'This is a massive shame': Customers express dismay after vegan restaurant decides to add meat to its menu
TAUNTON, UNITED KINGDOM: A Somerset vegan restaurant has decided to add meat to its menu as a result of the rising cost of living. The Mango Tree restaurant from Taunton announced recently that it would close on Saturday, September 3, 2022, to undergo renovations and introduce a new menu. In a Facebook post, the restaurant said, “In the near future, our restaurant will be undergoing an exciting period of change, as we re-imagine ourselves to offer the Taunton Community new and exciting options to dine in and takeaway - all in the same location and with the same team you know and love!”
Customers, who were shocked by the decision, have also criticized it. Several customers expressed their disappointment to stop serving solely vegan and vegetarian dishes. One person commented, “I’m very saddened to hear this as someone who put so much energy into your restaurant. I understand entirely why you are doing this but from a vegan standpoint, I would see this as an unethical practice. The non-vegans will probably be happy to see this but sadly I think you may have lost my business from now as I cannot support this decision wishing you the best.”
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“Can I just ask if this means you will be serving vegetarian and vegan or are you moving into a meat-based menu also? I was hoping to visit you in the next few months with family but if you are no longer serving mainly vegan this will certainly narrow down choices for us 😕 Such a shame really. Being a vegan restaurant is unique and takes risks but it certainly is needed!” another user added.
“This is a massive shame. It's been amazing to have a 100% vegan restaurant in Taunton. Veganism isn't a business venture. It's an ethical philosophy that does the best for the animals, the planet, and public health. Introducing animal products to a menu in a town that has so many other restaurants makes no sense. It immediately increases the environmental footprint. It means that the restaurant immediately starts to support animals going through hell again,” yet another user added.
In reply, the restaurant said, "Despite lots of marketing, many special offers, offering dine-in and takeaway, introducing the use of home delivery partners, and working incredibly hard to be as efficient as possible, not enough of the local population used us regularly enough to make continuing in the current format sustainable. We must move on with positivity and are determined to do so. The only other option was to close permanently. Ethics extend to the jobs and welfare of our wonderful team, to whom we owe a great deal, and another chance.”