What Veganuary is and how it grew

Veganuary was founded in the United Kingdom in 2014 as a nonprofit campaign encouraging people to try a vegan diet for January. In its first year, a few thousand people registered. By the mid-2020s, registered participants numbered in the hundreds of thousands each year, with many more participating without formally signing up. The campaign has expanded internationally, with significant uptake across Europe, North America, and Australia.

The campaign runs for the calendar month of January, with participants encouraged to eat no animal products — no meat, fish, dairy, or eggs — for the duration. Many participants adopt the diet fully for the month; others use it as a prompt to increase plant-based eating without strict adherence. For the food industry, Veganuary has become a significant driver of product development and menu innovation, with restaurants, supermarkets, and caterers launching plant-based options specifically for January.

Plant-based eating: the nutritional picture

A well-planned plant-based diet can meet all nutritional requirements, but it does require attention to certain nutrients that are less abundant or less bioavailable from plant sources. Protein is the most discussed: plant proteins are complete or near-complete in foods like soya, quinoa, and buckwheat, but most plant proteins require combining across the day to cover all essential amino acids. Iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids are other nutrients that benefit from deliberate planning.

For workplace catering, this nutritional context matters because a Veganuary participant who relies on a vegan option that is primarily carbohydrate-based — a plain salad or a bread-heavy wrap with minimal protein — is unlikely to feel satisfied, and is more likely to abandon the commitment. A plant-based meal that is protein-rich, varied in texture, and genuinely filling supports the commitment far more effectively than one that treats vegan as a reduced version of the standard menu.

The office food environment and Veganuary success rates

Research consistently shows that food environment has a strong influence on eating behaviour. Participants trying to maintain a plant-based diet in January are most likely to struggle when their primary food contexts — the office lunch in particular — do not provide satisfying plant-based options. The vending machine, the nearby sandwich chain, and the catered lunch that offers a single vegan option as an afterthought all create friction that accumulates over the month.

A workplace caterer whose plant-based options are genuinely varied, protein-adequate, and flavourful across multiple orders removes that friction. For an office with a regular catering arrangement, the January menu is one of the most practical things the organisation can do to support colleagues who are participating in Veganuary.

Veganuary catering for London offices

Vanda's Kitchen's menu includes a wide range of plant-based options designed as primary dishes, not substitutes. The kitchen is certified halal and 100% nut-free, and over 60% of the menu is gluten-free as standard. Full allergen labelling on every item makes it straightforward for Veganuary participants to identify suitable options without having to ask.

For City offices wanting to support Veganuary, a standing order for January with a plant-forward menu selection can be arranged through a single conversation. Minimum order is £150, with free delivery on orders over £600. Delivery covers the City of London and central London postcodes, Monday to Friday.

For Veganuary catering across London — independently halal-certified, 100% nut-free and fully allergen-labelled — browse our catering shop or WhatsApp the kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

When did Veganuary start and how large has it become?

Veganuary was founded in the UK in 2014. In its first year, a few thousand people registered. By the mid-2020s, registered participants numbered in the hundreds of thousands annually, with many more participating informally. The campaign has expanded internationally and has become a significant driver of plant-based product development across the food industry.

What nutrients require attention on a plant-based diet?

Protein, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are the nutrients most commonly discussed in the context of plant-based eating. Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products and typically requires supplementation on a fully vegan diet. Iron from plant sources is less readily absorbed than from meat, though combining it with vitamin C improves absorption. A varied, whole-ingredient plant-based diet generally meets other nutritional needs well.

Does participating in Veganuary require giving up all animal products?

The Veganuary campaign encourages a fully plant-based diet for January, meaning no meat, fish, dairy, or eggs. In practice, many participants adopt the diet strictly for the month, while others use it as a prompt to significantly increase plant-based eating without complete adherence. The campaign's primary aim is to reduce animal product consumption and introduce people to plant-based food.

How does office catering affect whether someone sustains Veganuary?

The office lunch is often the main meal of the working day, and it is one of the key food contexts a Veganuary participant encounters repeatedly across the month. When the available plant-based options are limited or unsatisfying, it creates friction that can lead people to abandon the commitment. A caterer with a genuinely varied and protein-rich plant-based menu significantly reduces that friction.

Are Vanda's Kitchen's plant-based options also halal-certified?

Vanda's Kitchen operates a whole-kitchen halal certification, meaning all food prepared in the kitchen — including plant-based options — is prepared in a certified halal environment. Plant-based dishes do not require halal certification in the same way as meat dishes, but colleagues observing halal requirements can order from the full menu, including all plant-based options, with confidence.