news > 17 june 2006

Free Vegan Food Fayre in Central London

Report below as seen on the Animal Aid website.

"On Saturday 17th June, Animal Aid, along with Vegan Campaigns, held a Free Vegan Food Fayre in central London as part of the London 21 Sustainability Weeks. The aim of the Fayre was to promote a healthier and greener capital and to focus on the health and environmental benefits of a vegan diet as opposed to animal welfare. With this in mind, we were hoping to attract people who were new to vegan food but cared about their health and the impact that eating meat has on the environment.

Over 300 people attended the event, some even queuing to get in before the doors had opened. Visitors were treated to a variety of delicious vegan dishes prepared with items donated by some of our favourite vegetarian food companies including: Shambhu's Kitchen, Redwood Foods, Isle of Bute Foods and Plamil. There was also a huge selection of desserts, kindly donated by Blue Lotus, Doves Farm, Lyme Regis and Booja Booja.

Once lunch was over, visitors were able to find out more information on various aspects of cruelty-free living from Animal Aid, Vegan Campaigns, Bourgeoise Boheme, Vegan Organic Network, Foods for Life, Lifescape magazine and Natural Balance Foods.

Feedback on the event and the food was truly positive, with visitors reporting that they intend to cut down on the amount of meat they currently eat and some to go veggie or vegan."

We are now looking forward to our next fayre which is planned to take place during national vegan week (Sat 28 October to Sat 4 November). If you would like to help out please email us. People who help out often say how brilliant food fayres are to take part in because you get such positive feedback and lots of interest in veganism.

Analysis of Questionnaires

A questionnaire was given to everyone who came in and the results are below. 139 people filled in questionnaires. £220 taken on door (some people only paid 50p and others got in free near end. It is estimated that there were at least 300 people.

Attendees
35 Meat eaters
27 Pescatarians (person who eats fish but no other meats)
32 Vegetarians
45 Vegans

How they found out about the event
25 - leaflet (flyer on street) (11 meat eaters, 3 pescatarians, 7 veggies,4 vegans)
22 - friend (8 meat eaters, 3 pescatarians, 6 veggies, 5 vegans)
17 – Camden Green Fayre (3 meat eaters, 3 pescatarians, 4 veggies, 7 vegans)
10 – letterbox (2 meat eaters, 4 pescatarians, 4 vegans)
9 – Time Out (2 pescatarians, 5 veggies, 2 vegans)
5 – Mind, Body, Spirit festival (1 meat eater, 1 pescatarian, 3 vegans)
4 - Organic supermarket (Planet Organic?) ( 2 pescatarians, 2 veggies)
4 – Internet (2 meat eaters, 2 veggie)
3 – Animal Aid e-news (1 veggie, 2 vegans)
3 - Pogo Café (1 pescatarian, 2 vegans)
3 – Camden New Journal (2 pescatarians, 1 veggie)
3 – Green Events (1 meat eater, 2 vegans)
3 – VeganCampaigns website (3 vegans)
3 – library (2 meat eaters, 1 pescatarian)
3 – Morley College (1 meat eater, 2 pescatarian)
2 – Greenpeace magazine (2 vegans)
2 – Greenliving magazine (2 veggies)
2 – Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre (1, pescatarian, 1 vegan)
1 – London 21 booklet (1 meat eater)
1 – food fayre (1 meat eater)
1 – health food shop (1 pescatarian)
1 – Bike fest (1 pescatarian)
1 – shop (1 pescatarian)
1 – Haringey solidarity group (1 veggie)
1 – Lifescape magazine (1 vegan)
1 – Vegan Freak forum (1 vegan)
1 - Kingston Green Fair (1 vegan)
1 – London vegans meeting (1 vegan)
1 – at a demo (1 vegan)
1 – Naked Cycle ride (1 vegan)
1 – email from Blue Lotus (1 vegan)

Eating more vegan food
Yes – 27 meat eaters, 17 pescatarians, 26 veggies, 38 vegans
Maybe – 6 meat eaters, 8 pescatarians, 4 veggies
No – 2 meat eaters, 2 pescatarians, 4 vegans
No answer – 2 veggies, 3 vegans

Change of diet
Diet stay the same – 6 meat eaters, 17 pescatarians, 19 veggies all 45 vegans
Eat less meat – 23 meat eaters
Consider going veggie – 6 meat eaters, 4 pescatarians
Consider going vegan – 2 pescatarians, 10 veggies
Definitely going vegan – 1 pescatarian, 2 veggies
No answer – 3 pescatarians, 1 veggie

Favourite Food
Carrot cake x 19
Chickpea curry x 15
Curry x 14
Cakes x 11
Chocolate cake x 9
Truffles x 8
Lemon and coconut cheesecake x 7
Cheese x 6
Potato curry x 6
Burger x 5
Energy balls x 5
Cous cous salad x 5
Rice and tofu salad x 4
Banana and choc cake x 4
Cheesecake x 4
Chicken substitute x 4
Lemon cake x 4
Sandwich x 3
Sausage and veg stew x 3
Tofu and cashew nut stew x 3
Almond roast x 3
Carrot and cinnamon cake x 3
Mayonnaise x 2
Sausage roll x 2
Blue Lotus Cakes x 2
Butternut / mango stew x 2
Spicy potatoes x 2

Potato salad x 1
Coffee, date and walnut cake (Blue Lotus) x 1
Smoked bacon sandwiches x 1
Savoury rice by Caroline x 1
Date cake x 1
Mushroom Vol-au-vonts x 1
Nut roast x 1
Oat cookies x 1
Biscuits x 1
Chickpea casserole x 1
Cracker with chickpea and veg spread x 1
Tea x 1
Casserole x 1
Pizza x 1
Bruscetta x 1
Blackcurrant squares x 1
Bread salad x 1
Pesto dish x 1
Pastries x 1
Mushroom rice x 1
Sausage x 1
Soup x 1
Fruit cake x 1
Potato salad x 1

Comments
Everyone wrote something positive, mainly how much they enjoyed the event, how good the food was and what a good idea food fayres are. Below are comments that can be used by us and other people doing food fayres to improve their events.

More info on where to buy products
More salad
Not enough savoury foods
More food companies represented
Promotion of raw food
Not enough food (arrived at 1.15!)
Less substitutes and more natural food (i.e. veg, grains etc) – from a vegan
Wheat free dishes needed
More fruit and veg
Some food too dry
More reffreshments
Announcement asking people to be quiet for talk
Drinks available in savoury area
Tell people to bring their own plate and cutlery
Separate lecture room for talks
Need to show people what was used for cheese and ham in sandwiches
Posters outside on street
Better advertising
Too much waste i.e. cups and plates
Cheese not very tasty
Less fake meat
Perhaps involve vegan buffets that are in London
Stage it on street
To avoid vegans – advertise as cruelty-free food not vegan
Too much wheat, not enough choice
Less sugary food
Seminars first and then serve food