Back in 2013, only a few months after Vegan Tree Owl made the decision to go 100% Palm-Oil Free, we made our first exhibition showing at World Vegan Day launching our new product range. At that time, vegan products were scarce and not readily available in major store like today. Sourcing ingredients was tricky, but finding customers was not.
Surprisingly we discovered that we were not the only ones driving 2 hours across Melbourne to find vegan groceries, cosmetics and household items - Spending hundreds of dollars on a small precious box of treats and staples.
Every couple weeks we would drive down from the Dandenong Ranges, across to Brunswick where there was a small vegan supermarket called Radical Grocery. We would stock up on organic fruit and veg, grab some shampoo, pre-packaged food and treats. Then we would venture into Fitzroy to the Cruelty Free Store and get another small haul of delectable goodies.
This went on for several years as slowly the market shifted to be more plant-based and cruelty-free which eventually consumed these small businesses making it unsustainable for them to thrive. We remember them fondly as these pioneers carved out a small niche piece of the market that became so prominent that the major stores could no longer conceal its demand.
The World Vegan Day annual event became an annual foodie-fest and shopping extravaganza for people from all over the country up until 2020 when the lockdowns prevented it from running.
We remember fondly and acknowledge the effort and dedication from the organizers and exhibitors, the customers and suppliers from every vegan inspired business small and large.
