Vegan Pizza Debuts at Pizza Express Sai Ying Pun – Hong Kong’s First Pizza Chain To Go Plant-Based

Just in time for #NationalVegetarianWeek, UK-based Pizza Express, with over 500 outlets around the world, has debuted its first ever vegan cheese menu at their brand new Sai Ying Pun location. Joining the ranks of over 20,000 restaurants and chains, the popular pizza chain will incorporate Daiya Foods vegan cheese onto their dishes. 

3 New Vegan Cheese Pizzas On The Menu

The dairy-free, plant-based cheese will be featured on three vegan-friendly pies: the thin and crispy Cavolo Verde featuring kale and black garlic; much-loved truffle-infused Trifolata with wild mushrooms and rosemary; and the newest classic Giardiniera, a veggie lover’s delight topped with asparagus, roasted pumpkin and basil pesto.

“We continually explore thoughtful alternatives to help protect our planet and we encourage everyone to think about the right choices and adopt small steps to make a big difference,” explains John Lui, International Brand & Marketing Director at PizzaExpress.

Hong Kong Leads The Way With Vegan Foodtech Launches

Pizza Express is proud to be at the forefront of Hong Kong’s exiciting plant-based food shift and indeed, they are the first pizza chain in Asia to offer patrons vegan cheese pizza. Hong Kongers eat more meat and seafood per capita than anyone else in the world, but a growing movement, led by passionate activists, concerned consumers and CSR-focused companies, is committed to changing the status quo. Global foodtech companies like vegan burger patty pioneers Impossible Foods and Beyond Burger have established footholds in Hong Kong to address the rapid growth and sustained interests from international markets, as well as to cater for China’s growing appetite for vegetarianism. Asian startup Right Treat, makers of Omnipork, debuted to wide fanfare to tackle the environmental impact of industrial livestock farming.

Green Monday founder David Yeung, whose Green Common imports Daiya Cheese into Hong Kong, shared his thoughts: “PizzaExpress has long been a proponent of corporate social responsibility, with particular emphasis on sustainability and community engagement.  The launch of their main menu and new line of vegan pizza available at Sai Ying Pun, featuring ingredients from global plant-based leaders Beyond Meat and Daiya respectively, is simply the latest chapter of their legacy on the commitment in answering consumer request and their relentless focus on product innovation.”

Pizza Express Hong Kong Showcases Sustainable ‘Food For Thought Menu’

As part of the PizzaExpress’ “Food for Thought” campaign, a push to get pizza lovers to be mindful about how they eat, the company has also launched several eco-friendly concepts to maintain accountability and spread social awareness on all aspects of sustainability. Unveiling its Thoughtful Menu across all PizzaExpress restaurants beginning May 17th for a limited time, the initiative is a global philosophy focused on quality sourcing and serving food that is good for guests and the planet, including hydroponic lettuce, sustainably certified Alaskan wild salmon and responsibly aquacultured Vietnamese basa. Conscious diners will be able to find them on PizzaExpress’ Salad Nicoise, Pizza e Salmone and Basa Fusili. Championing a sustainable dining environment, patrons dining at the new Sai Ying Pun branch will be welcomed in upcycled fittings from previous restaurants, reclaimed wood and concrete to prevent as much trash being sent to landfills. Recycling bins to donate unwanted clothes and surplus non-perishable foods will also be a key feature of the restaurant, where clothing will be collected by local environmental NGO, Redress, and food by Hong Kong’s first food bank, Feeding Hong Kong.

Note: the vegan pizzas are exclusively available at Pizza Express Sai Ying Pun. 

Pizza Express Sai Ying Pun: G/F, Shop No 3, 5-6, Soho 189, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, +852 3164 1301. Open Daily and Public Holidays, Sunday – Thursday from 11:30AM – 10:00PM; Friday – Saturday and Public Holidays from 11:30AM – 10:30PM. 

All images courtesy of Green Queen.