WYRE Forest has welcomed new shops and Cafés offering residents a host of vegan products to encourage a change in lifestyle.

Stourport has seen the opening of a vegan hub to support those maintaining a plant-based lifestyle.

Green’s Vegan Café, which opened in 2018, is a space which offers a menu to satisfy the growing vegan community, and those interested in trying something different.

Owner Jude Green shares the High Street space with Lindsey Clode, who runs the One Vegan Lifestyle shop.

Jude said: “I’ve been vegan for six years and I think it’s really great to have a place where people can come in and not have to worry about what’s vegan and what’s not.”

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Veteran vegan Margaret Szawejko, aged 84, from Stourport, who is a regular at the café, is “thrilled to bits” that more options are now available for people.

She said: “It’s a revelation, it was quite difficult before, you couldn’t buy anything. There’s so much information now.

“I’m very pleased because people are not afraid to be vegan now.”

Margaret, who became vegan in 1971, recalled the first time vegan ice cream was introduced in 1985.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Kidderminster has also seen the launch of the ‘ethical’ Eat. Love. Yoga café this year.

Lisa Moore, aged 31, who runs the Comberton Hill shop has explained the reasons for her “ethical journey” as an environmentalist, who hopes to “challenge” people to eat less meat, and reduce plastic use.

She said: “I am not a vegan, but I want to make people feel they can do their bit and not have to go full vegan. It’s about making smaller, little steps.”

The café, which is 100 per cent vegan, offers an array of healthy salad options, toasties, and plant-based milk alternatives also has a reduced plastic shop.

She added: “If everyone in Kidderminster went meat free for a day that would make a big difference.

“To know that we can get into veganism for different decisions is important for people to know. There’s no right or wrong.”

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Meanwhile, mainstream supermarkets such as Tesco have been promoting their own range of plant-based options, launching their own 'Wicked Kitchen' selection of food to go and chilled deserts last year. 

They have also added a 'vegan' filter on their website, allowing shoppers to view their range of plat-based products more easily. 

Sainbury’s has also announced that after launching their FreeFrom alternatives to cheese last year, sales in the first month were 300 per cent greater than the company expected.