Plantega’s Nil Zacharias: ‘I See Our Sandwiches Becoming A National Phenomenon’

Nil Zacharias, the founder and CEO of Plantega, has successfully transformed New York City bodegas into vegan-friendly establishments by partnering with various plant-based food producers. By equipping existing bodegas with a deli menu featuring vegan versions of traditional NYC favorites such as butter rolls, chopped cheeses, Philly cheese subs, BECs, and breakfast burritos, Plantega has created a unique plant-based dining experience in the city.

Despite initial pushback from cooks, customer uptake has been positive with the introduction of the vegan menu. Plantega's business model involves developing the entire plant-based menu, supplying products to bodegas, training cooks, and marketing the stores. The company aims to expand nationwide, with plans to scale up its operations and brand story outside of New York City, making their New York Deli-style sandwiches a national phenomenon.