Fans queue to get their hands on Greggs’ highly-anticipated vegan steak bake

Following the success of its meatless sausage roll, Greggs has launched a vegan steak bake.

Hoards of people were pictured queuing to get their hands on the product at a launch event last night in Newcastle.

The UK’s largest bakery chain is now selling the much-anticipated product for £1.55 to takeaway, or £1.85 to eat in.

It will be available in 1,300 stores from today and will hit its remaining 700 shops on 16 January.

A plant-based twist on its famous beef-filled steak bake, the new addition is made with a Quorn filling, along with diced onions and a meat-free gravy.

However it still features the same “96 layers of light and crisp puff pastry” that can be found on its original, according to its website.

But, without the usual egg glaze.

Roger Whiteside, Greggs’ chief executive, said: “Our vegan sausage roll launch was a huge success and we’ve been working tirelessly to expand our vegan-friendly offering and provide more delicious savoury food on-the-go options for people looking to reduce their meat intake.”

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For those on a new year health kick, the brand have also kept the calories of its new offering to below 400, with one serving containing 380 - slightly lower than the normal steak bake’s 408.

Announcing the launch on Twitter with a video, the brand wrote: “The time has come.”

READ MORE: Greggs creates first 'diet' doughnut - by adding a hole to the centre

Reacting to the post - which has already received 1,000 ‘likes’ - one person wrote: “Sausage roll for starter, steak bake for main. What more could you want?”

Another commented: “Definitely want one of these!.”

A third shared: “I now never need to eat meat again.”

And a fourth added: “YASSS - next on the list please do a vegan sausage bean and cheese!!”

However Piers Morgan was not a fan of the way the product had been named, noting: “A ‘meatless’ steak is not a bloody steak.”

READ MORE: Vegan sausage rolls help turbo boost Greggs' sales

When the chain launched their vegan sausage roll in January 2019, it caused sales to soar by 13.4 per cent, reported The Guardian.

It comes as hundreds of thousands of people are expected to go vegan this month for ‘Veganuary’.

Last year, according to The Independent, an estimated 800,000 people took part - going without any animal products, including meat and dairy.

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It comes as Greggs was mocked for selling a “diet” doughnut.

The bakery chain is selling a ‘glazed ring doughnut’ in addition to its classic ‘jam doughnut’.

While the former contains approximately 191 calories, the latter has 245 calories, according to their website.

It appears the introduction of a hole - and lack of filling - has culled more than 50 calories from the sweet favourite.