March 9th 2024.
After facing a significant 40% drop in sales, Adonis, the owner of Nomas Gastrobar in Macclesfield, Cheshire, was forced to make some difficult decisions. His fully plant-based restaurant, which opened in 2021, was struggling financially due to the cost of living crisis that has affected many small businesses. Despite serving delicious Mediterranean brunch and lunch options, Adonis realized that relying solely on a vegan menu was not sustainable for his business.
In order to keep his restaurant afloat and support his staff and family, Adonis decided to introduce a meat menu in January. He explained that the limitations of a vegan-only offering often led to small numbers of customers and potential customers walking out upon realizing that Nomas was a plant-based eatery. While he remained committed to his vegan customers, Adonis realized that he needed to diversify in order to survive in a town like Macclesfield, where the effects of Brexit have made it difficult to recruit staff.
However, Adonis and his wife were met with intense backlash for their decision to add animal products to the menu. They received online abuse and even death threats, with some questioning their ethics and accusing them of participating in animal exploitation and cruelty. Adonis was saddened by the negative reactions, stating that he had nothing to say to those who were unhappy with his choices. He also believed that some of the one-star reviews were coming from people who had never even been to the restaurant.
Adonis's situation is not unique, as many business owners are struggling to adapt to the cost of living crisis and changing eating habits of consumers. In fact, popular coffee chain Pret A Manger recently announced the closure of its three remaining Veggie Pret restaurants, showing that even larger companies are facing similar challenges. This could also be attributed to the decline of plant-based products in British supermarkets.
Katherine Bagshawe, the UK Food & Coffee Director at Pret A Manger, explained that they have seen a significant increase in demand for vegetarian and vegan-friendly options. Even though Veggie Pret locations are closing, every Pret shop now offers vegetarian and vegan options, showing that there is still a strong demand for delicious plant-based food. Adonis's decision to add meat to his menu may have been controversial, but it highlights the difficult choices that many business owners are facing in today's economic climate.
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