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La Fauxmagerie

La Fauxmagerie Ltd[1] (from French faux "false" or "imitation" and fromagerie "cheese shop") is the UK's first vegan cheese shop.[2] It sells plant-based substitutes for dairy cheese,[3] operating a retail store in London's Shoreditch area as well as selling online and wholesale.[4] Founded in 2019, the shop's range includes vegan versions of Camembert, Cheddar, goat cheese, blue cheese, and feta. La Fauxmagerie received press attention in 2019 after Dairy UK, a lobby group, threatened to sue them[5] over the use of the phrase "plant-based cheese".[6] It is operated by the Welsh[7][8] siblings Rachel and Charlotte Stevens. Both founders follow a vegan diet and play an active role in the day to day running of their Shoreditch store and product development.[6]

History

Founders Rachel and Charlotte Stevens met some of their future suppliers at Vegfest UK in 2017 while searching for better quality plant-based products. They opened La Fauxmagerie in London's Brixton district in 2019 and quickly gained a loyal customer following, outgrowing their first store within 6 months.[3] They moved to a much larger store in the Brick Lane area in Shoreditch, London, in June 2019 and launched their e-commerce offering in the same month.[9]

La Fauxmagerie grew significantly in its first 3 years, expanding their retail and online offering, launching their own brand of aged plant-based cheeses, and opening London's first dedicated vegan wine and cheese bar - The Cheese Cellar, which is situated beneath their Shoreditch store. In May 2022, the company started supplying Waitrose supermarkets.[10]

In 2023, Purezza acquired a majority stake in the company.[11]

In 2025, vegan cheesemaker Honestly Tasty acquired the La Fauxmagerie brand.[12] Following the acquisition, the official website moved to lafauxmagerie.co.uk. The brand is no longer affiliated with the former lafauxmagerie.com domain, which has since been replaced by Saporia, owned by Purezza.[13]

See also

  • Jay&Joy, the first vegan cheese producer in France
  • Dr Mannah's, a German vegan cheese producer founded in 2012

References

  1. La Fauxmagerie Ltd overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK Companies House, 2019-01-11, retrieved 2024-02-17^
  2. The UK's First Vegan Cheese Shop Isn't Afraid of Controversy Vice.com, 20 February 2019, retrieved 2021-08-24^
  3. Laura Clements. The vegan cheese shop that's caused a stink with farmers WalesOnline, 2019-03-20, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  4. La Fauxmagerie La Fauxmagerie, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  5. Helena Horton. UK's first vegan 'cheese' monger is misleading customers, dairy industry complains The Telegraph, 2019-02-11, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  6. To brie or not to brie: can vegan 'cheese' taste as good as dairy? the Guardian, 2019-02-20, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  7. LA FAUXMAGERIE LTD - Incorporation Statement of capital on 2019-01-11 (free information from Companies House) find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  8. LA FAUXMAGERIE LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, retrieved 2022-01-27^
  9. Vegan Cheesemonger La Fauxmagerie Is Moving To East London This Week Londonist, 2019-07-03, retrieved 2021-08-22^
  10. Alice Soule. La Fauxmagerie launches in Waitrose stores The Vegan Review, 2022-05-31, retrieved 2022-08-28^
  11. restaurantonline.co.uk. Purezza acquires plant-based cheesemonger La Fauxmagerie restaurantonline.co.uk, 2023-11-13, retrieved 2023-12-20^
  12. Honestly Tasty takes control of La Fauxmagerie in vegan cheese deal The Grocer, 2025-04-09, retrieved 2025-09-25^
  13. Honestly Tasty takes control of La Fauxmagerie in vegan cheese deal The Grocer, 2025-04-09, retrieved 2025-09-25^