Eats

Beloved Chorlton takeaway that ‘paved the way for vegan junk food’ announces closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 4th July 2022

A popular vegan takeaway in Chorlton has announced its permanent closure.

Zad’s was the first fully-vegan takeaway in the UK when it opened its doors on Barlow Moor Road in 2017.

Since then, vegan junk food has grown in popularity and plant-based alternatives crop up on menus across the nation.

The takeaway is famed for its pizzas, as well as its range of meat-free burgers, cauliflower wings, and macaroni cheese.

Vegan chicken wings (made with cauliflower) at Zad’s. Credit: Instagram, @zadsmcr

The owners of Zad’s have been looking for a buyer for the business, but say ‘the time has come to close our doors’ for good.

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Last year, they posted: “Zad’s is looking for a new owner and is going on the market for sale. Like many people, I have taken a lot of time over the last eighteen months or so to reassess many things and have come to the difficult realisation that I’m not the right person for Zad’s – I have a full time job which I love, a young family and a growing list of voluntary charitable commitments which just mean I don’t have the time to give to Zad’s that it deserves.

“Zad’s was started as a bit of fun, to give Manchester the vegan pizza it so desperately needed and there is still a huge need for what we do today.

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“We have a huge fanbase and if the last eighteen months has taught us anything, it’s that when Zad’s gets the attention it deserves, great things happen. We flourished through lockdown and provided an incredibly important service to all of our wonderful customers when you needed us most.”

Sadly, the Chorlton takeaway has now announced that it’s been unable to find someone to take over, and it will close after a few last celebrations.

The business is revisiting some of its most popular specials over the coming weeks before it closes on Sunday 24 July.

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Zad’s posted on Instagram: “Well… after almost a full year of trying to find a buyer for Zad’s, the time has come to close our doors.

“We will be celebrating our 5th birthday on Thursday 21st July and will close our doors for the final time on Sunday 24th July. It’s been a hell of a rollercoaster and thank you all for your support over the last 5 years.

“More updates coming on our plans for the next 4 weeks, including specials, and details of how we can get our food to everyone before we close. I’m sure they’ll be a blog post before long too, with all the details around our decision to close.”

The announcement from Zad’s in Chorlton. Credit: Instagram, @zadsmcr

Fans of the takeaway have expressed their dismay to see the business close.

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One person wrote: “What a shame. Absolutely paved the way for vegan junk food in Manchester.”

Another said: “You guys were the trailblazers of vegan fast food in Manchester.”

Someone else commented: “Such a massive shame. Goodbye to the best vegan takeaway pizza ever.”

Featured image: Instagram, @zadsmcr