Rudy’s Vegan Butcher, as the name indicates, curates and sells all type of typically meaty products with the following catch: none of them contain actual meat. The shop provides vegans with a wide range of meatless products, from lobster (or ‘lobstah’) to charcuterie.
It seems surprising that it has taken so long for a meatless butcher to appear (there’s a phrase I never thought I’d say). While the name might be contradictory, meat alternatives have undeniably been on the rise. The Business Daily reports a 40% sales increase in the past five years.
More restaurants and cafés have added vegan and vegetarian options to their menus, and supermarkets have dedicated vegan-friendly sections. Whether it's due to trends or a moral decision, people appear to be trying out these alternatives, and if they have funny names like ‘chick’n lover’ pâté, even better.
The only problem is the cost- those who prefer vegan alternatives know that it comes with a price. In ASDA, for instance, vegan burger patties cost twice the price of meat. There is debate on what that says about massively produced meat and the costs of it productions, but I’ll leave that for now.
On the other hand, buying meat alternatives counts with supporting brands with moral values, and in this case, it also means supporting an independent and new business.
Furthermore, Rudy’s Butcher DShop will not be limited to London, which is good news for veggies up here in the north, as they have a delivery service nationwide.
It is difficult to judge whether the business will be fruitful or not at this stage, but it sure benefits vegans and vegetarians who struggle to find and access products that fit their dietary restrictions. The 1% of Brits who are vegan will surely be happy and excited with the new addition to their market.
Feature Image: @rudysDVD via Twitter