Green Fingers

11 brands pumping plant power.

P lant-based foods are part of today’s dining scene and analyst firm Euromonitor International is expecting this sector to be worth $6 billion globally within 10 years.

Vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian, pescatarian, meat-reducer – whatever the dietary label people identify with, more Aussies are opting for less or no meat on the plate, and franchise chains are switching it up to cater for the new breed of diners.

A more conscious consumption shows itself in the variety of fast food options available now in every major brand – we’ve listed a few here. But there’s a new wave of planet-friendly businesses that are banking everything on the growing plant-based market.

Some franchisors are also forging their brands on an ethical platform that extends beyond ingredients to packaging, sourcing, and planet-saving fundraising initiatives.

All or nothing

1. DELICIA

“Plant based living is our specialty” boasts the Delicia website, and this Adelaideborn business takes an ethical stance with its motto “planet over profit, people over numbers”.

This translates not just in its low wastage approach to ingredients and its focus on ingredients sourced from small local suppliers, but the use of recycled materials in store fitouts.

Franchisees can operate a bricks and mortar store, the mobile Delicia to You caravan option or an even more compact business – the Delicia Espresso mobile business model which operates from a trailer.

Delicia serves up superfoods in a variety of menu dishes including acai bowls, savoury veggie dishes, smoothies and raw treats.

2. LORD OF THE FRIES

The original vegan icon, which started life as a food truck, veered into franchising with bricks and mortar stores, then embraced its on-the-road spirit by reintroducing trucks as a franchise option.

Famous for its crunchy chips served in a cone, the Melbourne-born fast food brand now spans the country with 20 outlets and an expanding menu that stays true to its vegan roots.

3. RED SPARROW PIZZA

Red Sparrow Pizza is the latest brand to launch into the crowded pizza franchise marketplace.

Founders Michael Craig and Shelley Scott opened Red Sparrow Pizza’s first outlet in 2017 in Collingwood, Melbourne, and have since added a Chapel Street store and a food truck.

The couple pride themselves on the vegan menu and the brand’s authentic Neapolitan approach using traditional techniques for making pizza dough and tomato sauce, and baking the pizzas in Italian wood-fired ovens.

Read more in our pizza feature on page 41

4. SOUL BURGER

Sydney’s young plant-based burger chain Soul Burger goes all out to reinterpret favourite burger combos from the classic burger courtesy of Beyond Meat to the cheese-topped patty, Southern Fried Chicken burger or BBQ Pulled Pork special.

In addition to the dozen burger choices, there is a trio of fries – herbed, tangy and sweet potato – snags and snacks, smoothies and churros.

With three stores as its foundation Soul Burger has started to franchise.

A flexi approach 6. GUZMAN Y GOMEZ

GYG introduced for spring a new ingredient it’s been trialling for three years – shredded shiitake mushroom. This is the first plant-based filling for the Mexican chain in three years: a plant-based protein filling without artificial flavours, added preservatives, unacceptable additives or added colours.

In collaboration with Aussie real food innovators, Fable Food Co, GYG has developed this protein with distinctive authentic Mexican flavours including smoked paprika, garlic and onion.

8. HUNGRY JACKS

The home of the Whopper is now also a spot to veg out on plant-based fast food that uses vegan cheese and mayo.

Customers can start the day with vegan brekkie muffins – even the hash browns are vegan – or pile it up with a Vegan Whopper cheese burger.

The flame-grilled vegan patties that make up the Rebel Whopper range are plant-based but not strictly vegetarian because they are cooked on the same grill as beef patties.

9. MCDONALD’S

The McVeggie burger is an entirely plant-based offering, McDonald’s first vegetable-based burger made from Aussiegrown veggies including potatoes, peas, corn, carrot and onion.

However, like the Rebel Whopper, it shares cooking facilities with meat burgers so won’t meet strict veggie standards.

10. DOMINO’S

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises launched plant-based pizzas using its own soy protein-based meat alternatives free from artificial preservatives, flavours and colours and reportedly lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than beef.

Think plant-based Beef & Onion, a spicy Vegetarian or Vegan Fire Breather, Vegan Godfather and Vegetarian Plant-based Godfather, as well as Cheesy Garlic bread.

5. THE SOURCE BULK FOODS

With a mission to support local farmers and provide food at a good price, aiming for zero waste, and providing options for customers with food intolerances, The Source stocks a range of grocery items from honey and peanut butter (you can pour or crush your own) to pantry staples such as flour, rice, pasta and oats, sweet treats, and household products from shampoo to laundry detergent.

It started as a veggie store in Byron Bay. Now this packagingfree wholefoods retailer has 66 outlets across Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.

7. FERGUSON PLARRE BAKEHOUSES

At heritage family-owned firm Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, even its famous meat pasty, the Tiddly Oggie, has gone green – well, there’s a veggie option now available.

And it’s just one of several meat-free pastry delights. The plant-based Aussie Pie centres on chickpeas, with wheat, garlic, onion, and herbs and spices. In the sausage roll it’s the combination of shiitake mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, onions, chickpeas, garlic, onions and a secret blend of herbs and spices that hits the mark.