The Jubilee Room at the Houses of Parliament provided a stunning backdrop on 22 October 2025 for the Vegetarian for Life (VfL) Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian and Vegan Care Catering. High-profile presenters, including actors Peter Egan and Paul Higgins, and campaigner Heather Mills, joined care-home and hospital caterers, suppliers, and advocates to celebrate innovation, compassion, and dignity in vegetarian and vegan care meals.

VfL Chief Executive Amanda Woodvine opened the ceremony with moving reflections on the progress made in vegan and vegetarian provision, while emphasising the work still to come. Real-life stories demonstrated how the right meal can uphold a person’s values – or erode them when choice is ignored.

The ceremony also featured vegan rights campaigner Jordi Casamitjana, who spoke about the legal recognition of ethical veganism as a protected philosophical belief, and award sponsor Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, who emphasised the importance of vegetarian and vegan choices in care settings. Interactive workshops encouraged delegates to explore practical ways to make plant-based meals a standard of care rather than an exception.

The 2025 VfL Award winners are:

Vegan/Vegetarian Care/Hospital Caterer of the Year sponsored by Greetwell Purchasing Solutions 

Satpal Kambo, Garden City Court, Quantum Care, for transforming plant-based dining through resident-led menu development and imaginative dishes that have become weekly highlights.

Vegan/Vegetarian Supplier of the Year sponsored by Procurement For Care 

Suma, recognised for its extensive range of vegetarian and largely vegan products, ethical operations and sustainability leadership. 

Chefs’ Hero Product 

Marigold Engevita® Nutritional Yeast Flakes fortified with vitamin D and B12, a versatile flavour-enhancer with nutritional benefits, especially for those who love cooking umami-flavoured dishes.

Most Innovative Vegan/Vegetarian Recipe sponsored by ProSauce® 

Philip Meyer of Avery Healthcare, whose inventive but commercially viable butternut squash roll and vegan mousse wowed judges.

The Beulah Charity Trust Special Recognition Award 

Maureen Behan of Little Sisters of the Poor, for over 30 years of heartfelt service, consistently delivering meals that meet modern dietary needs without losing a homely touch.

Attendees left inspired to return to their care settings with renewed purpose: to ensure that plant-based meals don’t simply nourish, but also affirm identity, uphold choice and enhance wellbeing.

Click here for a look at our past winners.

We've been hard at work uncovering how dietary preferences are changing in UK care homes. Our survey carried out last year revealed there's been a 24% increase in vegan and vegetarian care home residents over the past decade.

First launched in 2016, the Annual Awards highlight the importance of catering well for older vegans and vegetarians. With growing numbers of vegans and vegetarians being supported by the care sector, it is no surprise that news of the awards has been positively received by care organisations. Articles about the awards have been published by the NACC, Care Home Catering, Hospitality Assured and more.

It’s becoming impossible to ignore the demand for top-notch veggie care catering.