Exclusive: Adrian Ling praises positive response to second World Vegan Chocolate Day
pic: Adrian Ling, the 'vegan Willy Wonka' has established the World Vegan Chocolate Day. Pic: Adrian Ling
Adrian Ling, founder of the World Vegan Chocolate Day, has hailed today’s event celebrations as a success in gaining greater awareness for the movement, which continues to make marked progress globally, reports Neill Barston.
As previously reported, among the focal points for the occasion – which is in its second edition – were two sampling events held at the University of Bristol, and University of the West of England, amid a continued rise in popularity with veganism.
The promotional events feature a dedicated vegan ice cream van, with opportunities for participants to have use of a special event logo and social media branding, with the showcase offering a platform for the category amid a backdrop of sustained consumer interest in dietary health, wellbeing and environmental issues.
Speaking exclusively to Confectionery Production, Adrian Ling, CEO of Plamil Foods, who is known as the ‘Vegan Willy Wonka,’ having developed a wide range of products for the category, including its present So Free chocolate series, enthused that there had been an encouraging response to the live events, which he hoped would prove a worthy platform for the event to grow in future years.
Its timing has been devised to conclude at the end of Veganuary, which has proved a worldwide phenomenon in terms of drawing consumers to an entirely plant-based diet, with a total of more than 629,000 people last year worldwide signing up to the month-long challenge of eating a vegan diet for the whole of January. The figures are anticipated to be even higher for 2023, as healthier eating continues to take centre stage in many regions.
Adrian said: “We were mobbed by so many interested students in our giveaway of chocolate, and we had fabulous support from the Happy Cow Ice Cream Company, and Dean Farm Animal Sanctuary.
“I am delighted that the day has been so successful. The energy, enthusiasm of the day, combined with the message of compassion for cows, with crops not cows, and childhood not slavery at the forefront. The day goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to more events next year.”
