Vegan Hospitality Consulting
The UK’s restaurant scene is becoming increasingly vegan-friendly … don’t get left behind!
Demand for vegan food was up 54% in UK quick-service restaurants for 2024, as 27% of the UK population is expected to be meat-free by 2026.
What do consumers want and where is the restaurant industry heading in 2025? Three themes stand out:
Sustainability is an expectation in 2025, not an option. The growing concern around the environmental impact of meat-consumption has led to a major shift in consumer attitudes amongst the UK’s younger generations in particular, with 50% of Gen Z planning to eat meat-free, and 15% choosing a fully vegan diet in 2025. A back-to-basics movement is also becoming popular, with menus that utilise local, seasonal ingredients, and zero-waste practices, seen as preferable. (2, 3)
Health is a key priority with 1 in 3 citing potential health benefits as reasons they have chosen to reduce their meat consumption. Demand for plant-based menu items has increased, with lower-calorie, gluten-free and refined sugar-free options also trending in an industry where customers expect both flavour and health benefits in the same dish. (4)
Financial budgets are increasingly tight for both food businesses and customers, so cutting down on ingredient costs whilst still offering value-for money is essential. Choosing to utilise more versatile whole food, plant-based ingredients across your entire menu can be a cost-effective strategy. Interestingly, multiple recent surveys indicate that consumers are willing to pay a significant price premium for healthier, specialty cuisines. (3, 5, 6)
Incorporating high quality, plant-forward vegan options into your menus can cover all bases here, and positions you in within a market that is expected to continue growing each year by 10.6% (7). If you would like to stay ahead of this curve and future-proof your business to one that caters to the increasingly conscious consumer, then its worth considering hiring the expertise of a Vegan Hospitality Consultant.
If you aren’t receiving many vegan requests at all, you may be wondering if this even applies to your business …. but it is important to understand the Veto Vote concept.
“But what if we are not receiving many vegan requests?”
THE VETO VOTE
THE VETO VOTE
Did you know that one vegan diner can influence where their entire group chooses to eat?
It is often the case that the vegan in the group vetoes any suggested restaurants that don’t offer compelling options on their menu. Your standard vegan burger or vegetable curry won’t cut it any more in 2025, as vegan diners expect more originality. By choosing to ignore this social dynamic, your business could be missing out on a significant revenue stream.
Consider that one vegan meal of £15 can translate into a table of friends, family or colleagues spending over £100 on their bill. It’s a smart business move that is shown to increase income.
My Services
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A FREE 30-minute consultation designed for decision makers (owners, managers, head chef) to discuss any barriers or challenges in catering to customers with special dietary requests, and to identify where my services could help you to achieve your vision and goals.
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A thorough analysis of your current menu, kitchen set-up and processes from the perspective of a customer with specific dietary requests. Let’s work together to identify quick-win solutions and create a road map for your plant-forward future.
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An opportunity to move beyond the usual, uninspiring vegan fare and add bespoke menu items to suit your restaurant’s brand and situation. Provision of recipe guidance in adapting existing dishes to become vegan-friendly, and recipe creation for a range of potential new additions.
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Guidance on sourcing vegan ingredients and specialty items in line with your current operational procedures. Includes an educational supermarket tour to develop understanding of vegan consumer challenges, and opportunities for chef creativity.
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Hands-on sessions designed to train kitchen staff in preparing your new vegan menu items. We will collaboratively review the recipes and kitchen processes to ensure chefs are confident and excited about their implementation.
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Provision of clear and accurate menu descriptions and allergen labels that will enhance customer confidence and satisfaction in your restaurant. This is provided for all menus, including wine + drinks menus.
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On-site service training for your front-of-house staff to ensure they are fully prepared and well-informed on changes to the menu and how to best meet the expectations of their vegan customers.
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Strategize and execute a successful launch for your new vegan menu items, including social media marketing and promotional support.
Why Choose Degrees C?
Professionally trained in vegan hospitality consulting from the only certified course worldwide. My services follow a framework that has been proven to offer high impact results.
Industry expertise as a plant-based chef that has created over 500 bespoke recipes. Allow me to customise a flavour packed menu to meet the specific needs of your business.
Qualified teacher with a strong insight into sustainability. Allow me to train your staff confidently and help your businesses meet their sustainability commitments.
Apply for a FREE 30-minute strategy consultation today!
Discover how you can confidently accommodate the increasing number of guests with special dietary requests, receive more positive customer feedback, and position your business as a leader in the fast-growing UK vegan market.
We’ll cover three important topics:
You’ll discover what’s standing in your way of creating attractive experiences for vegan guests
You’ll create an action step plan to help you start moving forward quickly and easily
You’ll identify the NUMBER ONE thing you need to do right away to get you into action
Ready to chat one-on-one to see how your business can learn the sustainable, successful systems needed to enter the fastest-growing culinary trend of our time?
For more information, fill out the form or contact me at:
chris@degrees-c.co.uk