Willicroft has become Amsterdam’s first vegan cheese shop and will offer a range of healthy, tasty cashew and tofu-based cheeses.

Plant-based company Willicroft is the first vegan cheese shop in the Netherlands and is located in south-west Amsterdam.

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Both our This is not Cheese Fondue and This is not Cheese Sauce are a great addition to using up your Christmas leftovers. Check our website (link in bio) for recipe inspiration and minimise food waste this Christmas! ⁣ ⁣ Available online at Crisp.⁣ ⁣ #showusyourwillicroft⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #foodwaste #christmas #sustainable #impactmatters #foodie #plantpower #weloveveggies #vegan #veganfoodie #plantbasedcheese

A post shared by Willicroft (@plantbasedcheese) on Dec 23, 2019 at 1:26pm PST

The company came into existence after founder Brad Vanstone, who turned vegan in 2017, couldn’t find suitable alternatives to cheese.

Vanstone grew up in Devon, UK, where his grandparents ran the Willicroft dairy farm.

He founded Willicroft to not only produce dairy alternatives, but to also address “the greatest issues facing humanity today – the warming of our planet,” as per the company’s website.

The shop currently stocks five own-brand nondairy cheeses. Apart from cheese, the brand also offers two cashew-based cheese sauces for cooking, a tofu-based cream cheese, and cashew parmesan.

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At Willicroft we work hard to source all of our ingredients from farmers who share our planet-positive values. This means that all of our nuts are sourced from regenerative farms in Africa. Not only does regenerative farming replenish the soil with lots of amazing nutrients, but our partner supplier also supports the community with jobs and training. ⁣ ⁣ Find out more about our other ingredients and suppliers by following the link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ #showusyourwillicroft⁣ ? .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #willicroft #plantbased #plantpower #sustainability #impactmatters #suppliers #foodie

A post shared by Willicroft (@plantbasedcheese) on Nov 28, 2019 at 6:57am PST

The company even sells a cashew-based vegan cheese fondue, a veganized version of cheese fondue – an extremely popular dish in the Netherlands.

The store also stocks products from local vegan cheesemakers and several organic and vegan-friendly wines.

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Today is the last day of the Castle Christmas Fair in the beautiful historic gardens of Buitenplaats Beeckestijn. Come and see us and try our new This is not Fondue and This is not cheese sauce! ⁣ ⁣ We are also at the @w.green_agency market today in Amsterdam. ⁣ #showusyourwillicroft ⁣? .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #plantbasedcheese #plantbased #impact #sustainability #christmas #fondue #vegan #christmasmarket #weloveveggies

A post shared by Willicroft (@plantbasedcheese) on Dec 1, 2019 at 1:22am PST

Vanstone also plans to operate a small café selling local and fresh items within the store.

While Willicroft only sells in The Netherlands, the founder plans to expand to the UK and the US in 2020.

Willicroft just opened Amsterdam's first vegan cheese shop. The new plant-based store offers a range of healthy, vegan, cashew and tofu-based cheeses ?#MondayMotivation#ChristmasEveEve#mondaythoughts#MondayMood

https://t.co/xUquKt9l9l

— Herbiⓥore? (@herbivore_club) December 23, 2019

Dairy decline

Demand for dairy and its products have been steadily declining as more and more consumers opt for non-dairy alternatives for health, environment and animal safety.

In the US, dairy milk sales plummeted by $1.1 billion last year, while demand for plant-based milk has surged by 61 percent since 2012.

The USDA reported that licensed dairy farms reduced form 40,199 last year to about 37,468 dairy farms this year.

A survey by National Dairy Farmer has indicated that about 6 percent of dairy farmers were looking to quit the industry within the next two years due to huge losses.

• Read: Vegan meat market to hit $140 billion in sales by 2029

Which is your favourite vegan cheese brand? Share your thoughts in the comments below!