Harthill-based Lazy Day Foods has earned another accolade as its Mini Vic the Vegan Caterpillar Cake received a one-star Great Taste Award. The award scheme, recognised as the world’s largest food and drink accreditation, judges products blind, with over 800 experts evaluating flavour. Only about 41% of entries received any recognition this year.
Allergen-Friendly Classic
Inspired by Britain’s iconic caterpillar cake, Mini Vic offers an allergen-friendly version. Hand-baked in a dedicated gluten-free, milk-free, egg-free vegan bakery in Scotland, the cakes feature a soft chocolate sponge with Belgian dark chocolate, chocolate-flavoured frosting, multi-coloured sugar decorations, and a milk-free white chocolate face.
Judges praised it as a product that “looks and tastes like the thing we all know and love,” highlighting its balanced flavours and rich chocolate taste.
Two Decades of Free-From Innovation
The award reflects Lazy Day’s two-decade mission to challenge perceptions of free-from food. Mini Vic is one of its most popular products, developed so people with dietary restrictions can enjoy celebration treats.
Dr Sally Beattie, co-founder, said: “At Lazy Day, we’ve always believed that free-from products should be every bit as delicious as their traditional counterparts. Receiving a Great Taste Award for one of our most popular products is a fantastic endorsement of that philosophy, and we’re incredibly proud that the judges recognised the quality and flavour we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
Fellow co-founder Emer Bustard added: “Mini Vic has become one of our most-loved products because it brings a familiar favourite to people who may otherwise have had to miss out. We know how much joy simple treats can bring, whether they’re popped into a lunchbox, enjoyed with a cup of tea or shared with family and friends. Receiving this recognition from the Great Taste Awards is incredibly special because it celebrates exactly what we’ve always hoped to achieve: delicious free-from products that everyone can enjoy.”
