If you are self-catering as a visitor or settling in as an expat, Swedish supermarkets make plant-based shopping straightforward. Clear labelling and a strong range of oat-based products mean you can fill a basket with vegan food without much hunting.
What makes shopping easy here
Sweden is widely considered one of the more vegan-friendly countries in Europe, and the supermarket aisles reflect that. Plant-based products are mainstream rather than tucked away in a tiny corner, and packaging is usually marked clearly. Look for vegansk (vegan) or växtbaserad (plant-based) on the front of a product, and you will quickly learn to spot the items you want.
Oat-based products are especially common. Oat drink (havredryck) sits right beside cow’s milk in the chilled section, and oat-based creams, yoghurt-style products and cooking alternatives are easy to find. This makes it simple to cook creamy Swedish dishes at home without dairy.
Aisle by aisle
| Section | What to look for | Swedish label |
|---|---|---|
| Chilled drinks | Oat drink and other plant milks | havredryck |
| Dairy alternatives | Plant-based creams, yoghurts, spreads | växtbaserad |
| Chilled and frozen | Plant-based meatballs and mince | vegansk |
| Bakery | Buns and bread, some marked vegan | utan mjölk, utan ägg |
| Produce | Fruit, vegetables, berries, potatoes | naturally plant-based |
Plant-based versions of Swedish staples
The same comfort foods you find in restaurants are available to cook at home. Plant-based köttbullar (meatballs), often made from mushrooms, lentils or soy, are a fridge and freezer staple, and they pair naturally with potatoes and lingonberry. Oat-based cream lets you make the classic creamy sauce without dairy. For the full picture of these dishes, see our guide to veganized Swedish classics.
For baking your own fika, the building blocks are easy to source. Oat drink replaces milk, and many bakery buns are now made without dairy or eggs. Our vegan fika guide covers the pastries worth recreating, from kanelbulle to seasonal favourites.
Reading labels with confidence
Swedish food labelling is consistent, which is a real help when you do not read the language fluently. Beyond the front-of-pack words, you can scan the ingredient list for the terms that matter. If a product is marked utan mjölk (without milk) or utan ägg (without egg), that tells you what you need quickly. Our Swedish vegan glossary gathers all the key terms in one place.
The fastest way to shop is to learn the look of two words on packaging, vegansk and växtbaserad. Once your eye catches them, the whole supermarket opens up.
Eating in and eating out
Self-catering is a great way to keep costs down and eat exactly how you like, but it pairs well with eating out too. When you want a meal made for you, the worldwide directory HappyCow helps you find vegan-friendly places nearby. And if you end up at a classic restaurant with a meat-heavy menu, our guide to eating plant-based at traditional Swedish restaurants shows you how to order well.
Stocking a basic vegan pantry
If you are staying for a while, a small core of staples makes everyday cooking easy. Most of these are simple to find in any Swedish supermarket, and many are naturally plant-based with no special labelling needed.
| Staple | Why it earns a place |
|---|---|
| Oat drink | For coffee, baking, sauces and breakfast |
| Potatoes and root vegetables | The base of countless Swedish dishes |
| Lentils and beans | Protein for stews, soups and home-made meatballs |
| Lingonberry jam | The classic partner for savoury plates |
| Crispbread | A long-lasting Swedish staple for quick meals |
| Frozen berries | For porridge, baking and desserts |
Markets and smaller shops
Beyond the big supermarkets, outdoor markets and smaller grocers are worth a look for fresh produce and local specialities. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are often excellent, and the experience is a pleasant change from the aisles. As always, the words vegansk and växtbaserad are your guide when something is packaged.
For city-by-city advice, see vegan Stockholm and vegan Gothenburg, or return to the Dinner.se home page.