Inspiration for Veganuary in London
If you're kicking off the New Year by attempting Veganuary, we have some amazing small businesses to recommend - from cool takeaway places offering meat-free alternatives to beautiful cafes. So whether you're going the whole hog (excuse the pun) or keen to reduce your meat consumption, please scroll down for inspiration.
According to the Guardian, 125,000 people in the UK pledged to eat a vegan diet in January last year - though the numbers of people actually doing it are thought to be much higher. Beyond the obvious animal welfare arguments, there are apparent health benefits of going vegan (some studies claim it reduces the risk of developing certain cancers and type 2 diabetes and reduces the pain of arthritis).
There's also a strong environmental argument for drastically reducing meat and dairy consumption. Animal agriculture accounts for around 18 per cent of greenhouse gases and meat consumption is thought to be one of the leading causes of modern species extinction. Animal agriculture accounts for most of the destruction of the rainforest. Large scale fishing is also having a devastating impact - according to Peta (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation) - for every kilogram of fish sold, another five kilograms of marine life is discarded as by-catch.
Here, without further ado, are some brilliant local companies offering meat-free alternatives!
Dad Plant based meals delivered by bicycle for £4.85.
Delicious, healthy, plant based meals delivered ready to heat in a few minutes. 100% home compostable packaging. We've tried these and they are very good indeed! No subscription required.
Delivering to Hackney, Islington, Camden, City of Westminster, the City of London, E1, E1W & E2
Local Buyers Club members save 30% on all orders for their first two weeks. Join the Club here.
99.9% of the products in this store are vegan! They have an impressive array of specialist vegan products, including cheeses, seitan chorizo, tofu, chocolate, sweets, mayo, butter and much more.
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off in store (Hackney Downs) or online. Join the Club here.
This gorgeous family-run café in Dalston serves delicious plant-based and vegetarian food, guided by the seasons and locally and responsibly sourced. They offer a wonderful selection of natural wines to enjoy in house or at home, home ferments and craft brews. The atmosphere is welcoming and super friendly!
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off food and drink (excludes retail). Join the Club here.
DabbaDrop: Vegan, planet-minded takeaway
DabbaDrop delivers delicious, vegan curries by bicycle to your door in reusable ‘dabba’ tins so there’s no waste. Set up by Hackney friends Renee and Anshu, this gorgeous local company serves bold, bright, wholesome food that’s packed with flavour.
First curry free for Local Buyers Club members when they subscribe. Join the Club here.
Greener Habits (Refill store, E17)
This zero waste and vegan shop chooses planet, people and animals over profit. They offer a huge range of package-free food products such as pasta, rice, beans, lentils, herbs and spices. They also have oils, vinegar, oat milk, peanut butter as well as self-care and cleaning products on tap. Local Buyers Club members save 10% in store and online. Join the Club here.
Sensab is a gender neutral skincare business, handmade in small batches in London.
Their products, which include a natural deoderant, are free from skin-aging toxins and carcinogens. They guarantee organic, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. This means no synthetics colours or dyes, preservatives, parabens, aluminium or artificial fragrance.They are gm-free, toxic-free and earth-friendly.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%. Join the Club here.
Urban farm shop selling the best seasonal, sustainable and locally-sourced food. Their fruit and vegetables are grown organically as close to London as possible and they have a brilliant range of vegan options, including Shamembert (a camembert alternative infused with truffle oil).
Delivery within a 3 mile radius of their Crouch End shop. (Which covers much of Hackney, Islington, Camden and Haringey).
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off all online orders. Join the Club here.
Brought by you by the wonderful Andi Oliver and Kelly Miles, Wadadli Kitchen is offering a Veganuary Feasting Box.
Order by January 25th for delivery on Friday January 28th.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%. Join the Club here.
This beautiful bakery serves stunning cakes and has a brilliant vegan selection! They're based in Muswell Hill but deliver London-wide.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%. Join the Club here.
Circla - refillable beauty direct to your doorstep (vegan)
Circla is the milkman reimagined for beauty. They deliver a carefully selected collection of beauty and personal care products, consciously chosen to be as kind to the planet as they are to your body. Leave your refills to them and never run out of your favourite - making ‘convenient’ the new ‘responsible’. Delivery by bicycle to W and SW postcodes.
Local Buyers Club members save 15%. Join the Club here.
This gorgeous clothing shop on Broadway Market stocks carefully curated womenswear, menswear and homewares which have all been produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Many of their products are suitable for vegans. They have a brilliant website so you can order from them wherever you are!
Local Buyers Club members save 10%. Join the Club here.
The Hogless Roast, Whitepost Lane, E9
This hogless roast is game-changing! They've taken the best plant based protein out there, infused it with smoky BBQ flavours, lathered it in apple sauce, topped it with stuffing and packed it into a toasted rustic roll. Then thrown in some naughty Vegan Crackling for good measure.
Local Buyers Club members save 15%. Join the Club here.
This Eastern Mediterranean café on Broadway Market has a lovely vibe and serves exceptionally good vegetarian and vegan mezze, home-cooked cakes and pastries. They have a great drinks menu offering natural wines and craft beers as well as artisanal coffee and loose-leaf tea.
Local Buyers Club members save 10%. Join the Club here.
This subscription veg scheme brings you fresh, organic, seasonal veg and fruit every week and brings real, positive change at the same time. Just select the size of bag of veg or fruit you would like to buy, then collect it from one of their distribution points across Hackney. Local Buyers Club members get a free veg bag when they subscribe. Join the Club here.
This Walthamstow curry house serves fresh spins on curry house classics, which happen to be vegan. Their tiffin club swaps out boxes for re-usable metal tiffins, saving on waste and the carbon footprint that comes with single-use packaging.
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off deliveries and takeaways. Join the Club here.
Whether you're after a one-off fruit and veg box or a regular delivery, this eco-minded company sources from surplus, (preventing fruit and veg overbought by the wholesale market from going to waste). It's plastic-free and every time you buy a StreetBox, they give another box to a charitable organisation helping to fight food poverty and educating people on better nutrition in London and beyond.
Local Buyers Club members save 10% off a one-off purchase or 15% off subscriptions. Join the Club here.
Lele's, Clapton
This wonderful vegan cafe serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch in a cosy light-filled space. Their healthy dishes are full of tasty and mainly locally-sourced ingredients and there's a daily-changing menu of salads, soups, sandwiches and cakes. Gluten-free options are available. They also have a brilliant range of vegan cake mixes. Local Buyers Club members save 10% off food and hot drinks Monday to Friday. Join the Club here.
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