The Vurger Co secures new investors in pre-pack deal
Hugh told the Evening Standard that the pandemic brought ‘enormous challenges’ but that, besides the Canary Wharf branch, the restaurants remain open
Vegan burger chain, The Vurger Co., has been rescued out of a pre-pack administration by co-founder Rachel Hugh under a new company with the help of investors after appointing administrators at the end of last month.
The vegan restaurant chain started out in 2016 as a stall in Tottenham, North London, growing to holding sites in Shoreditch, Brighton, and Manchester.
Due to the administration process, Vurger Co.’s fourth branch in Canary Wharf, which first opened in 2019, has closed. It looked like the whole business would close, but new investors were reportedly found at “the eleventh hour”.
Hugh told the Evening Standard that the pandemic brought “enormous challenges” but that, besides the Canary Wharf branch, the restaurants remain open.
She continued: “It’s been a painful few years trading as a small vegan restaurant business in the UK. After recording strong growth, we were hit with enormous challenges due to the pandemic.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to build the business from scratch, and it’s been a huge challenge, but we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.”
She added: “We also had to contend with the cost of living crisis and the chaos caused by Brexit, leaving small businesses to fend for themselves.”
The Vurger Co. is one of many vegan fast food restaurant groups and serves plant-based burgers using the likes of Beyond Meat, tempeh, and soya. Its financial difficulties come as interest in new-age vegan and vegetarian fast food appears to be waning.