One of the world's first vegan fast food chains is bringing its plant-based burgers and chicken to Durham in early 2022.
Odd Burger is set to open a location at 150 Taunton Rd. W. in Whitby in January.
“If you look at our menu, it’s plant-based versions of iconic fast food,” says Odd Burger CEO and co-founder James McInnes.
For example, the best-selling Famous Burger is a vegan take on the Big Mac — chickpea patties topped with dairy-free cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce and secret sauce on a sesame seed bun.
The first Odd Burger opened in London, Ontario in 2016. The company started franchising in 2020 and is in the midst of an aggressive expansion plan.
Whitby will be the seventh location and McInnes says the goal is to grow to 20 locations by next summer.
Odd Burger’s mission is to “disrupt the fast-food industry” by offering a plant-based menu that is minimally processed and made with sustainable ingredients.
Food is produced by the company at its own manufacturing centre with a focus on simple ingredients.
“For example our burgers are made from chickpeas. Our chicken protein only has five ingredients in it,” McInnes notes. “This is where we have found a lot of success, we use ingredients people relate to and can understand.”
Popular menu items include the Vopper — a chickpea patty topped with tempeh “bacon,” lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, ketchup and dairy-free cheddar; a "chickun" lineup made with seitan including sandwiches, wings and tenders; and ice-cream sundaes and milkshakes made with coconut milk.
You can also find breakfast sandwiches, salads and wraps as well as fries smothered with all manner of toppings.
McInnes, who has been vegan since 2013, started Odd Burger as a grassroots organization that delivered organic fruits and vegetables from local farmers to people’s doorsteps.
In 2015, he and co-founder Vasiliki McInnes developed vegan meal kits and quickly realized customers loves their fast food recipes.
When they brought their version of the Big Mac to London Ribfest in 2016 it sold out — the rest is history.
McInnes says there is demand for vegan food in Whitby. When the Odd Burger food truck came to DurhamVegFest he remembers there were “crazy line-ups."
Interestingly, McInnes says most Odd Burger customers aren’t vegan.
“The people who are the loudest supporters of us aren’t vegan, they just love being able to go to a vegan restaurant and actually enjoy it,” he says.
“They know that when they come here they’re going to get a lot of food, it’s going to be cheap, it’s going to be homemade and it’s going to be healthier.”
We want to hear about your favourite places to eat in Durham! Old favourites, hidden gems, new restaurants opening, awesome food trucks. Send your great eats to reporter Jillian Follert at jfollert@durhamregion.com
Odd Burger bringing vegan fast food to Whitby this winter - Toronto Star
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment