On my recent trip to Europe, being a Vegan, my concerns were getting the right kind of Vegan food. I was pleasantly surprised that right outside my hotel, there was a Vegan restaurant chain serving up some amazing vegan dishes. The same chain was also available at my next destination to add to my delight. This came as a surprise and learning that this concept is growing in India and worldwide too. The concept is catching up fast.
Just going by history, the term Veganism was conceptualised in 1944 by Donald Watson and has grown gradually. As per recent research, it is estimated that the global vegan food market will reach US$ 31.4 billion by 2026. About India, statistics from a popular Vegan blog, 24% of the Indian population is vegan with 574 million Indians following a meat-free diet. It is also interesting to note that India has the highest number of vegans in the world with over one billion Hindus in India influencing the high number of vegans. There are nearly 1000 vegetarian restaurants in India – and this doesn’t include food stalls or marketplaces.
The growth was further propagated by the pandemic wherein individuals realised the importance of eating healthily. So in simple terms, being Vegan is abstaining from anything that comes from a living being. This means avoiding food, produce, products and by-products from animals thus ensuring that one does not contribute to cruelty towards them.
The Accessibility Factor
This brings me back to the fact that Veganism is not just food but a matter of choice on being more environmentally conscious. Personally, being a Vegan by choice, I am conscious of not just my food consumption but being more giving to nature and reducing overall carbon footprints. I encourage my Royal Orchid and Regenta Hotels staff to be more environmentally conscious. We also adopt several sustainable measures to be more environmentally positive.
In my view, Veganism is one of the paths to a sustainable future and is growing rapidly as a lifestyle choice. Unfortunately, in India, very limited options cater to this niche group. We at Royal Orchid & Regenta hotels are looking at carving a niche starting with food options. This is substantiated by a recent Oxford University study that suggests that cutting meat and dairy products from a person’s diet could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint from food by up to 73%.
The First-Mover Advantage
With this growing trend in mind and the objective of being a first-mover in the hospitality industry, we the Vegan buffet a few months ago, as part of our famous Sunday brunch. The brunch showcases a separate section for Vegan food, from starters, main courses, and grills to even desserts. Guests will have a variety to choose from about 15-20 mouth-watering dishes. In our ala carte menu regularly, we have a section for Vegan delicacies.
We want our guests to have a complete experience so we offer plant-based meats such as kebabs, sausages, and burgers including soya products such as Soya Chaps and much more. To commemorate World Vegan Day, we will be showcasing a separate section of Vegan cuisine at the Limelight restaurant. The menu will include salads, soups, kebabs, the main course and vegan desserts too.
