The owners said they have sadly been ‘left with no choice’
Vegan Shack has been forced to close completely a month earlier than the owners had hoped(Image: Vegan Shack)
The owners of a popular restaurant in Manchester have announced they have closed with immediate effect after entering insolvency.
Vegan Shack, on Rochdale Road in Collyhurst, began life in 2019 and offers a plant-based twist on classic junk food including burgers, loaded fries, fried ‘chicken’ and milkshakes.
Led by owners Dimeji Sadiq and Saffron Mir, the brand also had a base at Piccadilly Gardens, which closed last year. At the time, the pair said their Collyhurst base would continue to serve takeaway customers, with plans to launch further sites in the works.
However, last month, the pair announced the sad news that the business would be closing for good in December after six years in business. Dimeji and Saffron said the move was largely due to rising costs and a changing market.
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The Collyhurst takeaway has closed as the company faces insolvency(Image: Vegan Shack)
In a further blow for the pair, they have been forced to close Vegan Shack a month earlier than anticipated after they had begun the insolvency process, which is a process for companies unable to pay their debts.
They said it has been a ‘difficult and emotional time’, but said they were thankful for the journey they had been on since launching Vegan Shack from their Salford Quays bedroom back in 2019.
Posting on Instagram, the pair wrote: “Hey everyone. This isn’t the message I wanted to send, but I wanted to be upfront with you all. Vegan Shack has now closed and is entering insolvency.
“We had planned to keep trading until Christmas and close on our own terms, but circumstances outside of our control meant we had to stop trading immediately, which left us with no choice but to begin the insolvency process.
“It’s a difficult and emotional time, and it’s affected not just us, but also our staff and some of our suppliers, all of whom have been incredible throughout this journey.
Dimeji Sadiq and Saffron Mir are the co-founders of Vegan Shack(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“From starting out in our small apartment in Salford Quays to serving thousands across Manchester and beyond, this community has shown us nothing but love and loyalty. I can’t thank you enough for every order, message, and moment of support over the years.”
The pair said that they have launched a new vegan skincare brand, called NOMCOS, which features ‘the same heart and values that shaped Vegan Shack’, and added that they hoped people would continue to support them as they entered their ‘next chapter’.
At the weekend, it was reported that the popularity of veganism across the UK has faced numerous surges and drops in popularity over the years. Chelsea Campbell, who runs Manchester-based business Wholesome Junkies, told the M.E.N: “Independents are struggling anyway and then add an all vegan label on there and it’s basically closing doors.”
But, adding a sense of optimism, The Vegan Society told the M.E.N that there is “no evidence” to suggest vegan restaurants are closing at a higher rate than those that serve meat.
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