If you haven’t jumped on the vegan train yet, what have you been waiting for?
Each year, more and more people are ditching animal products in favour of a plant-based lifestyle, so if you’re not yet offering attractive vegan options, you’re missing a large and ever-expanding part of the market.
Not only that, but vegan options also tend to be greener as meat can be taxing on the environment, so there are multiple reasons to spice up your menu with some plant-based offerings.
But if you’ve only ever dealt with meat or dairy, it can be difficult to know where to start. Fear not, though, as we’re on hand with some helpful tips to help you find the best vegan options to offer your customers.
Market Research
What better way to find out what your customers want than to ask them? With customers coming into your shop all day long (hopefully!), market research has never been so easy!
Come up with a few suggestions and ask them what they’d like to try. You can also see whether they have some suggestions of their own.
Another way you can ask customers is through your socials. Set up polls on your Facebook or Instagram pages and offer the chance to win a voucher to drive up engagement.
If a pattern to the answers you’re getting starts to emerge, you know you’re onto a winner and can start planning your menu additions.
Look Online
As well as asking your customers what they’d like to see added to your menu, you could also take a look online. There are loads of resources that can keep you up to date on the latest vegan trends.
Social media is also a great place to find vegan pages and recipe ideas. You can also engage with people online to ask them for suggestions.
Look At Competitors
Another great way to see what’s working is to have a look at what your competitors are offering. If there’s a local vegan place that you know is doing well, then even better!
While you probably won’t want to copy what they’re doing like for like, analysing your competition is a great way to get some inspiration and see what the local vegans are enjoying.
So don’t be afraid to have a gander at some other local businesses. Who knows, you might even get some excellent non-vegan ideas too!
Substitute Ingredients
One of the easiest ways to add vegan options to your menu is to simply substitute some ingredients from your usual recipes.
For instance, if you knock up a mean chicken curry or pepperoni pizza, you could simply swap the meat for a vegan alternative. These days there are tonnes of excellent substitutes, many of them practically indistinguishable from real meat.
This approach makes a lot of sense, too, as you know what sells and what doesn’t. So offer a vegan alternative for some of your most popular dishes and this will encourage customers to keep coming back even after they’ve gone plant-based.
Collaborations
If you live in a major urban city, you could consider partnering with a vegan influencer. Not only will this offer you some valuable brand exposure, but it can also give you access to potentially thousands of social media users whom you can engage for some much-needed insight.
Speak To Suppliers
If there are people who know what’s popular right now, it’s the wholesalers or ingredients suppliers. These people are dealing with orders every minute of the day, so they know what people are buying and what they’re not.
So the next time you’re placing an order or collecting ingredients, try to get some insight as they may be able to help.
Packaging
If you’re adding new items to your menu, chances are you’ll need some additional packaging items too.
Just keep in mind the government’s rules on plastic before purchasing any items.
Since September 2023, food businesses have been banned from using single-use packaging. The ban includes all online and over-the-counter sales and it covers packaging items from new and existing stock.
Trading Standards departments now have the authority to fine and prosecute any business not complying with the rules. So to avoid hefty fines, it’s best to abide by the rules and stick to biodegradable packaging.
If you’re looking for something that’s strong and sturdy, there are many options made from kraft paper. Made from biodegradable paper constructed out of wood pulp, kraft paper is used to make boxes, bowls and bags.
If you’re serving hot food, kraft boxes make excellent containers. Lightweight but robust, these are also excellent at retaining heat, meaning they’re perfect for both hot and cold food and will keep food fresh.
We offer kraft food boxes wholesale, so if you require eco-friendly packaging for your menu’s new additions then you’ll find them here!
As well as creating boxes, this multipurpose paper is also used to make kraft bowls. These are great for adding salads, soups and foods with sauces, keeping them fresh and protected while they’re being carried around.
Lastly, kraft paper is also utilised to make bags, which allow your customers to carry their food home with them.
All of these items help your business and your customers reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce, contributing to a healthier planet and ensuring you stick to the new rules on single-use items.
So that’s how you can find some great vegan options. If you’re thinking about joining the plant revolution, you should now know how to get started.
