Struggling Vegan Restaurant To Start Serving MEAT Because They Aren’t Getting Enough Customers
A vegan food joint has started putting meat on the menu after being crushed by the financial crisis – triggering many customers in the process.
The Mango Tree in Somerset, UK shut its doors last weekend for renovations and to bring new changes to the menu, which also includes the introduction of meat products.
Certainly, this is not the only vegan restaurant to face financial troubles in recent years, but die-hard vegans have angrily responded by saying ‘selling meat is worse than closing’.
The restaurant asked for a bit of compassion, as they were simply left with no other choice.
‘The only other option was to close permanently.’
‘Ethics extend to the jobs and welfare of our wonderful team, to whom we owe a great deal, and another chance.’
The restaurant stated:
‘In the near future our restaurant will be undergoing an exciting period of change as we re-imagine ourselves to offer the Taunton Community new and exciting options to dine in and takeaway.
‘All in the same location and with the same team you know and love.
‘In the new restaurant we will be serving a variety of dishes to accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences.
‘Hospitality is increasingly tough and continuing as a purely vegan restaurant has not been sustainable for a considerable amount of time as not enough customers supported us.
‘The changes will allow us to secure the jobs of our wonderful team and allow us to continue offering Taunton delicious plant based dishes that would otherwise have disappeared.’
However, the change came as highly disturbing news for vegans who warned they are about to lose their clients.
One person said:
‘I see that you are including meat based dishes. I echo the sadness of others who have commented.
‘Perhaps shaking up the menu, which has, as previously mentioned, remained the same for the past few years, would have ensured repeat business from customers who valued the Mango Tree and its ethos, but I guess if it’s not run by ethical vegans then remaining a veggie/vegan restaurant isn’t the priority.’
Another wrote:
‘I loved coming here for its authenticity and plant based values. It justified the high prices. But now they’re turning away from vegan values, they’ll be like every other restaurant and more expensive, so I shall not be returning.’
A third added:
‘This is a massive shame.
‘It’s been amazing to have a 100% vegan restaurant in Taunton.
‘Veganism isn’t a business venture. It’s an ethical philosophy that does the best for the animals, the planet, and public health.’
Yet another person said
‘I’m very saddened to hear this as someone who put so much energy into your restaurant I understand entirely why you are doing this but from a vegan standpoint I would see this as unethical practice.’
Another commented:
‘Seems like they’re likely to lose a lot of their original vegan clientele and probably not gain that many more close-minded omnivores they’re targeting as they’re so closely associated with plant-based.’
‘Seems like a lose-lose to me.’
Later, the restaurant wrote a reply, saying:
‘Despite lots of marketing, many special offers, offering dine in and takeaway, introducing the use of home delivery partners, and working incredibly hard to be as efficient as possible, not enough of the local population used us regularly enough to make continuing in the current format sustainable.
‘We must move on with positivity and are determined to do so.’
The food joint is set to reopen later this year, but a fixed date has not been announced yet.
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