VegNews Bite Sized
VegNews Bite Sized is your weekly news recap of what’s trending in the vegan world. Each week editors from VegNews select stories to be summarized and packaged up into a 5 - 7 minute episode for subscribers to get a taste of the news.
To help put a fun twist on the news, each episode will use pop culture references, quotes, and memes to ensure it’s not quite as ‘newsy’ as the typical news shows are.
This sample episode and show pitch were created for VegNews Magazine. The show was pitched, but never pursued and is in no way affiliated with VegNews.
Transcript
Upbeat electronic music fades in quietly.
Devin (host): This is Veg News Bite Sized. You’re listening to the top trending stories from the vegan world this week brought to you by VegNews Magazine.
On this episode, we’re talking top news stories from cutting coffee costs to impossible public offerings.
Just like a good day, let’s start with some coffee.
Gilmore girls quote: Don’t you understand? If I don’t get coffee in me things are going to get ugly around here.
Devin: What happens when a star demands less bucks for their brew? You get actress and vegan activist Alicia Silverstone penning a blog post to Starbucks asking them to drop the surcharge for non-dairy milks.
In a quote from Silverstone’s blog, she writes “these charges may seem small, but they penalize customers who are making human and environmentally friendly choices.”
Josh (Clueless movie quote): In some parts of the universe, it’s considered cool to know what’s going on in the world.
Cher (Clueless movie quote): Thank you, Josh. I so need lessons from you on how to be cool.
Devin: This isn’t the first time Silverstone has voiced these demands, but the release of Starbucks’ sustainability plan has reignited the discussion. An audit of the company revealed that dairy was responsible for the majority of their global footprint.
Cher (Clueless movie quote): Yuck!
Devin: So, with claims that they care about being more sustainable, why still charge more for non-dairy milks?
Starbucks claims it's due to the higher cost they pay for the milk, but Silverstone has debunked that before. For more on those numbers and Starbucks’ efforts to be more sustainable, head to vegnews.com for the full story.
In other corporate news, Impossible Foods is rumoured to be hitting a big milestone in its startup story and considering filing an Initial Public Offering. If the company follows through with the IPO they’ll be valued at $10 billion and will become publicly traded on the stock market.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode V quote): No, that’s not true! That’s impossible!
Darth Vader (Star Wars: Episode V quote): Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode V quote): Noooo!
Devin: In comparison, Beyond Meat was the first vegan meat brand to IPO in May 2019. On its first day of trading, stock prices surged up to 163%. Making it the top performing first day stock that year.
Simpsons quote: You will give 110%.
Simpsons quote: That’s impossible. No one can give more than 100%. By definition that is the most anyone can give.
Devin: Like most startups, investment capital helped make Impossible’s growth possible, including contributions from Serena Williams, Jay-Z, and Katy Perry.
Sean (The Social Network quote): $1 million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool?
Devin: 1 million pounds of vegan fried chicken. Because that’s what company Atlas Monroe is projecting to sell this year.
This projection comes after the company just acquired its own multi-million dollar manufacturing plant in San Diego, California. With plans to open a second location already.
As if news of more vegan fried chicken in the world isn’t awesome enough, the cherry on top is founder Deborah Torres’ journey to maintain 100% ownership of the company.
In 2019, she appeared on reality investment show Shark Tank and was offered a rare $1 million for 100% of her company. She of course declined, not wanting to give up her brand. She believed in it and knew they did too.
News reporter: You turned down one million dollars. Why did you do that?
Deborah Torres: Well, because if somebody ever offers you one million dollars, know that you’re worth 100 times more than that.
News reporter (asking for high-five): Give me some girl, I love it!
Devin: And finally, it’s time to go nuts for donuts. Well, in Belgium anyways. Fast-food chain Dunkin’ announced they’ve added 41 vegan donut flavours to its Belgium menu.
As if their waffles weren’t already great enough, Belgians will now be able to indulge in new flavours including original glazed, pistachio, cinnamon swirl, stuffed strawberry, sugared raspberry, and even a Cookie Monster inspired donut.
Cookie monster quote: One, two, three, four, snack time! (eating cookies)
Devin: The donuts are expected to arrive mid-May and are also rumoured to be available in the Netherlands, with plans to expand to other European locations.
On that note, all we can say is donut worry, vegan donuts will hopefully be coming to a cafe near you soon.
That’s all for this episode of Veg News Bite Sized. For more vegan news and updates, be sure to follow Veg News on Twitter and check out full stories at vegnews.com