Vegan entrepreneurs are rushing to fill a demand that is reminiscent of the great California Gold Rush of 1845. These visionaries are taking advantage of a fantastic opportunity in the way people are seeking a food source of the future! The time is now to create opportunities that are endless.

The history of veganism can be traced back over 2,000 years when societies were making a choice in eliminating the consumption of animals as a choice to prevent cruelty to animals and improve their overall health. In 1806, the earliest concepts of veganism started to take shape in Europe through the work of Dr. William Lambe and Percy Bysshe Shelly. The movement continued through the 1800s and 1900s, when the Vegan Society was founded in November 1944. Fast forward to the early 2000s, when new ideas on vegan food started to enter the market as scientific achievement made palatable vegan options possible. Before that, there were few companies offering commercial vegan food products that appealed to the general public.

Now, the market offers a wide variety of vegan food options for those who want to eliminate their consumption of animal products. These intrepid vegan entrepreneurs are blazing the trails and knocking down doors in the vegan food market. If you are in the food industry or restaurant market, it is clearly understood that offering vegan options in product lines or on restaurant menus is crucial to success in today’s marketplace. Let’s look at some options where vegan entrepreneurs are making their mark!

Let’s Go Shopping

If you shop for groceries in today’s marketplace, you will find ever-expanding vegan options in just about every section on the grocer’s shelves. The most prevalent presence of vegan entrepreneurs and their new options started in the meat and dairy departments. Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are two of the most high-profile options available as meat alternatives. As their popularity has risen in the marketplace, you are seeing countless other vegan entrepreneurs offering competitive options to these vegan giants.

The second most impactful option in the grocery store is the vegan dairy options being offered. These options range from nut milks and cheeses to butter and egg products, all of which are claiming their rightful place on the store shelves. Vegan entrepreneurs are also offering their vegan options in numerous products from sauces, dressings, cereals, bread, and canned goods.

Reservations at 8

Vegan entrepreneurs are also making their marks in the restaurant industry. From fast-food dining options to high-end dining, vegan food options are claiming their part on menus in almost every restaurant across the country. These changes are impacting national chains such as traditional fast-food chains and well-established traditional dining experiences.

Small chains and single restaurants focused exclusively on vegan offerings are truly making their presence known, and they put competitive pressure on the national chains to gain the business of the growing public desire to avoid consumption of animal products. Vegan entrepreneurs and chefs in these small chains and single restaurants are creating and innovating in ways we could have never imagined. Their presence is expanding into regions that have never been considered “vegan-friendly” for food options, and they are making an impact.

How Do I Get in on the Gold?

Vegan entrepreneurs understand that veganism is not a fad that will quietly slip away in a few years. The vegan food experience is here to stay! Well established and powerful providers of animal products are declaring bankruptcy, closing their operations, or changing their production to vegan operations. Now is the time to get into this modern-day gold rush and compete in the market.

To get into the market, you need to understand that it is not a bit different than if you were going to start up any other business. There is no hidden secret to being a vegan entrepreneur.

• Like any other situation, you need to learn everything you can about the product or offering you want to champion. Know it inside and out. Educate yourself and be an expert in your product or service.
• Know your market! Understand who your customer base is and how your product or service and make a difference.
• Create a product that is of the highest quality and provide exceptional customer service. Be authentic.

Vegan entrepreneurs are really no different than any other entrepreneur out there. Just like any other entrepreneur, we strongly recommend that you partner with a marketing agency that can help guide you through the experience to develop the right branding voice that potential customers will resonate with.

Interested in learning more about our vegan marketing services for your business? Give us a call at 818.488.1543 or email us at hello@edkcreative.com.