Who are the celebrities behind vegan brands…
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveWith so many high-profile sports stars and celebrities
extolling the virtues of veganism, it’s hard to believe that the plant-based
diet was once relatively obscure in the UK … with a hunt for the nearest health
food store the only way to stock up on shopping!
Veganism is now big business in the UK. Between 2016-18, the number of UK vegans actually
quadrupled, with a hefty 600,000 recorded
in the UK last year. And, if the numbers
keep growing, that figure could reach up to a quarter of the British population
by 2025.
There are numerous reasons personal to each individual who
decided to make the transition to a plant-based diet; animal welfare,
environmental impacts, and health reasons. As a nation, we’re bombarded with
messages to get healthier by exercising more, eating better, and ensuring the
right vitamin intake e.g. selenium
supplements. The popularity of veganism has garnered so much attention,
including from businesses — once, a vegan meal would’ve consisted of a jacket
potato and beans. Now, the options are limitless, with jackfruit burgers and
vegan sausage rolls.
But there’s also another contributing factor at play which is
helping shape the vegan market: celebrity influence. Our society places
emphasis on the influence of those in the limelight, following trends from
celebrities whether it’s fitness, fashion, or dietary preferences. Recently,
Bryan Adams apologised over an Instagram rant
condemning the wet markets in China and animal cruelty, which faced
backlash.
Here, we’ll take a look at celebrities who’re supporting the
movement in the right way and how they’re shaping the vegan market.
The effect of The Game Changers
Academy award-winning film-maker James Cameron has been on
the forefront of education, setting out to expose myths and misconceptions
around the vegan diet with Netflix’s The Game Changers. As a long-time
environmental advocate, in 2011, Cameron went vegan to lower his carbon
footprint while also finding that his health improved too.
The documentary has a fresh take on veganism by considering
the effects of eating meat and dairy. Where previous documentaries have targeted
the ethics and emotions of animal lovers and environmentalists, The Game
Changers changes the script and targets a different demographic — health
conscious consumers and athletes. The documentary reports that meat, fish,
eggs, and dairy can hinder athletic performance, damage our hearts, impair
sexual function, and shorten our life span.
A
lot more men are becoming ‘plant curious’ after watching this documentary,
which has helped spark the debate around health. Iconic and inspirational
athletes such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and medical professionals such as the
former president of the American College of Cardiology Dr Kim Williams and
founder of the Preventative Medicine Research Institute Dr Dean Ornish explain
their reasons for going vegan and how this has legitimately improved their
lives.
“The previous documentaries in some ways paved the way for
this,” says
Damian Soong, CEO and co-founder of Form Nutrition, a vegan nutrition brand,
“there is now a greater acceptance and awareness of climate change, and the
impact of industrial farming, and the press around meat means it’s very much in
the public consciousness.”
Cameron
has also teamed up with director Peter Jackson to develop plant-based
protein from alfalfa to provide New Zealand with vegan opportunities to
mitigate the country’s struggling farming industry.
Who’s investing?
Research
has found that bacon is the meat that most meat eaters would miss if they
went vegetarian or vegan, so it’s no surprise that vegan brand Outstanding
Foods has cooked up a storm with Pig Out snacks. A plant-based alternative to pork
rinds. Pig Out is made with mushrooms, sunflower oil, sea salt, and other vegan
components. The snack has been getting investment from a list of celebrities
including Snoop Dogg, Jared Followill, Alexandra Paul, Emily Deschanel, Cesar
Milan, Dierks Bentley, and Alan Cunning.
Designed to replicate the lingering salty and crispy flavour
of bacon, Pig Out is a healthier alternative, ideal for both vegans, vegetarians,
and health conscious millennial ‘flexitarians’ who are looking to cut down on
their meat consumption.
Outstanding
Foods described Snoop’s investment as indicating ‘a new era for the brand’,
with the rapper launching a dedicated website to sell the snack.
Award-winning rapper
As well as Outstanding Foods, the award-winning rapper has
taken an interest in plant-based foods lately, investing in vegan burger brand
Beyond Meat.
Beyond Meat’s share prices dropped in 2017, which was given
a boost by Snoop. Beyond Meat collaborated with Dunkin’ Donuts to create the
eye-catching Beyond D-O-Double G Sandwich — a Beyond Meat patty on a layer of egg,
American cheese, sandwiched in a glazed doughnut, which resulted
in the company’s share price rising by more than 20 per cent. Although this
burger is vegetarian rather than vegan, it shows how celebrity endorsement can
help pave the way for a meat-free world and help provide a meat-free
alternative for flexitarians looking to cut down, just like Snoop. More
meat-free burgers for us!
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has supported many vegan brands over the years
since becoming plant-based following a string of strict diets to solve her
gluten and lactose intolerance. In 2014, the star cut out meat and dairy
products altogether, and was seen sporting footwear from the Bristol-based
vegan and fair trade shoe brand Collection & Co who hand make their
footwear from recycled materials and synthetic waste.
Since then, Cyrus has announced the release of her own vegan
Converse collection, designed by the singer and actress with the iconic logo.
Not only highlighting the importance of vegan food, celebrity endorsement help
shed light on the importance issue that animal products used in clothing.
With celebrity endorsement, vegan brands are able to get
their names out there and use investment to develop their products further by
creating more innovative and healthy plant-based foods! What’s your favourite?
Sources
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/james-cameron-why-i-eat-a-vegan-diet-20150915/
https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a29067926/the-game-changers-movie-fact-check/
https://www.peta.org/blog/james-cameron-louis-psihoyos-game-changers/
https://vegnews.com/2018/5/miley-cyrus-unveils-38-piece-vegan-converse-collection
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Created on Sep 29th 2020 10:29. Viewed 415 times.