Artisan Bakers Launch New Vegan Donut
Pipp & Co. has introduced a vegan donut so plant-based food lovers won’t miss out on their delicious treats. The artisan bakery has added vegan mixed-berry donuts to its lineup in response to growing customer demand for a plant-based alternative.
With an estimated 2.5 million vegans in the UK (4.7% of the adult population) and numbers continuing to rise, Pipp & Co. wanted to ensure it appealed to every market. The new vegan donut still meets the bakery’s strict criteria of using only natural ingredients, with no artificial additives or preservatives. As with the rest of the range, there are no hydrogenated fats, palm oils, or GMOs.
Mario Evangelista, who co-runs Pipp & Co. with his wife Betina, said part of the reason for creating a vegan donut was to boost sustainability: “Plant-based butter produces 82% less CO₂ and uses 97% less water than regular butter,” he said. “That really hit home. It’s such a simple swap, but it makes a big difference.”
Even the sugar dust on top of the donuts—a by-product of the berries Pipp & Co. use—helps reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.
As with all Pipp & Co. products, the vegan donut is handmade using locally sourced British flour and natural ingredients, continuing their commitment to craft and quality.
Betina Evangelista said the vegan donut took a couple of months to develop.
“Customers love the vegan donut because it tastes just like our existing favorites,” she said. “We had to develop it alongside our normal production and went through several trials to arrive at a recipe we’re confident in and proud of.
“We replaced ingredients like fresh cream, eggs, and unsalted butter with vegan alternatives such as oat milk and vegan butter. We also used soya flour and oats in the formulation, alongside ingredients consistent with our traditional recipe.”
Unlike many vegan donuts, which can be dry or overly dense, Pipp & Co.’s vegan mixed-berry donut maintains the same soft, rich texture as their traditional brioche-based originals, thanks to a careful 24-hour fermentation and three-stage proofing process.
The new vegan donut is proving popular—even among non-vegans. In blind taste tests with the Pipp & Co. team, 57% preferred the vegan version. Plans are now underway to introduce additional vegan flavors alongside the mixed-berry option.
Pipp & Co. donuts and other products are available through stockists from Reading to Oxford and from Stroud to Bristol.
Producing more than 20,000 donuts a week at its Swindon factory, Pipp & Co. also opened its first café in Bristol last year, with more locations planned for the future.