The founder of Delicious Foods Australia has created two new convenience ranges, Dahlicious and Veglicious, which provide consumers with protein-packed three-minute vegan meals.
Spotting a gap in the meat-free convenience market, Nicole Mahler created the vegan “ready meals” which are already being lauded by retailers and customers across the nation.
The Dahlicious range is made from vegetables and lentils and seasoned with traditional Indian spices, while Veglicious offers the “rustic goodness” of French farmhouse-inspired vegetable dishes. Mahler wanted to create vegan food that would be popular among consumers favouring traditional flavours, she told Food & Drink Business.
Packaged in heat and serve pouches, the ranges are also highly convenient.
The intention to create quick-and-easy vegan food came about when Mahler was preparing pre-made dishes for her daughter – a busy vegan nurse – to take to work with her. “Having a busy lifestyle shouldn’t mean sacrificing healthy,” Mahler said. “I want to make choosing healthy and delicious to be easy.”
She became determined to ensure healthy and convenient plant-based meals hit the broader market.
Following the brand’s success in the Queensland market, Mahler expanded distribution in NSW, ACT, and Victoria, with her products now sold in Harris Farm Markets and independent retailers Ritchies IGA and SupaBarn stores. The company has even signed up two new distributors, Two Providores in NSW and ACT, and Gluten Free 4 All in Victoria. The meals are also available for home delivery.
Now, Mahler says plans to develop even more convenience plant-based products.
She is also due to speak at the “Food & Drink Business LIVE” breakfast forum in Melbourne later this year, which will focus on how convenience shopping is influencing new product development.
Mahler also has plans to expand overseas. “I have my sights set on international markets for my beautiful brands and to release new products into the Australian market,” she says.
The ranges come in six different meal options, all of which are high in fibre, free of additional preservatives, and low in salt and sugar. Flavours include Coconut Veg Dalh, Ratatouille, and Mushroom & Tyme Ragout. They are completely palm-oil free and gluten-free, and each has also been awarded a five-star health rating.
Image credit: Delicious Foods
