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Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

A family company looking to open Toronto's first artisanal vegan cheese shop!

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Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

Wandering Deli- a vegan cheese shop in Toronto!

A family company looking to open Toronto's first artisanal vegan cheese shop!

A family company looking to open Toronto's first artisanal vegan cheese shop!

A family company looking to open Toronto's first artisanal vegan cheese shop!

A family company looking to open Toronto's first artisanal vegan cheese shop!

Kira Lancaster
Kira Lancaster
Kira Lancaster
Kira Lancaster
1 Campaign |
Toronto, Canada
$10,714 USD $10,714 USD 164 backers
83% of $12,854 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Choose your Perk
High Five

High Five

Currency Conversion $3 USD
$5 CAD
Est. Shipping
November 2019
0 claimed
Vegan Cheese of choice

Vegan Cheese of choice

Currency Conversion $7 USD $8 USD (16% off)
$10 CAD
Est. Shipping
February 2020
19 out of 500 of claimed
Gather & Graze zine

Gather & Graze zine

Currency Conversion $10 USD $14 USD (25% off)
$15 CAD
Est. Shipping
March 2020
0 out of 200 of claimed
Secret Vegan Cheese Bundle

Secret Vegan Cheese Bundle

Currency Conversion $17 USD $24 USD (28% off)
$25 CAD
Est. Shipping
March 2020
47 out of 250 of claimed
Vegan cheesemaking class

Vegan cheesemaking class

Currency Conversion $28 USD $35 USD (20% off)
$40 CAD
Est. Shipping
April 2020
13 out of 30 of claimed
Small charcuterie

Small charcuterie

Currency Conversion $28 USD $42 USD (33% off)
$40 CAD
Est. Shipping
April 2020
14 out of 100 of claimed
Private cheesemaker's consult

Private cheesemaker's consult

Currency Conversion $31 USD $49 USD (35% off)
$45 CAD
Est. Shipping
January 2020
1 out of 10 of claimed
3 months of cheese club

3 months of cheese club

Currency Conversion $49 USD $69 USD (30% off)
$70 CAD
Est. Shipping
March 2020
25 out of 100 of claimed
vegan feta intensive

vegan feta intensive

Currency Conversion $49 USD $69 USD (30% off)
$70 CAD
Est. Shipping
May 2020
1 out of 18 of claimed
Large charcuterie platter

Large charcuterie platter

Currency Conversion $52 USD $69 USD (25% off)
$75 CAD
Est. Shipping
April 2020
5 out of 50 of claimed
Ultimate Pizza Party Pack!

Ultimate Pizza Party Pack!

Currency Conversion $69 USD $139 USD (50% off)
$100 CAD
Est. Shipping
March 2020
1 claimed
1 year of cheese club

1 year of cheese club

Currency Conversion $139 USD $243 USD (42% off)
$200 CAD
Est. Shipping
April 2020
21 out of 50 of claimed
Private group class

Private group class

Currency Conversion $174 USD $278 USD (37% off)
$250 CAD
Est. Shipping
May 2020
1 out of 4 of claimed
The Wanderer

The Wanderer

Currency Conversion $278 USD $417 USD (33% off)
$400 CAD
Est. Shipping
May 2020
1 out of 6 of claimed
Private Shopping Spree

Private Shopping Spree

Currency Conversion $347 USD $556 USD (37% off)
$500 CAD
Est. Shipping
March 2020
0 claimed
Grazing Table Extraordinaire

Grazing Table Extraordinaire

Currency Conversion $417 USD $695 USD (40% off)
$600 CAD
Est. Shipping
May 2020
0 out of 4 of claimed
The Open Door

The Open Door

Currency Conversion $695 USD $1,181 USD (41% off)
$1,000 CAD
Est. Shipping
May 2020
2 out of 3 of claimed

Summary

 

Wandering Deli- Dairy Free is a unique vegan cheese company in Toronto, ON, helmed by Kira Lancaster. We specialize in nut cheeses that embrace the idea that if you wander from dairy, there is a path of truly rewarding delights awaiting you. After years of vegan cheese experimenting, and working in Toronto restaurants, Kira was being asked to make delicious nut cheeses for every occasion by friends and family, and as word spread she extended her cheese endeavours to a 'secret' vegan cheese club that was quickly featured in The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, and various blogs! Needless to say, the secret was out, and she started renting kitchen space generously offered by Easy Restaurant in Parkdale. Running a special order vegan cheese company allowed for vegan cheese creativity to flourish, and we have offered over 40 different vegan cheeses, including the favourites that Wandering Deli offers at farmers markets today. 

This year, 2019, Wandering Deli has transitioned it's reach to farmers markets and the response has been overwhelmingly positive! Kira's husband, Cailean Lewis, has joined the company full time and we are overjoyed to be meeting new folks who love what we do on a constant basis. Something we are often asked at farmers markets is 'where else can I buy this? do you have a storefront?"  and that is where this campaign comes in!

We have been offered the downright incredible opportunity to renovate our current production space at Easy Restaurant into Toronto's first bonafide vegan cheese shop! As a small family company, this is huge! A shop would mean we would be able to continue to offer a wide variety of cheeses that truly 'wanders' from the expectation of what 'cheese' or 'dairy' or even 'vegan food' should be. Most large city's have vegan cheese shops popping up, and it would be a true honour to continue this path in our beloved community.

 

What We Need & What You Get

We are so ready to bring this cheese shop to Toronto! We have the space, the team, the oodles of recipes, the awesome clientele, but we need some renovations and equipment:

Your support will help us:

-put a new entrance door on at Easy, just for us ($3000+)

-buy some new kitchen equipment to scale up ($6000+)

-put in a new sink ($700)

-purchase larger quantities of supplies (variable)

-and generally get our space customer ready ($2500+)

 

In return for your support, we are offering some no-thing-else quite like it perks, like our cheese itself, of course, as well as unique platters- go special occasion with something for two or get lavish and have us craft a whole table for a party! Take a vegan cheese making class with friends, book a private cheese maker consult for yourself (via skype or in person), check out a zine that will have you well on your way to being a vegan cheese platter afficianado, there's something that suits any vegan cheese lover. We are passionate about what we do, and every chance we have to show our gratitude through food is one we will truly celebrate.

If we don't quite reach our goal, we still intend to undertake this project, it will simply be a little slower. If fully funded, we could potentially open our doors in a matter of months, if not, a little longer as we tackle things piece by piece, or wedge by wedge, if you will.

The Impact

Funding this project not only blossoms a small family business, it rewards the loving community that has supported us along the way. Kira has been wildly lucky on her wandering path to meet so many people who truly love and support not only vegan cheese, but small local business. She's seen Wandering deli (in all it's forms) grow from a facebook group to a family business. This opportunity comes out of years of hard work, but also years of generous folks believing in us. Toronto is a city where it is becoming increasingly cost-prohibitive for companies like ours to find space to get started, and it cannot be understated that the owner of Easy Restaurant is truly putting his faith in community and small-scale entrepreneurial gumption when he offers us this chance. Supporting our dream sends the message that he is doing a great thing! 

It's time for Toronto not only to have an artisan vegan cheese shop, but a small business that truly is something the whole community can celebrate.

Risks & Challenges

There will certainly be challenges, especially if scaling up quickly takes place, but years of honing recipes and working in the food and hospitality industry have Kira and Cailean honed and familiar with tackling the work of a busy food establishment.

The main risks presented are timeline, as it is dependent on funds raised. We intend to do everything as quickly as we can, but currently this is campaign dependent!

 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you aren't able to contribute financially, please spread the word! Tell folks about this campaign on whatever platforms you use, this is incredibly valuble! Indiegogo has some built in share tools, so they can help you out there;)

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