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It’s World Vegan Month and, if you haven’t noticed, veganism is on the rise – so much that even Greggs is crediting its meat-free sausage roll for fuelling an 11 per cent hike in sales.

The Vegan Society is estimating there are currently 600,000 vegans in the UK; a four-fold increase on the 150,000 it counted just five years ago.

And there are many, many vegans in Plymouth. So many, in fact, that vegan businesses, a rarity a few years back, are now springing up all the time.

Every year November is tagged World Vegan Month, a celebration of non-meat and non-dairy lifestyles world wide, with November 1 designated as World Vegan Day.

So, to mark this, here is a rundown of some of the vegan businesses that are proving Plymouth is a plant-based city.

Samphire Brasserie - vegan ground-breaker

The Plymouth vegan restaurant was named as one of the top 10 in the UK in 2018 – and was one of the first vegan businesses in the city.

Samphire Brasserie, which opened in 2013 on Mayflower Street, has been reviewed by customers on TripAdvisor as one of the best vegan eateries in the country.

Founders Becca Speare and her partner Joe Wadge became vegan together after both having been vegetarians.

They said the idea for the cruelty-free restaurant stemmed from their struggle to find somewhere to eat out that did not include fish in the restaurant’s ingredients.

The couple began their venture with the help of Outset Plymouth Start Up and a loan of £20,000. The eatery began as both a vegetarian and vegan establishment but soon ditched the dairy,

Power Plant Cafe - from a shop to a cafe

(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)

Plymouth city centre’s premier vegan store reopened in September 2019 in larger premises with a new look and a new name – and as a cafe too.

The family team behind the Ethica store, which broke new ground over a five year spell, expanded and launched Power Plant Cafe, having shifted from Armada Way just around the corner into Cornwall Street.

Elaine Edwards, her son Mike Genner and his partner Amelia Greenwood invested £55,000 into the new venture, and have added a cafe with a new food offering coming soon too.

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Academy of Beauty Nutrition - vegan author's anti-ageing solution

Vegan author Star Khechara launched the Academy of Beauty Nutrition in late 2017 to train health coaches, nutritionists and skincare experts in the science of radical plant- based anti-ageing nutrition.



With more than 140 students in eight countries the academy is helping professionals on the frontline of holistic health to harness the power of plant nutrition to give their clients younger, healthier and more vibrant skin, hair and nails.



As well as training the next generation of health coaches, Ms Khechara is also working on her next book The Facelift Diet.







No Whey! - taking vegan food to the Mex

No Whey! started life at Plymouth Market in August 2018, stealing the hearts and tastebuds of hungry diners with their yummy vegan treats.

Just five months later, the business moved when owners Fiona Graham and Joseph Pilkington took the business to Union Street’s former The Clipper pub, now a community business hub.

It produces wholesome street foods, not just Mexican styled, totally plant-based and totally delicious. With ingredients including BBQ pulled jackfruit, tamari mushrooms, chipotle refried beans, homemade spicy sauces and all sorts of raw and crunchy veg.

Ms Graham said: "We make familiar foods with plant-based ingredients to encourage people to make healthier choices for themselves and the planet. We are tackling food poverty in Stonehouse as a CIC and will be bringing community food projects to the area."

Cosmic Kitchen - vegan twins' unique venture

(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)

Sisters Gabriela and Lucia Evangelou may be identical twins but they have started a business like no other – a vegan restaurant in a building that was once used to store dead bodies.

Gabriela and Lucia run the Cosmic Kitchen pop-up every Monday at the Old Morgue, the tucked-away bar, in a building once used as a wartime mortuary, just off bustling Union Street.

The twins, both experienced chefs as well as vegans, serve delicious wraps, salads and hot dishes from noon to 9pm at the first-floor venue, in Manor Street, just opposite the Palace Theatre.

On the menu are jackfruit or Caribbean curry wraps, “Scotch eggs” made from tofu and potato, hot dishes of the day such as lasagne, moussaka or spinach parcels, or patrons can partake from an all-you-can-eat style salad bar, with coleslaw, hummus and potato salad. There are sweet treats, chocolate truffles and peanut butter cups, too.





Rickard Lane’s - 144-year-old health food survivor

(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)

A London-based businessman bought Plymouth’s Rickard Lane’s health food store in 2019, saving it from closure.

Raj Jain runs Health Mantra, in Ilford, but splashed out on the Plymouth business because he wanted to move to the South West.

The store, which specialises in health food and herbal remedies alongside vegan food products, is 144-years old. Mr Jain, a vegetarian and married to a vegan, wants to bring in practitioners to do therapies such as reflexology, hypnotherapy, homeopathy and ayurvedic massage.

Love Vegan App - tech advice on how to make the leap

Love Vegan App was created by Plymouth business woman Jo Lines, who became vegan in 2018 and has since been on a mission to raise awareness and give other people the education, community and support to follow a plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle.

For World Vegan Day the Love Vegan App put together a 30-day plan full of vegan content: videos, recipes , facts, blogs and podcasts to give anyone thinking of giving veganism a try a great way to learn more about the lifestyle in a “fun and easy way”.





Vegan and vegetarian - what's the difference? Vegans eat no animal products, while vegetarians don’t eat animals but may eat products that come from animals such as milk and eggs). People choose these diets because of health concerns, religious restrictions or moral concerns about harming animals or wanting to protect the environment. Although all vegans tend to follow the same set of clear cut guidelines – eating nothing that comes from an animal – there are a some different vegetarian diets, such as: Lacto-ovo (or ovo-lacto) - from the Latin words for milk and egg, and the most common type of vegetarians who eat dairy products and eggs but avoid meat, poultry and seafood. Lacto - vegetarians who eat dairy products but no eggs, meat, poultry or seafood. Ovo - vegetarians who eat eggs but no dairy products, meat, poultry or seafood. Pesco - vegetarians, or pescatarians, who don’t technically meet the definition of vegetarian but follow a semi-vegetarian diet and eat fish and other seafood but not poultry or meat. Clothes and cosmetics - vegans avoid wearing leather and suede because they are made from animal skins. They may avoid fabrics that are made from animal byproducts, including wool and silk, because animals can be harmed in the process. Many vegans also buy only cruelty-free cosmetics and beauty products.

V is for Veggies - proving veganism is a piece of cake

In 2016 Lynsey Rice decided to eat healthier, be more creative and have a more meaningful career. And thus V Is For Veggies was born in Plymouth.

The vegan cakes and bakes business now supplies several Plymouth businesses and Ms Rice said: “I take inspiration from my travels through Central America, Southern Africa, California and the Mediterranean.

“The ultimate goal is to provide vibrant and fresh flavours by infusing all of these cuisines and ideas whilst minimising the impact on our environment.

“So whether you're vegan, avoiding dairy or you're an inquisitive little monkey, I hope to feed you delicious treats and share the love.”

The Big Kebabski - mobile and meat-free

The Big Kebabski mobile vegan grub business has been touring the city for a couple of years, regularly found at the Royal William Yard.

The plant-based pop-up is run by vegan couple Justa Saczka and Luke Groombridge, who started it in early 2018. It was so successful they were able to pack in their full-time jobs as a gardener and restaurant supervisor, respectively.

They came up with a name that plays both on Justa’s Polish nationality and the cult Cohen brothers Big Lebowski movie.

Now they tour the South West offering vital vegan victuals, having ploughed their life savings into buying a hot food trailer packed with everything you need to produce non-meant-and-dairy nosh.

Tasty Parteas - time for vegan tea

(Image: Penny Cross)

Mum-of-two Lara Chapman wants to come round to your house and make you a lovely cream tea – only it won’t have any cream because its vegan.

Mrs Chapman has started Tasty Parteas in 2018, making all her mouth-watering cakes, scones, sweets and savouries totally dairy-free.

“I had to be true to myself,” she said. “Otherwise I’d be a massive hypocrite.

“So it’s all plant based but I work hard to make it appeal to everyone.”

Harris Hounds - barking up the right tree

Vegans can now pamper their pooches thanks to a new non-cruelty dog grooming service set up by a couple from Plymouth.

With veganism on the rise, Chris and Charlotte Harris have combined their love of man’s best friend and business to create a service that sees Chris walking miles each day to exercise dogs from all around the city, and Charlotte adding the finishing touches to the grooming salon that has just opened.

The Harris Hounds salon, in Hooe, uses only vegan-friendly products, such as doggy shampoos, and Charlotte said: “Our main aim is to provide a spa-like environment for dogs to be pampered and we offer everything from nail trimming to a full groom.

“Our products are certified vegan, natural and contain organic extracts and oils to give every pet’s coat only the finest ingredients.

Conscious Candy Company - how sweet it is

A young Plymouth woman yearned for Woolworths style pick ‘n’ mix so much she created a company making cola bottles, fizzy strawberries and other yummy sweets.

But there is one key difference – they are all vegan.

Graphic design graduate Laura Scott only launched the Conscious Candy Company in early November 2018 but within weeks she has sold out of initial supplies of her product, started to expand her range and even quit her full time job to dedicate to the venture. She also bought a warehouse and office to expand into.

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Lomi Lomi Massage and Spa - hands on veganism

(Image: Penny Cross)

Everyone knows being vegan means not eating anything derived from an animal, but true veganism goes further – and includes having a massage.

Magdalena Kupiec runs Lomi Lomi Massage and Spa, in Plymouth’s Cornwall Street, and said vegans should check out that all massage-related products are cruelty free before they let a massage therapist lay on a finger.

“I work with vegan products only,” Magdalena said. “All my treatments are based on vegan friendly, natural skin care products. I use four different brands.”

The Canteen - lunch time is the right time for vegan food

(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)

The food of love, it turns out, is not music – it’s vegan beet bourguignon served with smoked garlic mash.

Or maybe it’s mushroom stroganoff and tagliatelle? Or dairy-free chocolate fondue?

Because these were on the menu for a special vegan Valentine’s Day offering at the Plymouth area’s newest plant-based restaurant during 2019.

The Canteen is the vegan diner which had just opened at the Clay Factory, a social enterprise business hub on the fringe of Ivybridge.

The 35-cover restaurant opened in 2018, run by RedPod Food, a catering offshoot of the firm that runs the Clay Factory business centre at Ivybridge.

Grilling in the Name Of - raging against the meat industry machine

(Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)

Grilling In The Name of is a BBQ inspired vegan grill hosting pop up lunches in the South West. The family business is run by vegan chef Damon Foster and his partner Carly Jones.

“We are socially minded and try to be as ethical as we can be with our produce, waste and ethos,” said Mr Foster.



Based at Ivybridge’s Clay Factory it offer a changing menu throughout the year but staple products are

Seitan Burgers, Seitan Ribs, grilled vegetables and signature cakes.

Lick - for those with a vegan sweet tooth

The daughter of Plymouth’s most famous fortune teller future-proofed her sweets and liquorice business – by turning it vegan and eco-friendly.

Sammie Radley, whose dad is Gypsy Acora, rebranded Liquorice World as Lick in 2019 and took out all the gelatin, cochineal, gluten and palm oil.

And, with Romany blood coursing through her veins, she left her Peverell home and hit the road, taking her sweet stall to the music festivals throughout the South West all summer.

The mum-of-three launched her new venture at GoldCoast Oceanfest, in Croyde, North Devon, in June 2019





Vegan and Veggie Confectionery - choc full of flavour

Vegan and Veggie Confectionery opened in May 2019 in Plymouth Market, the brainchild of businesswomen, and vegetarian, Sarah Parker.

Ms Parker, from Yealmpton, decided to open the stall, bringing in a range of crisps and candies new to the city, after getting fed up having to read the ingredients on the back of packets.

She stocks the tastiest animal-friendly treats including the lip-smacking Seed and Bean and Montezuma’s, branded “like no udder”, range of vegan chocolates.

How to contact William Telford Business Live's Plymouth journalist is William Telford, business editor at Plymouth Live. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in the Ocean City. To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com Phone: 01752 293116 Facebook: www.facebook.com/william.telford.5473 Twitter: @WTelfordHerald To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click here

Dippy’s - dive in to vegan dips

Eliza Hall met her partner JR whilst living in Vancouver. The couple bonded over their love for food, and each other, and began a journey that has now seen them start their food manufacturing business in Plymouth.

Dippy's is a vegan food manufacturing company, offering a range of tasty lunch options that are super easy, fast, healthy, and can be delivered straight to your door.

Ms Hall, aged 24, who is originally from Plymouth, is a health coach, and she met chef JR, aged 27, whilst working in a vegan pizza kitchen in Canada.

Once back in Plymouth, the couple set about creating their own healthy, yummy, and vegan chick pea based sandwich fillers, and realised they could be on to something special, and that's when Dippy's was born.