VegfestUK Case Study

Fast forward almost a decade and a half and Vegfest UK has grown to holding 4 festivals UK wide while also supporting smaller vegan festivals and shows across the country.

The events gives people the option to learn more about vegan lifestyles and mix with like-minded people, but also welcomes those who just want to eat all day and soak up the party atmosphere of each festival.

“As well as a marketplace for sampling, purchase and the sale of vegan goods alongside music, comedy but have also included activities such as speed dating and body building.“

The events are all about going vegan:

• For the animals
• For the planet
• For your heath
• For sustainable food production 

VegfestUK also organises the annual VegfestUK awards, which is a public internet vote amongst nominated vegan products, services, organisations, and people. From 2013 onwards, VegfestUK London hosts the award ceremony. 

The history of VegfestUK?

VegfestUKs mission, to demonstrate how easy it is to go vegan and stay vegan.

VegfestUK started out under the name "Bristol Vegan Fayre" in the compact and cosy surroundings of the Watershed on the Harbourside in Bristol back in 2003, at the time attracting some 1,500 visitors and 40 stalls with some quality speakers shedding light on veganism.

In 2004, VegfestUK moved to the L-Shed (now M-Shed) and remained there for 3 years

During the next few years VegfestUK further expanded moving to current venue - Bristol Amphitheatre

VegfestUK events extended to the nation's veggie capital Brighton from 2009 onwards. Renaming from "Brighton/Bristol Vegan Fayre" to VegfestUK.

In October 2013 things got bigger and better as the festival was taken to one of the nation's most well-known exhibition venues Kensington Olympia in London.

In 2015, VegfestUK took another big step, creating their first show on Scottish soil in the prestigious SECC in Glagsow.

Roll of honour

• 'Best Vegan Achievement' award, for outstanding contribution to veganism - 2011 Vegan Society Awards
• 'Work in the Community' award – 2013 Lloyds TSB People and Environment Achievement Business Awards
• Working in the Community honour - 2013 People and Environment Achievement Business Award (PEABSs) 

View on Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of everything that VegfestUK do. The festival is set up to ensure a positive social and environmental standing. Vegfest UK place a particular emphasis on promoting animal welfare, but go further than that to ultimately promote the abolition to the use of animals.

VegfestUK outline their Veganism philosophy as meeting 5 separate points

1. Environment Issues

• Climate change – livestock sector responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 64 percent of anthropogenic ammonia emissions
• Water - The livestock sector is a key player in increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feedcrops
• Land degradation - Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation
• Biodiversity – the livestock sector may well be the leading player in the reduction of biodiversity, since it is the major driver of deforestation, as well as one of the leading drivers of land degradation, pollution, climate change, overfishing, and sedimentation of coastal areas and facilitation of invasions by alien species

2. Food Supply Issues

• Crop Management - Crops fed to livestock in affluent nations which could be used to eradicate world hunger.

3. Animal Justice Issues

• Abolition of the use of animals - Animals are sentient beings like us. They are able to feel emotions and sensations such as pain, pleasure, fear or stress and like us they are individuals with their own needs, desires and an interest in living.

4. Feminist Issues

• Pressure on female animals – cows for milk, chickens for eggs - objectification and exploitation of animal lives and bodies

5. Health Issues

• Health benefits - can include increased energy, younger looking skin and eternal youth

Alongside this important message the festival aims to promote messages around protecting the environment, encouraging fair operating practices and encouraging community involvement.

VegFestUK in numbers

Four events held UK wide

• Bristol – 15,000 attendees
• Brighton – 12,000 attendees
• London – 15,000 attendees
• Scotland – 10,000 attendees

Now support over 50 additional Vegan festivals and events across the UK through publicity and support.