'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neat Burger, the vegan fast food restaurant chain owned by British Racing driver Lewis Hamilton and Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, has reportedly closed all its locations in the UK, after six years in business. According to GB News, the vegan burger company has suffered losses worth £8 million.
Launched in 2019, the plant-based restaurant chain served “100 per cent plant-based meals.” The celebrity-backed burger restaurant has had over a dozen locations in a total of four countries, including the UK, the USA, and the UAE. However, now it only has two restaurants remaining in Milan following the shutdown of its locations in London, New York City, as well as Dubai.
When did Neat Burger open?
The 40-year-old Formula One racer joined hands with Leonardo DiCaprio and launched Neat Burger, a fully plant-based restaurant chain thus promoting veganism, in August 2019. At that time, to celebrate the launch of the restaurant chain, Lewis Hamilton took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and wrote:
Trending
“Today we announce the launch of Neat Burger, a plant-based restaurant chain with a commitment to ethical practices and being kinder to our world. I’m so excited to be part of this company, which aims to revolutionize the way we view meat-free food. ”
The Formula One racer also gave fans insights into the company's plans for opening locations across the world. He added in another tweet:
"We open September 2nd on Princes Street, London. Then watch out for more restaurants across the UK and world soon. Our burgers taste incredible, provide a healthier high street alternative and will win the hearts of meat eaters, vegans and everybody in between. Give it a go guys."
Aimed to make plant-based food and eating more accessible to people, Neat Burger primarily served plant-based burgers, along with sides including fries, tater tots, and more vegan friendly items.
Why has Neat Burgers shut down?
According to The Sun, the celebrity-backed burger restaurant is closing all its locations across the UK due to financial losses. Neat Burgers has shut down its British stores with the potential loss of around 150 jobs.
Although the restaurant’s food received praise, in 2023, the company incurred substantial losses and revealed that half of its outlets would close in the UK. Decline in customer numbers and its financial losses, which by the year 2022 were already a staggering £7.9m, reportedly grew bigger from £3.2m the year before.
While the vegan fast food joint was closing half of its eight locations in the UK in 2023, as per The Sun, a company spokesman revealed at that time:
“We are concentrating our efforts on our best performing restaurants— we believe that sometimes taking a step back is necessary to make a bigger leap forward.”
Notably, by this year, the restaurant chain only had two of its restaurants operating in the UK capital, both of which will now close. The locations that have ceased operations include Camden and Wembley. Meanwhile, a spokesperson revealed to The Sun:
"We have no further comment at this time, other than to confirm that the business has taken the difficult decision to close its UK restaurants."
Notably, the company also made ambitious plans to expand to 30 sites across London. However, they were halted as it struggled with slowing customer demand for vegan food and growing pressures of the cost-of-living.
