Plant-based restaurants like Tofu Vegan in Islington hope to encourage Londoners to ditch meat from their diets.
SHARE:
After a decline in ‘Veganuary’ participation and high-profile restaurant closures, City News asks if the capital is turning away from plant-based diets.
However, a declining interest in ‘Veganuary’ has led some to argue meat-free diets are going out of fashion in the city. An estimated 5% of the adult British population took part in the campaign in 2019. That figure has declined since and internet engagement in the trend has nearly halved.
The cost of living crisis may also be contributing to Britain’s disillusionment with plant-based diets. This is particularly true for Londoners already facing higher average grocery prices than the rest of the country. Brian from advocacy group Vegan London, said that, “better quality and healthier vegan options in supermarkets” are crucial to encourage people to ditch meat and dairy. But with fruit and veg prices predicted to rise again when new post-Brexit controls come in, could London’s vegan hubs be under threat?
London has 161 vegan restaurants and over 350 plant-based cafes and shops.
Chain closures spark concern
Concerns about London’s plant-based future came to the fore this week, when high street chain Pret announced they’d be closing their last 2 vegetarian shops in the capital. 10 veggie versions of the popular outlet were launched in 2016, but have either closed down or introduced meat back on the menu. The last plant-based Pret stores are in Soho and Shoreditch. Both will close their doors at the end of next week.
In a press statement, Pret have said “every Pret shop is a Veggie Pret shop, with new vegetarian and vegan-friendly products coming onto our menu all the time”. But Vegan London told City News they are “disappointed” with the announcement by Pret, raising concerns that “their vegan range in other stores is very limited.”
The café chain’s announcement follows news last year that vegan restaurant chain Neat Burger was forced to close 4 of it’s London locations by the end of 2023 after facing losses of £7.9 million. Big vegan chains might be struggling in the capital, but is the same true of independent businesses serving meat-free meals to their local community?
Vegan London’s deep roots
Tofu Vegan are an independent restaurant offering plant-based Chinese cuisine at 3 sites across London. Speaking to City News, Islington manager Wei Ge said that ‘Veganuary’ hadn’t been reflected in an increase in sales this year.
However, he said that all 3 of the restaurants he co-manages have enjoyed high footfall since opening their first site near Angel station in 2021. The success found at their first store has prompted them to open 2 more restaurants in Spitalfields and Golders Green, both of which he assures are “doing really well.” Although they exclusively serve vegan Chinese food, Mr Ge says his customers come from a variety of backgrounds and generations, and aren’t strictly vegan themselves.
Mr Wei Ge co-manages Tofu Vegan’s three restaurants in North London.
Looking to the future, Mr Ge thinks there’s still an indispensable place for businesses serving exclusively vegan food. “It’s important for environmental reasons”, he says, pointing to the back of his branded shirt emblazoned with the phrase ‘Every Step Saves the Planet’. Specifically, he would like to see more independent Asian restaurants serving veggie food to the community, explaining that plant-based cooking is “part of Chinese culture”.
London’s plant-based future
When asked if they’d noticed a declining popularity of vegan lifestyles in the capital, Vegan London said they “haven’t noticed much change” in recent years. For Brian, vegan lifestyle is more complex that statistics, explaining that “veganism has become more mainstream so maybe vegans don’t feel a need to be part of a vegan community as they would have done many years ago.” He says the social events and internet groups he runs through Vegan London continue to attract lots of engagement.
Equally, declining footfall in vegan chain restaurants might not mean people are turning their backs on plant-based eating altogether. Despite London seeing a 22% decrease in vegan businesses since 2022, it still has remained the world’s “most vegan friendly city” for 4 years in a row. While vegan restaurants are not immune to economic pressures and have seen their numbers dwindle, community activists and small business owners are optimistic that Londoners can enjoy a plant-based future.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineAre restaurant closures and high prices upending London’s vegan culture?
Short HeadlineIs London rethinking veganism?
StandfirstChain stores are facing low footfall, but small businesses say Londoners are still interested in vegan cuisine.
After a decline in ‘Veganuary’ participation and high-profile restaurant closures, City News asks if the capital is turning away from plant-based diets.
However, a declining interest in ‘Veganuary’ has led some to argue meat-free diets are going out of fashion in the city. An estimated 5% of the adult British population took part in the campaign in 2019. That figure has declined since and internet engagement in the trend has nearly halved.
The cost of living crisis may also be contributing to Britain’s disillusionment with plant-based diets. This is particularly true for Londoners already facing higher average grocery prices than the rest of the country. Brian from advocacy group Vegan London, said that, “better quality and healthier vegan options in supermarkets” are crucial to encourage people to ditch meat and dairy. But with fruit and veg prices predicted to rise again when new post-Brexit controls come in, could London’s vegan hubs be under threat?
London has 161 vegan restaurants and over 350 plant-based cafes and shops.
Chain closures spark concern
Concerns about London’s plant-based future came to the fore this week, when high street chain Pret announced they’d be closing their last 2 vegetarian shops in the capital. 10 veggie versions of the popular outlet were launched in 2016, but have either closed down or introduced meat back on the menu. The last plant-based Pret stores are in Soho and Shoreditch. Both will close their doors at the end of next week.
In a press statement, Pret have said “every Pret shop is a Veggie Pret shop, with new vegetarian and vegan-friendly products coming onto our menu all the time”. But Vegan London told City News they are “disappointed” with the announcement by Pret, raising concerns that “their vegan range in other stores is very limited.”
The café chain’s announcement follows news last year that vegan restaurant chain Neat Burger was forced to close 4 of it’s London locations by the end of 2023 after facing losses of £7.9 million. Big vegan chains might be struggling in the capital, but is the same true of independent businesses serving meat-free meals to their local community?
Vegan London’s deep roots
Tofu Vegan are an independent restaurant offering plant-based Chinese cuisine at 3 sites across London. Speaking to City News, Islington manager Wei Ge said that ‘Veganuary’ hadn’t been reflected in an increase in sales this year.
However, he said that all 3 of the restaurants he co-manages have enjoyed high footfall since opening their first site near Angel station in 2021. The success found at their first store has prompted them to open 2 more restaurants in Spitalfields and Golders Green, both of which he assures are “doing really well.” Although they exclusively serve vegan Chinese food, Mr Ge says his customers come from a variety of backgrounds and generations, and aren’t strictly vegan themselves.
Mr Wei Ge co-manages Tofu Vegan’s three restaurants in North London.
Looking to the future, Mr Ge thinks there’s still an indispensable place for businesses serving exclusively vegan food. “It’s important for environmental reasons”, he says, pointing to the back of his branded shirt emblazoned with the phrase ‘Every Step Saves the Planet’. Specifically, he would like to see more independent Asian restaurants serving veggie food to the community, explaining that plant-based cooking is “part of Chinese culture”.
London’s plant-based future
When asked if they’d noticed a declining popularity of vegan lifestyles in the capital, Vegan London said they “haven’t noticed much change” in recent years. For Brian, vegan lifestyle is more complex that statistics, explaining that “veganism has become more mainstream so maybe vegans don’t feel a need to be part of a vegan community as they would have done many years ago.” He says the social events and internet groups he runs through Vegan London continue to attract lots of engagement.
Equally, declining footfall in vegan chain restaurants might not mean people are turning their backs on plant-based eating altogether. Despite London seeing a 22% decrease in vegan businesses since 2022, it still has remained the world’s “most vegan friendly city” for 4 years in a row. While vegan restaurants are not immune to economic pressures and have seen their numbers dwindle, community activists and small business owners are optimistic that Londoners can enjoy a plant-based future.