The Vegan Society
The Vegan Society is a UK-registered charity founded in 1944 that promotes veganism through trademark certification for product manufacturers, membership programs, education, and policy advocacy. It serves consumers, brands, schools, healthcare professionals, and policymakers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1944
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Vegan Society does
The Vegan Society is a UK-registered charity founded in 1944 in Birmingham, operating as the world's oldest vegan organization. It serves multiple stakeholder groups including individual consumers adopting vegan lifestyles, food and product manufacturers seeking certification, schools and educators, healthcare professionals, government policymakers, and international vegan activists. The organization operates 101-250 staff and maintains registered charity status in England and Wales (279228) and Scotland (SC049495).
The organization's core products and platforms span certification, content, commerce, and community. The Vegan Trademark is a certification program verifying that products contain no animal ingredients and have not been tested on animals, licensed to thousands of brands across food, cosmetics, toiletries, household items, and fashion categories. Consumer-facing products include the VEG 1 supplement line, the VeGuide mobile application for lifestyle transition, The Vegan Pod podcast, and The Vegan Magazine. Educational resources include lesson plans for Key Stage 3/4 students developed in partnership with Twinkl. Technology infrastructure is relatively lightweight: the VeGuide app, an online Vegan Trademark Search database, and a Vegananalyser calculator tool. No API, SDK, AI/ML capabilities, or data infrastructure are disclosed.
The business model combines four revenue streams: membership subscriptions starting at £2 per month, trademark licensing fees paid by brands and manufacturers (not publicly disclosed, quote-based), product sales (VEG 1 supplements, gifts, accessories) through an online storefront, and donations including one-time gifts and legacy bequests. Distribution is omnichannel: direct self-serve membership, e-commerce, B2B trademark licensing, educational distribution via Twinkl, and affiliate partnerships. The organization also operates a grant-giving programme (allocating £26,000 internationally in 2025) funded by donations, and engages in policy advocacy through coalitions such as the Ten-Point Plan for Plant-Rich Diets endorsed with Plant Based Health Professionals and Foodrise.
The Vegan Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Vegan Society
- Legal name
- The Vegan Society
- Website
- https://vegansociety.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1944
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Vegan Society is a UK-registered charity founded in 1944 that promotes veganism through trademark certification for product manufacturers, membership programs, education, and policy advocacy. It serves consumers, brands, schools, healthcare professionals, and policymakers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Vegan Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vegan Certification and Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vegan/Vegetarian & Animal-Derived Ingredient Verification (incl. cross-contact) (AFALAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animal Welfare Certification Services (AFALAMAE), Plant-Based & Vegetarian/Vegan Nutrition (HSADAFAJ)
Keywords
Where The Vegan Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
The Vegan Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership subscriptions: Individual membership program offering resources, nutrition guidance, and member-exclusive discounts starting from £2 per month
- Vegan Trademark licensing: Brands and manufacturers pay licensing fees to use The Vegan Society's trademark on their certified vegan products
- Product sales: Sale of VEG 1 vegan supplements, gifts, and accessories through the online shop
- Donations: Charitable donations from supporters, including one-time gifts and legacy donations through wills
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual membership starting at £2/month |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Vegan Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Vegan Society is a UK-based registered charity that certifies vegan products through its internationally recognized Vegan Trademark licensing program, sells VEG 1 vegan supplements and branded merchandise, and operates as the world's oldest vegan advocacy organization (founded 1944). It funds its mission through individual memberships (£2/month), donations, product sales, and trademark licensing fees paid by brands and manufacturers for certified vegan products.
Product overview
The Vegan Society operates primarily as a nonprofit organization offering advocacy, certification, and educational services rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include the Vegan Trademark certification program for brands, VEG 1 Vegan Supplements as a consumer product, the VeGuide mobile app for lifestyle guidance, The Vegan Pod podcast and The Vegan magazine as content platforms, and various campaigns such as The Future is Vegan. The organization also provides educational resources including teaching materials and a grant programme supporting international vegan activism.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Vegan Trademark: A certification programme that awards the Vegan Trademark to products that are free from animal ingredients and animal testing.
- VEG 1
- The Vegan Pod
- The Vegan Magazine
- The Future is Vegan
Quantifiable outcome
- Additional 16.5 million people could be fed by converting land used for animal feed
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Vegan Society
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Vegan Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Vegan Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Plant Based Health Professionals (PBHP)coreCo-endorsers of the Ten-Point Plan for Plant-Rich Diets, along with over 60 organizations and experts. This joint position paper proposes measures the government can enact to increase production and consumption of vegetables, fruit, legumes, pulses and wholegrains in the UK.
- FoodrisecoreCo-endorser of the Ten-Point Plan for Plant-Rich Diets with The Vegan Society and Plant Based Health Professionals.
- TwinklminorPartnership with Twinkl to develop educational materials about veganism for Key Stage 3 or 4 students. Materials explain what veganism means, reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle, and how a vegan diet can meet nutritional needs.
- UK Climate Change CommitteeminorOfficial statutory body whose recommendations The Vegan Society cites and advocates for. The Committee recommends dietary change towards plants, including 20% cut in dairy by 2035 and 35% cut in meat by 2050.
- Vegan Trademark licensees (thousands of brands)coreOver thousands of brands and manufacturers hold licenses to use The Vegan Society's trademark on their certified vegan products spanning food, cosmetics, toiletries, household items, and fashion categories.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Vegan Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Greenpeace: Global environmental advocacy non-profit that engages on plant-based diets as part of climate-change campaigning. Comparable in its charity structure, policy advocacy, donor-driven funding model, and use of evidence-based reports to influence dietary and food-system policy.
- Fairtrade Foundation: UK-registered charity licensing the FAIRTRADE Mark to consumer brands across food, textiles, and cosmetics. Highly analogous operating model - charity-owned certification trademark licensed to thousands of brands - making it a strong reference point for the Vegan Trademark's commercial trajectory and governance structure.
- Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): One of the largest US animal welfare organizations with broader scope than vegan advocacy, including pet rescue, wildlife protection, and farm animal welfare. Comparable as an advocacy/charity peer operating certification and policy-influence programmes in the animal welfare space.
Direct peers
- Animal Equality: International animal-protection non-profit operating vegan and farmed-animal welfare campaigns across multiple continents. Comparable in mission, international grant-giving style, and corporate-engagement advocacy, though structured around investigative campaigns rather than product certification.
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Largest animal rights organization globally, with a vegan advocacy mission closely aligned to The Vegan Society. Both promote plant-based living to end animal exploitation through campaigns, corporate engagement, and certification-style endorsement programmes (e.g., PETA's 'Beauty Without Bunnies').
- Vegan Action / Certified Vegan (Vegan.org): US-based non-profit operating the 'Certified Vegan' logo programme, a direct competitor to the Vegan Trademark for vegan product certification. Highly comparable on the licensing/trademark business model, product scope, and non-profit structure, though with a North American brand focus.
- Cruelty Free International: UK- and US-based non-profit running the 'Leaping Bunny' certification programme for cruelty-free cosmetics and household products. Closely comparable as a charity-driven certification body that licenses a recognized logo to consumer brands in the animal-welfare space.
- Vegetarian Society: UK-based charity founded in 1847 promoting vegetarianism, the closest direct peer. Operates the 'Vegetarian Society Approved' trademark for food and beverage products, sharing The Vegan Society's certification, advocacy, and membership-driven non-profit model, though focused on vegetarian (not vegan) standards.
- Plant Based Health Professionals (PBHP): UK charity of healthcare professionals advocating plant-based nutrition. Closely comparable as a vegan-aligned non-profit partner that co-endorses the Ten-Point Plan for Plant-Rich Diets with The Vegan Society, sharing the nutrition-education and policy-reform remit.
Emerging players
- BeVeg International: For-profit vegan certification company offering trademark licensing to food, beverage, cosmetics, and personal-care brands. Directly competes with the Vegan Trademark in the vegan-certification-as-a-service category but operates on a commercial (non-charity) basis with global expansion ambitions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Vegan Society social profiles
Digital presenceThe Vegan Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Vegan Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Vegan Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Vegan Society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Vegan Society
What does The Vegan Society do?
The Vegan Society is a UK-based registered charity that certifies vegan products through its internationally recognized Vegan Trademark licensing program, sells VEG 1 vegan supplements and branded merchandise, and operates as the world's oldest vegan advocacy organization (founded 1944). It funds its mission through individual memberships (£2/month), donations, product sales, and trademark licensing fees paid by brands and manufacturers for certified vegan products.
Is The Vegan Society a public or private company?
The Vegan Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Vegan Society founded?
The Vegan Society was founded in 1944. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Vegan Society based?
The Vegan Society is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Vegan Society make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are vegan Trademark licensing, product sales and donations.
Who are The Vegan Society's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Greenpeace, Fairtrade Foundation and Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Direct peers are Animal Equality, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Vegan Action / Certified Vegan (Vegan.org), Cruelty Free International, Vegetarian Society and Plant Based Health Professionals (PBHP). BeVeg International is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Vegan Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Vegan Society.
What industry is The Vegan Society in?
The Vegan Society's product category is Vegan Certification and Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAHAI, Vegan/Vegetarian & Animal-Derived Ingredient Verification (incl. cross-contact), with a secondary code of AFALAMAE, Animal Welfare Certification Services. Its NAICS code is 813312.