Victoria Schuller found her passion for cooking and plant-based cuisine in Amsterdam. The Kiwi jumped overseas in her twenties and spent ten years living there; going vegan is what started her interest in the food industry. She trained as a raw food chef and ran a small catering company.
Schuller returned to New Zealand in 2020 with a growing young family. She was looking for work that would be flexible, creative and have minimal overheads. Alas, VEGVAN was born - the plant-based burger bar.
The original plan wasn’t to be a Vegan joint at all - the truck wasn’t even going to sell burgers. However, after some trial and error, Schuller saw the great canvas the humble burger could provide. She considers it perfect for various flavour profiles and is an excellent bridge for omnivores to try vegan food because “Who doesn’t like a burger?!”
VEGVAN burgers are all made from local produce, and Schuller has teamed up with a number of local plant-based innovators. She is inspired by the vibrant colours of nature and ensures her burgers are never dull.
“I think showcasing plant-based food as exciting and fresh - full of colour and flavour is pretty special. To break through any old stigma, it is bland and ‘not quite as good…’ as animal-based cuisine. VEGVAN aims to provide the best burger experience - not just the best vegan burger experience!”
As an ever-evolving industry, Schuller doesn’t see too many challenges for the future of plant-based foods. With it on the rise, she believes the main challenge will be with people who are not currently in the plant-powered race.
While travel has played a large part in her story, Schuller is currently enjoying putting down some roots with her family. VEGVAN gives her the opportunity to travel to some cool local events, festivals and markets. But who knows, maybe one day she will be operating a quiet Air BnB in the South of France.
For anyone beginning their hospitality journey, Schuller simply suggests giving it a go. She didn’t come from a traditional hospitality background and learnt to cook because of her lifestyle change. She also said that the beauty of hospitality is that it is ever-evolving, and there are so many avenues it can take you down; you don’t have to commit to one thing forever.
VEGVAN is having its debut Summer this year. There are some exciting events planned for December and January. The truck also offers its Burger Bar menu for private catering events of over 50 people in and around Auckland. Follow Schuller on Instagram @vegvannz to keep up!
