The UK Vegan Crusade

[AeryFairy]

I've started to use my spare time at work in a productive manner - emailing/facebooking companies about providing vegan options/labelling existing options. This can be anything - products, meals, even things like asking local hairdressers to provide cruelty free shampoo options. The idea behind this is, if we make companies aware of demand for these options, they might create them. Vegan options becoming more available hopefully means more people will use them.

Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to have a thread where we can all post when we email a company, and then everyone else can back us up if they have some spare time. The key to getting companies to listen is volume. One person asking might not make much difference, but ten or twenty might

Even if you haven't sent any messages yet, if there's a vegan product you would like to see a company making, post it here and I'll add the details to the list below.

So, to get the ball rolling, I went to the Ben & Jerry's Facebook Page and asked if they could come up with some vegan options. If other people go on there and either support my post with a like and/or comment, or make a post of their own, it might make the point a bit clearer.

Contact List:
Ben & Jerry's - Vegan Ice Cream
Facebook
Twitter
Website

Thorntons - Vegan Chocolate
Facebook
Twitter
Website

 

[Alice-Bee]

This is a really great idea. I wanted to contact Thorntons(chocolate shop) and ask whether they could provide a vegan option as so many of their chocolates are dark chocolate anyway...

 

[AeryFairy]

To contact Thorntons:

https://www.facebook.com/Thorntons.Official
http://www.thorntons.co.uk/custserv/contactus.jsp

I'll send them a message soon

 

[shyvas]

I also think it is a good idea to voice out a request. However is Facebook really the best place to do it ? I'm not on FB so can't back up your request, however will e mail CS.
Howabout making out a list of shops and companies and writing to them ?

 

[shyvas]

To contact Thorntons:

https://www.facebook.com/Thorntons.Official
http://www.thorntons.co.uk/custserv/contactus.jsp

I'll send them a message soon

Done !

 

[hungryraccoon]

When I have a computer/laptop/tablet again I would really like to be more productive like this also.

I can send emails phone my phone of course, but never know what to say. :/

 

[hungryraccoon]

I also think it is a good idea to voice out a request. However is Facebook really the best place to do it ? I'm not on FB so can't back up your request, however will e mail CS.
Howabout making out a list of shops and companies and writing to them ?

I'm not on fb either!

 

[shyvas]

I'm not on fb either!

It looks like there are 2 of us in the whole wide world.

 

[AeryFairy]

I also think it is a good idea to voice out a request. However is Facebook really the best place to do it ? I'm not on FB so can't back up your request, however will e mail CS.
Howabout making out a list of shops and companies and writing to them ?

Yes, Facebook (or twitter) is an excellent place to do it. Not only do the company see your request, but everyone who connects with that company online might see it, too. Thousands of total strangers, compared to the 0 that would see your email. This can include people who would ordinarily not think about emailing a company for something like this - maybe they have a vegan friend, or a lactose intolerant sibling, and they might support your post for them. They can potentially ignore an email/letter, but if lots of people see a post online in this manner and like it/comment on it, it's harder for the company to ignore, and it's easier for them to see how much support there is for an idea. It can also generate positive press for a company if they are shown to be listening to consumers. Finally, it's really easy. Clicking like takes two seconds. Even writing an email to a company means you have to find the company info, maybe fill out an online form, think of what to say... doesn't sound like much, but people are a lot less likely to do this just for an idea (rather than, say, a complaint).

And this thread is for that list of companies I'll be editing the first post with links to contact the companies and what we're asking for. That way, when people are bored, they can come to this thread and write out a couple of quick emails/facebook posts. If we're successful, I'll post up news of that too!

 

[shyvas]

Yes, Facebook (or twitter) is an excellent place to do it. Not only do the company see your request, but everyone who connects with that company online might see it, too. Thousands of total strangers, compared to the 0 that would see your email. This can include people who would ordinarily not think about emailing a company for something like this - maybe they have a vegan friend, or a lactose intolerant sibling, and they might support your post for them. They can potentially ignore an email/letter, but if lots of people see a post online in this manner and like it/comment on it, it's harder for the company to ignore, and it's easier for them to see how much support there is for an idea. It can also generate positive press for a company if they are shown to be listening to consumers. Finally, it's really easy. Clicking like takes two seconds. Even writing an email to a company means you have to find the company info, maybe fill out an online form, think of what to say... doesn't sound like much, but people are a lot less likely to do this just for an idea (rather than, say, a complaint).

And this thread is for that list of companies I'll be editing the first post with links to contact the companies and what we're asking for. That way, when people are bored, they can come to this thread and write out a couple of quick emails/facebook posts. If we're successful, I'll post up news of that too!

I've been doing this for years. My only concern is the FB looks more like a forum to me and seems so impersonal.

 

[AeryFairy]

I've been doing this for years. My only concern is the FB looks more like a forum to me and seems so impersonal.

I'm not saying don't email, or do this instead of emailing, or anything like that. Just that FB is a super fast and easy way to get the word out, that people can use if they wish. It's great that you've been emailing companies for years about providing vegan options, but some of us don't always think to do that, or just can't be bothered sometimes I'm just trying to coordinate a small collective effort that might make vegan products more accessible and mainstream, if people want to take part.

Also, I'm providing email links for those who don't use social media and still want in

 

[Moll Flanders]

It looks like there are 2 of us in the whole wide world.

Three of us.

 

[shyvas]

Three of us.

Let's set up a Anti FB network of friends.

 

[ledboots]

When I have a computer/laptop/tablet again I would really like to be more productive like this also.

I can send emails phone my phone of course, but never know what to say. :/

I love this idea but don't use facebook. Maybe someone could write a generic letter that we could adapt to each company as we go along?

I have had great success locally talking to non-chain (or small chain anyway) businesses that I frequent about having more vegan options. One BBQ place added vegan portabella and falafel dishes, a local convenience store started stocking almond milk. But I have only written a few places; they sometomes send me coupons when I do, bonus.

 

[CrazyCatLady]

I am getting my hair cut at the college salon Thursday so can suggest it to them as it will be something to make them stand out if they are cruelty free xxx