Mr. Charlie's

Mike Tyson and Mr. Charlie's

Separate images copyright Mike Tyson Insta /Mr. Charlie's, image created by vegconomist
Investments & Acquisitions

Mike Tyson’s Investment to Drive Mr. Charlie’s Franchise Expansion Across US and Beyond

Mike Tyson, former heavyweight boxing champion and entrepreneur, has invested in the plant-based fast food chain Mr. Charlie’s Told Me So (TMS). Made through Tyson’s holding company, Carma HoldCo, this investment is expected to significantly boost Mr. Charlie’s expansion plans, paving the way for a broader US and international presence. Known for his advocacy of veganism and plant-based eating, Tyson is helping drive the next phase of growth for the restaurant, which has already gained attention for its unique take on fast food and its social impact initiatives. Tyson’s involvement signals a new chapter for Mr. Charlie’s, which has carved out a niche in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector with its entirely plant-based menu. Mr. Charlie’s not only offers vegan alternatives to classic fast food …

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Royale with cheese

© Mr. Charlie's/Stockeld Dreamery
Fast Food

Mr. Charlie’s Partners With Stockeld Dreamery to Launch Plant-Based Mr. Royale with Cheese

Sweden / New York-based vegan cheese brand Stockeld Dreamery has partnered with vegan fast food chain Mr. Charlie’s to launch the Mr. Royale with Cheese. The burger features Stockeld Dreamery’s dairy-free cultured cheddar, which is made with traditional cheese fermentation techniques. The cheese alternative is said to have excellent melting properties and a higher protein content than competing products. The Royale with Cheese is currently available at Mr. Charlie’s’ Los Angeles restaurant and will roll out at the chain’s San Francisco location in the next two weeks. “We’re delighted to be teaming up with these cool humans and their revolutionary cultured cheddar,” said Taylor Mckinnon, co-founder and CMO at Mr. Charlie’s. “I’m always trying to push the boundaries with our menu, so finding a plant-based …

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Mr. Charlie's Vegan Big Mac

©Mr. Charlie's
Fast Food

“Vegan McDonald’s” Mr. Charlie’s to Open First Australian Location

Mr. Charlie’s, the US fast food chain often referred to as the “vegan McDonald’s”, is expanding into Australia with a new location in Sydney. Based in the suburb of Redfern, the store has already been built and will open in the coming weeks. The location has been chosen partially due to its proximity to the Aboriginal Employment Strategy offices; Mr. Charlie’s plans to work with charities and brand partners to provide opportunities for indigenous communities. This echoes the chain’s practices in the US, where it has hired several homeless or formerly incarcerated staff members with the aim of “employing people so deserving of a second chance but overlooked by a broken system”. Employees are paid above the minimum wage. “More than a vegan burger joint” …

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Mr. Charlie's third location in Venice, California

Image credit: Mr. Charlie's IG
Fast Food

Mr. Charlie’s Opens Third Location in California: “Venice Beach Just Got Weirder”

The vegan, sustainability-driven, and community-support fast food brand Mr. Charlie’s, has opened its third restaurant at 1827 Ocean Front Walk, Venice. “Venice Beach just got weirder,” announced the company on Instagram, using sarcasm, which is part of its marketing strategy. Mr. Charlie’s has two other locations, its first store in Los Angeles and its subsequent expansion in San Francisco. After its debut in Los Angeles last year, Mr. Charlie’s became a viral sensation, with people celebrating its vegan options, including Frowny Meal, Not a Hamburger, and Not Chicken Nuggets. Within months of opening, Mr. Charlie’s reported receiving a positive response from social media, especially from the singer Lizzo who promoted the joint to her fans on social media. At the beginning of this year, the brand …

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Slutty Vegan burgers and fries

© Slutty Vegan
Fast Food

The 7 Fastest Growing Vegan Fast Food Chains (North America)

Once a rare novelty, vegan fast food chains are increasingly becoming a mainstream trend across the US and Canada. As the number of vegan fast food brands grows, so does their ambition to redefine the global fast food industry with 100% plant-based cuisine. From simple beginnings, many of the companies on this list have since embarked on bold expansion plans to bring more sustainable and healthy comfort food to the masses. In no particular order, here are seven brands aiming to outdo McDonald’s. 1. Plant Power Fast Food Current locations: 12  Founded in 2016, Plant Power has consistently expanded its brand – which serves plant-based versions of classic burgers, fries and shakes – across Southern California and into Nevada. Its stunning Las Vegas restaurant features …

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Mr. Charlie's Vegan Big Mac

©Mr. Charlie's
Company News

‘Vegan McDonalds’ Mr. Charlie’s Opening in San Francisco, Will Expand to Australia, New Zealand, and More

Mr. Charlies, the Los Angeles-based fast food restaurant popularly known as the “Vegan McDonald’s”, will soon open its second location in San Francisco’s Union Square. Debuting on January 28th, the new store on 432 Sutter Street is reportedly located directly across from an actual McDonald’s restaurant. The company also says that, since opening last year, it has attracted enormous interest from investors and is planning to open new locations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as early as Q1 in 2023. Mr. Charlie’s achieved overnight viral fame in 2022 for apparently spoofing McDonald’s iconic logos and branding. Its 100% vegan menu features items like the signature “Frowny Meal”, ‘Not a Hamburger’, and ‘Not Chicken Nuggets.”  Within months of opening, Mr. Charlie’s reported receiving an “overwhelming …

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Mr Charlies

©Mr. Charlie's
Fast Food

“Vegan McDonald’s” Mr. Charlie’s Reports “Overwhelming” Response From Social Media

Several months after opening in LA, vegan fast food restaurant Mr. Charlie’s has become a viral sensation on TikTok and Instagram, with celebrity food reviews attracting millions of views.  Mr. Charlie’s is owned by Charlie Kim, who first leased the storefront location on LaBrea Avenue last year. After meeting business partners Taylor and Aaron, the three opened Mr. Charlie’s on Valentine’s Day 2022, about which vegconomist reported last March. Branded with highly familiar red-and-yellow packaging and logos, Mr. Charlie’s serves plant-based versions of classic fast food like Impossible cheeseburgers and fries, plant-based chicken nuggets and their signature Frowny Meal.  The brand was quickly dubbed the “Vegan McDonald’s” online, but Mr. Charlie’s founders say the restaurant is building its own name. “We just really came up …

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Mr Charlies

©Mr. Charlie's
Fast Food

Mr. Charlie’s Launches in LA Bearing Striking Resemblance to McDonald’s

Mr. Charlie’s, an LA vegan fast-food restaurant, is causing a stir online due to its striking resemblance to McDonald’s. The fully plant-based burger joint features the iconic red and yellow branding as well as the “smile” logo famous from McDonald’s happy meals – but this time it is turned upside down. Describing itself as “An Exhibition of Plants”, Mr. Charlie’s menu features the Frowny Meal as opposed to the Happy Meal, and McDonald’s inspired burgers made with Impossible Foods patties. The Mr. Charlie’s store can be found on 612 N. La Brea Ave, LA and is also available via DoorDash. The vegan burger joint is not the only plant-based player to pay homage to McDonald’s, with the UK’s Ready Burger also taking its cues from …

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