International nonprofit animal protection organization Mercy For Animals is urging major restaurant brands to add vegan menu options for 2023 in a new celebrity-backed campaign, “New Year. New Choices.”
The campaign is focused on challenging Dairy Queen, Five Guys, Quiznos, and King Taco to add plant-based options in 2023. To mark the campaign launch, bottles of branded bubbly have been sent to top executives at these chains, with the instructions of opening the bottles only once they’re able to celebrate the introduction of a new, plant-based menu item and “#CheersToChoices.”
“If brands want to stay relevant, particularly with younger customers, offering plant-based options is a must”
Celebrities including actors Alexandra Paul, William McNamara, Cortney Palm, Aubrey K. Miller, Tonya Kay, Stephanie Gerard, and Amanda Grace Benitez; alt-pop music artist Chad Kowal; country singer Simone Reyes; model Natalie Gal; and chef Leslie Durso, are supporting the initiative.
“Offering delicious, satisfying plant-based dishes is a win-win-win for restaurants,” said Natalie Warhit, campaign specialist with Mercy For Animals. “Such meals can help meet growing demand for plant-based food, attract new customers, and drive progress toward sustainability goals. Plant-based meals typically have significantly smaller carbon footprints than animal-based ones. And because plant-based meals help reduce animal suffering and can promote better health, people feel good ordering them.
“The growth in demand for plant-based options speaks for itself,” said Warhit. “If brands want to stay relevant, particularly with younger customers, offering plant-based options is a must. Customers seek plant-based dishes for many reasons, whether they’re vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just veg-curious. We hope our campaign makes restaurants realize they’re falling behind by not offering more plant-based options.”
