Linda McCartney Foods is bringing a familiar favourite back to school menus with the launch of its new Chicken Style Dippers, a protein-packed addition to its vegan range designed specifically for foodservice. Available now, the new dippers give caterers an easy-to-serve meat-free option that delivers on taste, nutrition and child appeal while supporting schools looking to expand inclusive menu choices.
The move taps into a simple but powerful truth about school food: familiarity matters. New research from Linda McCartney Foods found that four in five parents say it is important that vegetarian school meals are offered in formats children already recognise and enjoy, such as dippers, nuggets and bites. When meat-free options look and feel like the foods children already choose, they are far more likely to make it onto trays rather than back into the waste bin.
The findings also highlight strong potential for plant-based options when they deliver on both flavour and familiarity. According to the research, 69% of parents say their child would be likely to choose vegan “chicken-style” dippers at school when they look and taste similar to traditional chicken dippers.
For school caterers balancing nutrition standards, menu variety and pupil preferences, the new product has been designed to tick multiple boxes. Linda McCartney Foods’ Chicken Style Dippers are exceptionally high in protein, providing 29g per recommended school serving compared with 21g typically found in comparable products. The dippers are also vegan and dairy-free, helping schools cater for a wide range of allergen requirements and dietary intolerances.
They also support schools in meeting Government School Food Standards in England, which require a non-dairy protein option to be available on three or more days each week. By offering a familiar format with strong nutritional credentials, the dippers provide a practical way for caterers to introduce more meat-free meals without compromising on uptake.
Rebecca Fairbairn, Marketing and Strategy Director expalined how the research has shown that children are more likely to choose vegan or vegetarian options when they’re served in familiar formats they already enjoy. “For vegan and vegetarian options to be successful in schools, children need to genuinely enjoy them,” she said. “We’ve created a dipper that kids will actually want to eat, which means better uptake for caterers, less waste, and more children benefiting from nutritious meat-free meals. As the original meat-free pioneer, Linda McCartney Foods remains a brand that caterers and families trust for taste and quality. These dippers give schools confidence that they can offer vegan options children will reach for first.”
The product is available in 8 x 200g foodservice packs and is available nationwide via catering wholesalers. It joins the existing line of frozen products under the Linda McCartney brand, including the recently launched Gluten Free Vegemince.
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