All-vegan grocery store and café Vegan Fine Foods in Fort Lauderdale, FL recently announced plans to expand after bringing in $1.2 million in revenue since its launch in March 2018. The store—which stocks more than 4,000 plant-based products—has served more than 35,000 customers, 75 percent of whom are not vegan. Given its success, founder Steven Smith has ambitious plans to expand the brand through franchising, along with the launch of an online store and its own line of private-label food, health, and beauty products, starting with Vegan Fine Wines which launched in December 2018. The former PepsiCo and Proctor Gamble executive and longtime vegan is aiming to create an all-vegan equivalent of Whole Foods Market. To make his goal a reality, Smith launched an equity crowdfunder on WeFunder to raise additional capital for the expansion and has so far raised close to $20,000 of his $1,070,000 goal. “We anticipate that our investors will realize a significant return on their investment,” Smith said. “We expect that they’ll begin receiving dividends within two to three years. The other benefit is that they’ll be investing in a company that will do more than its share to make the world a better place by supporting and increasing access to vegan foods and accessories to customers everywhere.” Starting in August, Smith plans to offer three franchising options: the entire Vegan Fine Foods market, Vegan Fine Café, and Vegan Fine Body (health and beauty products).

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