An Oxfordshire-based vegan food delivery company has launched a special Veganuary product, with hopes it will encourage people to try plant-based meals and be more conscious of where their food comes from.

V-Giyan, which has an office in Oxford and production kitchen in Bicester, creates vegan versions of traditional Punjabi food, Indian street food and takeaway classics.

For this year’s Veganuary, the business has created The Veganuary Box which introduces vegan-curious people to plant-based food.

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Veganuary, which has run each January since 2014, is a global month long event challenging people to eat more plant-based food, learn about veganism and where their food comes from.

Oxford Mail: The V-Giyan food company is getting ready for Veganuary. Picture by Ed NixThe V-Giyan food company is getting ready for Veganuary. Picture by Ed Nix

Bal Gill, founder of V-Giyan and who is vegan himself, said: “We are getting more and more interest from people who want to try plant-based Indian food for the first time. It is really is something to help people get through the month who are trying it out.

“What happened last year is a lot of people were contacting us saying ‘look I’m trying to be vegan for Veganuary, is there anything you can recommend?’. We were giving them recommendations but this year thought it is better to give them a box which they can choose.

“The box is a different composition for people who are entry level into veganism or just wanting to try plant-based food. It is made up of dishes of which are versions of your typical Indian restaurant or takeaway dishes – like tikka masala – and some are authentic Indian dishes.

“The idea is so you can taste different things and get a full array.”

Alongside serving vegan options, the business aims to educate people about the ingredients in the food itself, where they are locally sourced in Oxfordshire and the health benefits of the meals.

The company name itself, Mr Gill explained, is a translation of word for ‘wisdom’.

Oxford Mail: The V-Giyan food company is getting ready for Veganuary. Picture by Ed NixThe V-Giyan food company is getting ready for Veganuary. Picture by Ed Nix

Mr Gill adds around 40 to 50 per cent of V-Giyan’s customers are not full-time vegans. Many, instead, have had an “enlightenment” about factory farming and sought the company for meat alternatives.

On factory farming, Mr Gill said: “We do not think it is something which is good for people. I do not want to be Mr Anti-Farmer but certainly factory farming in itself is so mass produced, there is no love in that system and ultimately food speaks volumes if it has been cooked from the heart and the process has been nurtured well.”

V-Giyan has created a discount code for all meals they sell throughout January. Type ‘Veganuary’ at the checkout at www.veganpunjabi.delivery to get 10 per cent off an order.

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