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The founders of charity Veganuary have revealed plans to launch Britain’s biggest ever plant-based food show.
Celebs including Heather Mills and former rugby player Nick Knowles have confirmed they will attend the event – Thrive – which will take place in Birmingham next April.
Veganuary co- founders – husband and wife team Matthew Glover and Jane Land – say their aim is to attract the country’s commercial big hitters – the likes of Tesco, Pret a Manger and Alpro – whilst also showcasing the incredible variety of plant-based foods available from independent companies.
Inclusive
Retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and caterers will all be represented, alongside clothing manufacturers, campaign groups and vegan publishers, making this the most inclusive and extensive plant-based show ever.
A Thrive spokesperson said: “Over the past decade, veganism has proved to be a steadily-growing trend reflecting people’s desire for long-term change in their eating habits, and it is showing no sign of abating.
“Veganuary, the campaign to encourage people to try vegan in January, has seen a twenty-fold increase in participation since its inception just four years ago, and research commissioned by the Vegan Society found a 360 per cent increase in the number of UK vegans over the past ten years.
“The number of plant-based businesses is at an all-time high and there is a steady stream of cafés and restaurants that once served animal products that have now switched to an all-plant menu, while most high-street chains have now introduced a vegan menu.”
The Thrive Show is aimed at meat-reducers, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. It plans to capitalize on this growth and to drive it forward over the next decade.
Exciting time
Matthew Glover, Thrive Show’s Managing Director, says: “This is an exciting time for plant-based eating in the UK and Thrive aims to take it directly into the mainstream.
“We will bring together the brightest, the quirkiest, the biggest and the best of what the UK has to offer – from the largest supermarkets that can’t increase their vegan lines fast enough to keep up with demand, to the smallest companies that offer extraordinary home-made delicacies.
“This is an inclusive show, and we look forward to welcoming anyone with an interest in eating more plant foods, for their health, for the planet, for the animals or just because.”
The show
The Thrive Show will also feature a learning zone with areas dedicated to health and fitness, cookery, and food technology, while nutritionists and plant-based doctors will give talks in a ‘super theatre’.
There is a wealth of brain-power on offer but there is plenty of brawn, too, with a specially-created Muscle Beach where plant-based athletes from many disciplines will demonstrate how plant foods have enhanced their sporting performance.
Support
The Thrive Show has attracted widespread support already from pro-vegan campaign groups (including Animal Equality, Veganuary, Viva!, The Vegan Society), publishing outlets (including magazine Vegan Food & Living) and plant-based food manufacturers and distributors (including Tofurky, Vegusto, One Planet Pizza, VBites, Tideford and Pulsin).
Dr Toni Shephard, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, says: “We’re very excited to be taking part in Thrive! Plant-based food has really come of age and deserves a show entirely focused on how fabulous it is. Anyone with an appetite for delicious, sustainable and animal-friendly cuisine should buy their ticket now.”
Sally Fitzgerald, Vegan Food & Living publisher, adds: “I love the innovative approach to the Thrive Show and think it will give everyone involved the chance to celebrate with existing vegans around the UK, and to warmly welcome new ones to the fold.
“It should allow visitors not only to try and buy some great new products but also to get any help and info they need, while having a lot of fun along the way. We can’t wait!”
For more information, visitwww.ThriveShow.co.uk
