Plant-Based Grocery Chain Vegan Fine Brands Revs Up Expansion Efforts

Vegan Fine Brands, Inc. has announced an equity crowdfunding raise which will enable Vegan Fine Brands to bring its one-of-a-kind retail experience across the country through both company and franchisee-run locations.

The fundraising campaign will be through StartEngine, a leading equity crowdfunding platform, where everyday people can find and invest in early-growth companies and startups. StartEngine has helped more than 375 companies raise $250M+ from a community of more than 300K prospective investors.

Founder and CEO Steven Smith, a former Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo executive, speaks about how VFB is a personal means to an end especially for a Black businessman, Steven states, “I spent years living in food deserts with little to no accessibility to nutrient dense foods and I see how damaging that can be for underserved communities.”

The flagship Vegan Fine Foods store is located in Fort Lauderdale in the busy Riverwalk entertainment district. The 5,000 sq ft. store is 100 percent vegan and features a wine bar and an adjacent Vegan Fine Body store that stocks natural beauty and grooming products.

Discussing his clientele, Steven states, “we have customers that are Miami-based celebrated musicians, athletes and performers and we get the business community and families from Broward and Dade Counties and beyond. He further adds “because all of our brands are plant-based, non-GMO and ethically sourced ingredients, customers do not need to read labels.”

Vegan Fine Brands private labels many products in the store, including Vegan Fine Wines and Vitamins 4 Vegans. Private labeling gives VFB control of quality and a chance to offer their shoppers unique products that are sold in markets such as Whole Foods and specialty grocers like Erewhon. This ability to private label products allows the company to increase its margins.