Upfield Professional is launching a plant-based dairy cream alternative under its Flora brand.

The cream, Flora Plant, is 100% plant-based and suitable for sweet and savoury applications. Designed for cooking, pouring and whipping, it is also vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Upfield said product will help chefs cater to increasingly complex consumer diets.

“Not only does it cater to those following a vegan diet, Flora Plant helps chefs overcome the challenge of managing allergens, which if not handled extremely carefully, can lead to a loss in customers, or even worse, criminal prosecution,” said Alan Black, head of marketing at Upfield Professional.

Nearly half (45%) of consumers claim plant-based dining options are a factor in the selection of a venue, according to analysis firm MCA Insight.

“At Upfield, we create great-tasting plant-based foods – and Flora Plant is no different. It can be enjoyed by vegans and dairy cream lovers alike. We believe following a vegan diet, or a diet that requires the removal of specific allergens shouldn’t mean compromising on taste, and with Flora Plant, operators know they can serve delicious dairy-free dishes to all consumers with total confidence,” added Black.

Interest in veganism has increased seven-fold between 2014 and 2019, according to The Vegan Society, and now gets almost four times more interest than vegetarian and gluten free searches.

Bakeries and baked goods suppliers launched a host of new products to tap the vegan boom this January.

For more on the plant-based food trend, view the British Baker webinar Tapping the Plant-based Bakery Boom, which was sponsored by Upfield.