Why Vegetarian Shareable Snacks are Becoming a Fast-Food Menu Essential

Across the UK fast-food sector, operators are increasingly looking for ways to broaden menus while maintaining speed and efficiency in the kitchen. Alongside traditional favourites such as burgers, fried chicken and pizza, shareable snacks and side dishes are playing a growing role in driving customer spend.

        By - Oli Sampson, Managing Director of Central Foods, which now includes the Le Duc brand

Industry analysis suggests that meal deals and bundled offers now account for around 20% of fast-food menu items, highlighting the importance of add-on products in increasing basket spend1.

At the same time, consumer interest in meat-free options continues to rise, with around one-third of UK consumers now identifying as flexitarian, meaning they are actively reducing their meat consumption rather than eliminating it entirely2.

Against this backdrop, European manufacturer Le Duc is bringing its specialist range of vegetarian frozen appetisers to the UK fast-food sector through a partnership with Central Foods.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in the Netherlands, Le Duc is a family-owned company specialising in 100% vegetarian frozen snacks. The business has built its reputation around nature-based appetisers such as onion rings, cheese snacks and coated vegetables, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern production techniques.

The growing role of sharable snacks

Sides and sharable snacks have become increasingly important within fast-food menus, helping operators increase spend per visit while offering customers more variety.

Research suggests the UK fast-food sector is already worth around £40.5 billion, with the wider food-to-go and quick-service market continuing to grow steadily through to 2029 3 4.

Products such as onion rings, cheese bites and breaded vegetables are particularly well-suited to fast-food environments because they complement core menu items such as burgers, fried chicken and wraps.

For operators, these types of products offer a straightforward way to expand menus without introducing additional complexity in the kitchen.

Designed for fast-food kitchens

Le Duc’s range is ideal for professional kitchens where speed, consistency and convenience are essential.

The products are pre-prepared and quick-frozen, helping operators reduce preparation time while maintaining consistent quality during service.

Most items can be cooked directly from frozen using standard fast-food equipment, including deep fryers and high-temperature ovens.

Typical cooking methods include:

Deep frying at 175°C for approximately 1.5–2 minutes, depending on the product

Oven cooking at 225°C for approximately 8–14 minutes, turning halfway through cooking

This flexibility means operators can introduce new menu items without investing in additional equipment or altering existing kitchen workflows.

A versatile vegetarian snack range

The Le Duc range available through Central Foods to the UK foodservice market includes a variety of vegetarian appetisers suitable for sharing platters, bar snacks or side dishes.

Products include:

Reformed battered onion rings

Reformed breaded onion rings

Beer-battered onion rings

Mozzarella sticks

Camembert bites

Cream cheese jalapeños

Chilli cheese nuggets

Mac ’n’ cheese bites

Breaded mushrooms

Garlic breaded mushrooms

Most items are supplied in foodservice pack sizes of 5 × 1kg or 6 × 1kg, giving operators flexibility in portioning and freezer storage.

Many of the products are also vegetarian approved, while selected items are suitable for vegans, helping operators cater to a broader customer base.

Many of the products are designed to sit alongside traditional fast-food menu items such as burgers, fried chicken and wraps, allowing operators to introduce additional sides without changing existing kitchen equipment or service procedures.

Supporting menu innovation

Vegetarian appetisers are becoming increasingly common across fast-food menus as operators respond to demand for flexible dining formats, sharable snacks and meat-free options.

By combining convenient preparation with familiar flavours, Le Duc’s products provide a practical way for operators to diversify menus while maintaining the speed and efficiency required in high-volume environments.

Through Central Foods’ national wholesale distribution network, the Le Duc vegetarian snack range offers operators a convenient route to expanding menus with reliable, easy-to-prepare products.

Beer Battered Onions - 6 x 1Kg

Product code: LD152107

Freshly cut whole onion rings coated in a light batter enriched with beer flavour, delivering a crisp exterior and soft onion centre.

Cooking instructions: Oven or Deep fry

Mozzarella Sticks - 6 x 1Kg

Product code: LD154204

Made with 49% mozzarella cheese, these sticks are coated in seasoned breadcrumbs for a crisp finish and the signature melted cheese stretch when cooked.

Suitable for vegetarians.

Cooking instructions: Oven or Deep fry

Garlic Breaded Mushrooms - Pack size: 5 × 1kg

Product code: LD410803

Whole mushrooms coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and enriched with a subtle garlic flavour.

Cooking instructions: - Oven or Deep fry

Oli Sampson, Managing Director of Central Foods, which now includes the Le Duc brand commented that, “shareable snacks and vegetarian sides are becoming a core part of fast-food menus. With Le Duc joining the Central Foods portfolio, operators can introduce these products quickly and confidently without changing their kitchen operations.

Sides and shareable snacks are one of the simplest ways for fast-food operators to increase basket spend. The Le Duc range gives them high-quality vegetarian options that are quick to prepare and easy to add to existing menus.”

For more information, go to www.centralfoods.co.uk

1. Meaningful Vision – UK Fast-Food Menu Strategy Report (meal deals and bundled offers)

2. Mintel – UK Consumer Dietary Trends Report (flexitarian consumers)

3. Mintel – UK Fast Food Restaurants Market Report (sector value forecast)

4. Lumina Intelligence – UK Food to Go Market Report (2026), including forecasts through to 2029