Entrepreneur Steven Smith was tired of researching ingredients and running circles around the grocery store aisles as a plant-based eater and decided that he’d take it upon himself to help plant-based shoppers find options more easily. In 2018, Smith opened his flagship grocery store, Vegan Fine Foods, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to simplify shopping on a plant-based diet and ease the stress of many shoppers.
Shopping for vegan substitutes and plant-based ingredients can be tricky when only a select number of stores offer an ample assortment, and even then some products can sneak in animal-derived ingredients. Vegan Fine Foods vets the products before they enter the store, and creates a space where plant-based shoppers can browse confidently, knowing that every item on the shelves will fit their diet's needs. Smith’s success at his Ft. Lauderdale location has encouraged him to branch out, and now he looks to have a Vegan Fine Foods root itself in every major U.S. city by 2024.