World famous model and vegan Heather Mills will officially open her new VBites café in Chester on Monday (June 8) within Holland & Barrett’s Foregate Street store – alongside professional snooker player and fellow vegan Neil Robertson.
Her VBites company is described as the world’s leading manufacturer of vegan, meat free foods and is kosher and halal accredited, with the full range available in the city centre store.
Heather will visit the Chester concession for a free lunchtime sampling session between 11.30am-2.30pm where she is expected to talk to customers and pose for selfies.
While there, Heather will announce plans to open many more cafe outlets around the country, in partnership with Holland & Barrett.
Dream comes to fruition
It has been Heather’s dream to create a chain of vegan, healthier fast food outlets and that dream, after decades of hard work, is finally coming true. The Chester concession is the company’s third outlet, after the test kitchen in New York and successful café in Brighton.
Heather said: “The VBites range has been developed to be enjoyed by people across a whole spectrum of different diets and proves that vegan food is not limited in taste or variety. Our partnership with Holland & Barrett shows how committed we are to introducing this exciting new range to the high street and I look forward to sharing our wonderful food with the people of Chester.”
As well as managing VBites, Heather is Britain’s world record holder in five winter sports – and is also the fastest disabled woman on skis in the world - so it is appropriate that she will be accompanied in Chester by another sportsperson, former snooker world champion and newly converted vegan, Neil Robertson. Neil will be there to meet the public and discuss the benefits of a vegan diet.
On the day there will be a raffle with prizes to include a free hamper of Heather’s award-winning VBites food, as well as a pair of tickets to an upcoming snooker tournament donated by Neil. Also, in exchange for a donation to Capricorn Animal Rescue Centre, shoppers will receive a signed copy of Heather’s recipe book ‘Lovebites’.
Shopping trip
This isn’t the first time Heather Mills has visited Chester. In 2003, Heather and her former husband Sir Paul McCartney were spotted shopping in Northgate Street but on that occasion healthy eating didn’t appear to be top of the agenda.
Apparently the couple had asked where they could buy the best chips in town and were pointed in the direction of the now defunct Sayers bakery and cafe, later enjoying their modest meal on the Cathedral Green. At the time, shop assistant Sophie Noaks said: “They asked for a portion of chips to take away. I think it was for both of them. He was very polite and very pleasant.”
The couple returned to the city at the very end of 2014 when they were spotted laden with shopping bags after picking up a few bargains in the sales on New Year’s Eve. This this time they were accompanied by their daughter Beatrice, then aged just 14 months.
More about VBites
Peter Aldis, Holland & Barrett international’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to support the VBites range and are fully behind Heather’s aim to bring innovative vegan food to a wider audience, which appeals to the whole family. The synergy between Holland & Barrett and VBites made it a natural decision to place concessions in-store and we are excited about the future roll out.”
All of VBites food is accredited by the Vegetarian and Vegan Society and is free from animal products, fish, eggs, dairy, artificial colourings, GMO’s, hydrogenated fats and oils. Some of their products are also suitable for low-gluten dietary requirements.
VBites distributes to 24 countries worldwide and has achieved Ethical Award status for the ninth year running.
