Is Adding Meat a Death Spiral for Vegan Restaurants

There is a difficult conversation happening inside the Vegan restaurant world, and it is one many people would rather avoid.

This episode explores why some Vegan restaurants consider adding meat to their menus, what usually drives that decision, and why it so often backfires.

The conversation resurfaced recently after Planta surveyed customers about the possibility of adding animal products. While Planta later clarified they would remain plant-based, the reaction revealed something deeper. When a Vegan restaurant starts asking this question, pressure is already present.

We break down the financial realities pushing owners toward this decision, including rising rents, labor costs, shrinking margins, and inconsistent customer support. But we also examine the flawed assumption that adding meat automatically brings in new customers.

Historically, it does not.

Instead, many restaurants lose their core community, dilute their brand identity, and fail to attract the new audience they were hoping for. The result is often a business stuck in the middle, no longer fully Vegan and not truly appealing to meat eaters either.

This episode also addresses the ethical dimension of the choice. For many Vegans, supporting a Vegan restaurant is about values, not just food. When those values change, customer alignment changes too.

Finally, we explore what actually helps struggling Vegan restaurants before making a drastic shift, from menu strategy and pricing psychology to storytelling, community engagement, and smarter use of delivery and catering.

This is not about judgment. It is about understanding consequences, protecting trust, and building long-term sustainability.

Learn more in the Vegan Restaurant Survival Guide

What We Explore in This Episode

• Why Vegan restaurants consider adding meat

• The Planta survey and community backlash

• Why meat eaters rarely replace lost Vegan customers

• Brand identity and trust erosion

• Common operational issues unrelated to Veganism

• Ethical alignment versus health-based customers

• Practical alternatives that do not abandon Vegan values

About the Show

The Vegans Explore Podcast is on a mission to record a new episode every day until November 1, 2026, spotlighting Vegan topics, changemakers, nonprofits, and brands from around the world. Explore additional episodes.

Tell Your Story

Leave a Voicemail for an opportunity to be featured on our daily Vegans Explore Podcast. Let us know how we’re doing or simply share a quick recording about yourself.

Subscribe & Review

Love the show? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review! New episodes drop daily.