Our first regional newsletter - UK
Dear Vegan Leader,
Welcome to our first UKregional newsletter from Vegan Leaders in Corporate Management (VLCM). I’m SJ, based in Surrey, England, UK and excited to bring this community of vegan corporate professionals closer together.
I'm Gabriella, based in London UK, and I look forward to fostering community connection and collaboration. These newsletters will highlight both in-person and online events, propose ideas and opportunities to advance the plant-based agenda, and share inspirational stories and successes.
🌱 Did you know?
We are pleased to share that the VLCM LinkedIn Group now includes 646 Vegan Leaders in the UK. Globally, our membership has grown to nearly 7,000 individuals across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. This remarkable growth is a testament to our vibrant community, and we extend a warm welcome to each of you.
If you know other vegans within your networks worldwide, please invite them to join our LinkedIn Group.
Below is a detailed breakdown of our membership numbers in the UK:
For member privacy, we're not sharing the list with names. However, if you’d like a few individual contacts for networking, you can enter your request here. At VLCM, we like to see these kinds of requests:
Names of other vegans working at the same company as you to start a plant-based employee group
Names of other vegan professionals in your city or town to make new friends
📣 Upcoming events in the UK
The first half of 2025 is buzzing with exciting vegan events across the four nations.
Scotland
Mark your calendars for the Scottish Vegan Festival on 6th April, where you can explore a variety of vegan products. Following that, head to Edinburgh on 17th May for a day filled with cultural festivities and entertainment. Finally, don't miss the vibrant celebrations in Paisley on Saturday, 12th July.
Wales
The Swansea Vegan Festival is set to take place on 31st May, it's a perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Ireland
Don't miss the Irish Vegan Festival on 13th April at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, where you can enjoy a variety of vegan stalls and support Farplace Animal Rescue.
England
On 16th March, be sure to take advantage of the Nottinghamshire Vegan Festival, with over 60 stalls, incredible food, and ethical shopping. April brings two fantastic events: the Coventry Vegan Festival on 5th, offering a variety of vegan products and delicacies, and the Bristol Vegan Fayre on 12th, featuring a special focus on fitness and inspiring vegan athletes. The Pudsey Vegan Festival on 3rd May, will be showcasing incredible street food, sweet bakes, deli items, arts and crafts.
📍Local stories
Vegan Meat Brand THIS Announces IKEA Partnership. IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer, with 422 stores across 50 countries.
Plant-Based Dog Food Brand Wins Dragons’ Den Backing. Demand for plant-based dog food is growing.
Plates London becomes first vegan restaurant in UK to win a Michelin star. Chef Kirk Haworth impressed judges by ‘taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet’.
Major Dairy Company Invests In Fermented Plant-Based Cheese. The new project is part of Bel Group's plans to generate half of it's sales from plant-based options by 2050.
Fermentation Leads Investments In Plant-Based Sector In 2024. Fermentation technologies have outstripped other alternative proteins for investment.
Until next time,
Sarah-Jane and Gabriella
Regional Engagement Managers, VLCM
