Heck Foods are a big (UK) name in the sausage arena. Prior to becoming a vegan, I had bought some of their products, but I always considered them a bit of a treat. I saw them as an expensive alternative so only really opted for them when they were on offer. My memory of their meat suasages was very postive – good honest bangers, that tasted great. So here they are, entering as a contender in The Quest. They are a relatively young company but one with a high pedigree and well regarded in the meat-eating space. How will their vegan option fair…?
It’s worth noting that these sausages now only seem to be available as chipolatas in a 10 pack. When reviewed, these were full size sausages in a pack of six.
Tastes like meat?
Erm, kind of. They are surprisingly close in nature to Richmond’s vegan offering. Which is a disappointment. Richmond’s are a bit ‘lower grade’ which was to be expected based on their usual meat version. I had hoped that Heck’s would though deliver something close to their meat sausages too, but these too smooth and a bit mushy. They really are close to the mouthfeel and taste of Richmond’s. I have used them a few times in casseroles or pasta dishes; like Richmond, they work as ingredients where a sauce can do some of the heavy-lifting. Out on their own, they are not great. A bit of a let down. I’m marking them a bit harsher here because I was expecting better things from them.
Easy to cook with?
Yes. Easy to cook with, whether shallow frying for a sandwich, or cooking in a sauce. They hold together well, and cut up okay, which is probably a by-product of there smoother texture.
Value for money?
When I bought these, they were £3 (I can’t remember if this was an offer price or not!). Heck sausages are often at the higher end of the scale so I was surprised that the cost was pretty reasonable. But, as with other heck products, they were in a pack of six. I know this is standard nowadays, but it’s still a frustration. Decent price, but two sausages shy of a proper deck.
FINAL VERDICT
A disappointing showing for a brand that I had high hopes for. Heck actually do a wider range of plant-based sausages, so I may look to give them a second chance with their Beet Goes On or Super Green variations. But, for these ones, it’s a pretty poor show leading to a pretty low score, unfortunately.
UPDATE: Apparently, as of late 2025, Heck have announced they are no longer offering any vegan options. My low-review score would suggest this is not a great loss, but having such a big name in the industry scaling back its foray into the vegan sector is still a disappointment.
