Vegan food orders surge in Hong Kong in Covid-19’s virus

Vegan food orders have experienced significant growth in Hong Kong as people are switching to what they perceive to be more healthy and sustainable food options.

Hong Kong food-delivery service Deliveroo says vegan food orders surged 104 percent last year and order volume is up by a further 20 percent since January. The growth has reflected the increasing popularity of the vegetarian trend in Hong Kong which has led Deliveroo to partner with more restaurants offering sustainable menus.

While the increase in vegan food orders is significant, Deliveroo also says its overall order volume grew 100 percent last year versus 2018 and has doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the December 2019 quarter, so it is difficult to assess whether vegan food is taking sales away from meat-based meals.

However, according to the company, the proportion of restaurants serving plant-based food has been growing in almost every district across the city to meet customers’ high demand. The number of Deliveroo’s partners offering vegan options has tripled in the past year, and more than doubled in the Central district.

“There has never been a better time for healthy eating in Hong Kong, whether you’re a full-time vegan or a part-time plant-based food fan,” said Brian Lo, GM at Deliveroo Hong Kong. “The growth of vegan restaurant options and vegan order volume is truly staggering.”

One of Deliveroo’s partners, the restaurant Treehouse, has reported 1226-per-cent growth in sales from October through March, with online orders increasing 125 percent and the number of new customers increasing by 113 percent.

“We have expanded through Deliveroo and Editions in Wan Chai and Quarry Bay, and by doing so we have been able to create two more new virtual brands,” said Christian Mongendre, founder of Treehouse. “The first being, Origin by Treehouse, which has a Middle Eastern focus, and the newly-launched and very exciting vegetarian high-quality burgers brand, Burgers by Treehouse.”

Besides facing the upcoming challenges of Covid-19 situation, Hong Kong people are now more aware of the benefits of a healthy living habit and healthy conscious dining will soon be a permanent choice for many families in the city.