2 minute read
Pop Up for the Planet
You are likely aware of the phenomenon that is the Veganuary campaign. Veganuary’s monthlong vegan pledge has been a huge success, which is shown in the extraordinary growth in participants since it was established.
Veganuary partnership Launched in 2014 with just 3000 participants, over the last six years it has grown into a worldwide event which is firmly secured in the public consciousness. This year over 350,000 people signed up to try eating a vegan diet for the month of January.
Advertisement
Media interest is incredible, and the range of new vegan dishes and products being launched in conjunction with the campaign is truly staggering. Costa Coffee, Wagamama, Chicago Town Pizza, ASDA and ALDI are just a handful of the high street names who have greatly improved their vegan options during January.
We have long been supporters of Veganuary, but 2020 marks the first year in which we have officially partnered with them. We are very excited to bring together two of the leading global organisations to help further the vegan movement.
To celebrate our partnership with Veganuary we hosted Pop Up for the Planet, a month-long pop-up in the bustling Mare Street Market venue in London. We brought veganism to hundreds of visitors over the course of the New Year’s Resolutions period.
Highlighting our Plate Up for the Planet campaign, which makes the link between veganism and its positive environmental impact, we encouraged people to take the first step by signing up to Veganuary.
Those who signed up received goody bags full of free vegan products registered with the Vegan Trademark. They also received free copies of Resurgence and Ecologist magazines, which
were both themed around veganism. Visitors who signed up to try a vegan diet were also eligible to take part in a competition to win a month’s supply of Northern Bloc ice cream. However, ice cream samples were available to all – and they went down a treat.
Thanks to our wonderful volunteers who, as ever, helped to make the event the success it was. We wouldn’t have been able to do this if it wasn’t for you, and it was fantastic to see how much you enjoyed taking part and giving support and advice to the public.
Events We had some special events over the course of the month which were a great success. Matthew Pritchard of Dirty Sanchez fame signed copies of his vegan cookery book Dirty Vegan: Another Bite. Rich Hardy, recent Animal Hero Awards winner and undercover animal investigator, joined us for a book signing for his title Not as Nature Intended.
The month ended on a high, with a party to celebrate the success of Veganuary. Key influencers in the vegan movement gathered at Mare Street Market for a closing party, where delicious vegan canapés and drinks were served.
