Vegcraver: Berlin-Based Duo Debuts World’s First Vegan-Only Caterer Booking Platform

Entrepreneur duo Roxy Velez and David Heidrich have launched the world’s first vegan-only caterer booking platform in Berlin, Germany, to bring increased visibility and accessibility to plant-based foods.

In an effort to help the catering industry recover from the effects of the pandemic, plant-based founders Roxy Velez and David Heidrich, set up Vegcraver, a vegan-only caterer booking platform.

Velez and Heidrich are also the founders of vegan production agency Vexquisit Studios, which has worked with leading vegan brands like Beyond Meat, LIVEKINDLY, and author Dr. Melanie Joy in the past.   

While attending several public events, the pair noticed that there was a lack of plant-based food choices, even in sustainability events. To bring visibility to vegan food as well as make it more accessible, Vegcraver was set up after 18 months of planning and testing.

With the help of this platform, interested consumers can search for vegan caterers and food vendors, and book what they want for any occasion.

In a press release seen by Green Queen, Velez said that bringing vegan caterers together in one place will make finding quality plant-based food easier than ever. “Delicious, high-quality vegan food is available all over the city, but it’s still hard to find through a simple Google search. Many people presume it’s hard to be vegan because there are limited options when it comes to ordering food for parties and events, but that’s just not true.”

Delicious, high-quality vegan food is available all over the city, but it’s still hard to find through a simple Google search. Many people presume it’s hard to be vegan because there are limited options when it comes to ordering food for parties and events, but that’s just not true

Roxy Velez, co-founder of Vegcraver

For online events, customers can request delivery to every Berlin-based person who is attending and for COVID-safe gatherings, a caterer too can be hired to cook ‘in-house’.

Velez added: “You might see vegan bakers, for example, posting on Facebook groups or Instagram, but it is hard to remember them all when it comes time to book. It’s our goal to show how many vegan options are actually out there, not just to people who are already vegan, but to the wider public in general.” 

Vegcraver hopes to support events as well as the catering industry with plant-based solutions, and help these businesses adapt to the new social habits and needs of customers.

“During the pandemic, we’ve seen more people waking up to the consequences of eating animal products, and realizing that adopting a plant-based diet is vital for the planet, the animals, and our health,” concluded Roxy.

During the pandemic, we’ve seen more people waking up to the consequences of eating animal products, and realizing that adopting a plant-based diet is vital for the planet, the animals, and our health

Roxy Velez, co-founder of Vegcraver

According to a recent global survey that surveyed over 8,500 participants across over 100 countries, showed that nearly 90% of people that switched their foods to a vegan-only diet cited animal welfare as the top reasons for doing so. Apart from this, almost two-thirds of vegans (64%) said that environmental and climate change motivated them to make the switch.

Experts say that that this figure is likely to leep increasing amid the growing focus on the connection between the impact of animal agriculture on the planet, especially in the wake of the pandemic. 

In Europe, research has shown that 20% of people in the region have identified as flexitarians and the number of vegans has doubled.  

Several other entrepreneurs are also doing their best to highlight plant-based options and make it accessible to the broader community. For instance, recently in collaboration with other mission-driven food advocates, food blogger Erick Castro launched ‘Plantega’, a company that installs vegan fridges in Brooklyn bodegsas to bring plant-based options to communities where there is a often a lack of healthy food choices.

Also, an all-vegan food bank, LasVegan Food Bank recently opened in Las Vegas to provide vegan and healthy grocery boxes that contain items like pastas, rice, beans, and much more for those in need.

Lead image courtesy of Chieh Lee/Vegcraver.