Chelsea FC has become the first English Premier League club to offer fans a food outlet offering exclusively vegan food.
The CFC Vegan Kitchen at the club's Stamford Bridge stadium will provide a range of plant-based alternatives for fans on match days. It will offer dishes such as pizzas, buffalo cauliflower wings, vegan doner kebabs and halloumi and falafel wraps.
The introduction of the vegan option is part of a four-year catering deal the club has signed with Levy UK, which includes a commitment to provide more plant-based dishes, modelled on the
‘ideal plate’ concept outlined by the global
EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health.As part of a drive for a more sustainable offer and in line with Chelsea FC’s environmental policies, CFC Vegan Kitchen also utilises a re-usable cup initiative and avoids single-use plastics.
“Reducing our environmental impact as well as offering fans plant-based options where we can is something we’re very committed to and the launch of the vegan kiosk is a further positive step in doing so," said Simon Hunter, head of venue and development at Chelsea FC.
"We take pride in our forward-thinking and innovative approach within the sports sector as to how we can improve the fan experience. The vegan kiosk is part of our mission to innovate, by creating something unique for fans that tastes great.”
Jon Davies, managing director at Levy UK, added: “There’s a demand for football stadiums to follow consumer demand for more sustainable, responsible and diverse food and drink options.
"Adopting a reductionist approach where possible will allow us to provide great-tasting, plant-based food as well as combatting food waste and reducing our impact on the environment.
"The launch of the vegan kiosk with Chelsea FC is testament to both parties commitment to tackle issues surrounding more sustainable menu options.”
Levy has also renewed its status as Chelsea FC's official catering partner, which will see it continue to operate other food venues at Stamford Bridge stadium – as well as working in partnership with the players’ nutritionists and performance coaches to design bespoke menus for the squad at the club's training ground.
