Are staff required to do training or spend time looking at new menu options and ideas?
Short answer is yes. Training will usually be minimal but may at times include all staff so that everyone can be bought up to speed re the new menu items, adoption of cultural changes and any education that may be required re unusual or new-to-the-scene ingredients.
Do you do in-restaurant training?
Yes. We are able to assist you with all aspects of modifying, adapting and redesigning your menu and all that is required to create new dishes.
Do we need to change our chefs?
Not at all. We understand that most chefs had no training in vegan/ plant-based food creation and can be a little uneasy about the idea of embracing this new and different way of preparing delicious meat free meals. It is a bit of a challenge to overcome the old ways of thinking as with anything but we are confident that we can help open up the minds and eyes of older school food service workers by wowing them with our new, fresh and exciting take on plant-based food which is taking the world by storm.
Can we just change meals we make currently into vegan or plant-based options?
Absolutely. This would be the way to go if you feel staff and customers may be resistant to accepting new and different menu choices. This is a baby step for the business owner who finds changes hard to implement or foresees challenges in the kitchen.
Can’t we just take out the meat and throw in some eggplant?
While its true most meat meals can be made vegan friendly by substitution, it is not as easy as just substituting protein content for example. It is risky to just change a dish to being vegan ad-hock and more especially on the run. We all know chefs are under the pump and often stressed and to have a request come in for a vegan version of something can upset the apple cart. Typically when this happens the plant-based meal can take longer to arrive to the table and satisfaction may not always be guaranteed.
Can you tailor a menu based on our menu?
Yes. We can help you adapt any type of cuisine or food genre (eg Burgers/ Thai food/ Italian). It is helpful to know who your clientele are and what they will likely accept as far as plant-based options go. The diversity of vegan plant-based options these days means that almost all meals can be recreated or replaced with satisfying plant-based alternatives.
How often should we change our menu?
Some would suggest that this could be done seasonally, however you may want to change and offer impressive plant-based specials to keep things interesting. You could use this approach as a way to offer new and exciting or current and trending dishes that keep your creativity driven customers satiated, and you can also keep with what consistently sells.
Can we store our non vegan products with vegan?
As a rule of thumb you would want to be keeping all meat and animal products away from your vegan produce.
Does it mean everything needs to be organic?
Not at all. There are vegan/plant-based eaters who eat organic and there are organic eaters who eat animal products. While its true that many plant-based eaters do choose or prefer to eat organic as the mainstay of their belief system is less impact on the environment, this is not their main concern when entering a place they hope to find something to eat.
Does it need to be vegan certified?
No. Nothing is required of a business to start offering plant-based vegan options. There are certifying bodies that you can approach if you feel like going that extra step which may add value to your business. Doing so will defiantly help ensure your staff adhere to the guidelines and criteria that are required to be followed to achieve compliance and this could be assistive in changing a culture within a business.
Can you supply us with providers of vegan plant-based foods and produce?
Absolutely. We are very knowledgeable about where you can source quality plant-based foods in all capacities; from pantry items to baking ingredients and onto fresh produce.
Is there any certification we can promote our business as having if we offer vegan and plant-based meals?
Yes there are and we can put you in touch with the relevant certifying bodies. This is important to a substantial portion of the vegan community and will elevate your business to a head above the rest re diligence and customer consideration.
Should we be using the term plant-based or vegan?
This is a tricky one as different folks usually lean to one or the other more, however any plant-based eater will look to both. Some might believe the term vegan to be a bit polarising and perhaps even controversial, however it seems to still be a safe word to use especially for the millennials and huge contingency of youth who veganism appeals to. Whereas older and perhaps more discerning folks would likely resonate and adopt the term plant-based a little more kindly, as will people who are prone to food allergies.
How much support do we get?
As much as you would like. There are package tiers that will outline how we check in with you and how many hours are allocated per tier. Or we can do the pay as you go option with more or less frequent consultations that suit your wants and needs.
Is there a local contact?
We are only a phone or video call away for any assistance you may need.
What ongoing communication do I receive?
All our clients are kept in the loop while having continual access to their store specific needs and support services. We schedule phone check-ups with you and also offer important prompts for the first few months to get you and keep you on track.
Is the margin on plant-based vegan greater than traditional?
It is a fallacy that vegan and plant foods costs more than traditional. Meat is one of the greatest expenses when it comes to meal cost. Yet another positive to creating plant-based meals is the fact that ingredients used in many vegan dishes cost pennies.
How much $ should we allocate for this service?
Package tiers are set up to suit business size, style and demand. Once we ascertain what tier you fall into we can give you an estimate of costs going forward. The investment you will be making for your customers and potential customer satisfaction will overshadow the cost of making your business plant-based friendly.
We are here to help you transition smoothly and effortlessly towards being adaptive to the wonderful world of plant-based food creation. By offering plant-based menu options you will increase your sales and we are happy to assist you in your journey.