The VHS has continued to encourage restaurants and other local small businesses to make plant-based eating more accessible.
Right now, 65% of Lower Mainland adults are reducing their meat and dairy intake, giving businesses a great opportunity to meet the growing demand for animal-free meals.
of Lower Mainland adults are reducing their meat and dairy intake
Free plant-based toolkit for restaurants
To support restaurants in making these changes, the VHS implemented a new Restaurant Toolkit initiative, which provides a free step-by-step guide with dos and don’ts, tips for recipe and menu development, marketing ideas, and more.
New program for cafés
The VHS also launched the new Dairy-Free for No Fee program to support cafés in removing the extra charge for plant-based milk. This initiative is backed by a research study of 813 participants in B.C., which found that:
- 62% of B.C. customers see surcharge-free options as an inclusive choice, feeling it adds to a welcoming environment. This rises to 73% among those aged 18-34, and 68% among Metro Vancouverites.
- More than 1 in 3 British Columbians aged 18-34 would make surcharge-free cafés their go-to spot, underscoring the strong customer loyalty potential.
- About 1 in 4 (24%) British Columbians say they’d choose plant-based milk more often if there was no surcharge. This rises to 34% among those aged 18-34.
- 32% of British Columbians aged 18-34—a key café demographic—prefer plant-based milk regularly.
Curious how you can help? Find advocacy tools to share with local businesses at PlantUniversity.ca.