Plant-based meat substitutes used to be confined to the aisles of health food stores and stands in farmers markets. However, with the explosion in discussions around the environmental and health consequences of eating meat, plant-based foods are growing in popularity on an international level.
In this episode, Matteo Toto, the founder of Flower Burger, explores vegan trends and some of the obstacles he faced making his restaurant a success. With locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and The Netherlands, Flower Burger is a vegan burger restaurant that prioritizes natural, healthy ingredients that taste delicious.
“I got inspiration from the Flower Power movement,” says Toto. “It’s easy to attract a customer, but you have to keep them and make them loyal… one day, the revenue started to grow. I was able to hire more people and organize myself in a better way. Step by step, we built the structure of my company. Today, we have sixteen stores.”
Flower Burger is known for its unique store design with colored wallpaper and psychedelic lighting. Buns, patties, and sauces are internally produced, free of chemical preservatives, and entirely made from vegetables. Only biodegradable and compostable materials are used.
“We will always do it like this,” adds Toto. “I’m pretty confident that the new generation will care more about the environment and ourselves. We are what we eat. When we eat junk food, our body suffers. To live a healthy life, we should care about what we’re eating.”
Check out the podcast to learn more about the vegan movement and Flower Burger’s expansion plans!