Lewis Hamilton’s Neat Burger Expands to US with Fast-Food Shops and Vegan Meats - Vegos

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This fall, vegan burger chain Neat Burger will open its first United States location in Manhattan in New York City. Founded in 2019 with help from world champion race car driver Lewis Hamilton, the shop serves typical fast-food fare made vegan, including plant-based cheese burgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs, tater tots, ice cream, and milkshakes, along with kids meals. The opening will come after a pop-up in midtown Manhattan this month which will introduce New Yorkers to the United Kingdom-based brand Neat Food Co (NEAT)—which encompasses both the burger concept and a retail brand that will also expand stateside. 

NEAT is embarking on its expansion to the US with key hires who will help the vegan burger chain and plant-based meat business get its foothold stateside. At the helm of this expansion is Vincent Herbert, the former CEO of Le Pain Quotidien, who joins the brand as Chief Executive of Neat Burger USA. Additionally, Jeffrey S. Fried (former Chairman of Sweetgreen) and Henrik Fjordbak (former COO at Joe & The Juice) join the brand’s advisory board to propel it forward in achieving its earth-saving mission. 

“We are on a mission to fundamentally change how the world consumes protein and are excited to announce these new appointments whose expertise will make a real impact,” Zack Bishti, co-founder and CEO of Neat Burger, said in a statement. “With Jeff and Henrik’s success in nurturing industry-leading brands, and Vincent’s prowess in delivering global expansion, we have a powerhouse team primed for explosive entry into new markets; to shift consumer behavior and be a force for good.” 

Hamilton went vegan in 2017 and uses his immense fame to promote animal-rights and social justice issues, often taking to social media to urge fans to go vegan. Hamilton also puts his money where his mouth is by investing in vegan businesses, including The Not Company—a Chilean vegan startup that raised $235 million in funding last year with help from Hamilton and musical artist Questlove.  

In 2019, Hamilton’s investment in NEAT—created in collaboration with hospitality group The Cream Group and Beyond Meat investor Tommaso Chiabara—provided the company with key funding to get it off the ground. Neat Burger opened its flagship location in Central London in 2019 before expanding to  second and third locations in the Camden and Soho neighborhoods, respectively. The brand grew quickly and last year, after securing an additional $7 million in a funding round led by SoftBank’s Rajeev Misra, announced massive expansion plans that bring more locations to its domestic market—including through 20 “ghost” kitchens—and take it global, starting with the US.   

By 2030, NEAT plans to expand to 1,000 corporately owned, franchise, and dark kitchens. It is also working to bring next-level plant-based meat alternatives made with wholesome ingredients—such as its grain mix of quinoa, chickpea, and mung beans—to the retail sector. 

“By 2040 we see a world where alternative proteins have replaced animal proteins completely,” Chiabra said in a statement. “NEAT is leading the charge in the development of these alternatives that not only satisfy the needs of conscious consumers, but that also deliver on flavor. We’re here to prove that the easiest choice can also be the best choice for the planet.”

Neat Burger’s expansion to the US comes at a time when homegrown vegan fast-food chains begin their own expansions to serve an increasing demand for plant-based foods—a market that a recent artificial intelligence-driven report by Tastewise estimated to be worth $74 billion by 2027.

Vegan chain PLNT Burger—owned by celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn of Top Chef fame—opened its first NYC location in the Union Square neighborhood earlier this year and expanded to Boston this week. Canada’s Odd Burger—the first publicly traded vegan fast-food chain—is also eyeing an NYC location with plans to operate 50 North American locations by 2029. 

On the West Coast, San Diego’s Plant Power Fast Food is expanding up the coast with new locations in Los Angeles, Fountain Valley, and Sacramento, along with its first out-of-state location in Las Vegas, NV. Oregon’s organic vegan fast-food pioneer Next Level Burger is also in the midst of a multi-state expansion, with a Denver, CO opening planned this summer. 

And traditional fast-food giants are not sitting idly by, with McDonald’s working with Beyond Meat to develop plant-based options globally through its McPlant platform; Burger King testing meatless pop-up locations in Europe; and KFC launching vegan chicken in multiple countries. 

For more about vegan fast food, read: Burger King Is First Major Fast-food Chain To Serve Vegan Impossible Nuggets Fatburger’s CEO on the Future of Vegan Fast FoodVegan Fast-Food Chains Spread Nationwide. Can McDonald’s Keep Up?