Lewis Hamilton is bringing his vegan burger restaurant to the Big Apple.
Sports Illustrated reports that the British Formula One champion is expanding Neat Burger to New York City. On April 17, Neat in Nolita will open in Manhattan, marking the company’s first U.S. location.
The outlet details that Hamilton invested in the vegan fast-food chain to help more people have access to a plant-based diet and lifestyle.
“The response to Neat Burger since we opened has been incredible,” Hamilton said in a press release, per the outlet. “I’m really proud of the boundaries we have been able to push in this space, and the plans for expansion are really exciting.”
Prior to Neat Burger’s New York City location, in 2019, the company opened its flagship location in Central London, England, according to Veg News. Neat Burger has eight restaurants in the U.K. and one in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The opening of Neat Burger’s first U.S. restaurant received support from a strategic investment from actor and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio.
“Disrupting our food system with sustainable alternatives is one of the key ways we can make a real difference in reducing global emissions,” DiCaprio said in a statement, according to the outlet. “Neat Burger’s pioneering approach to alternative proteins is a great example of the type of solutions we need moving forward.”
In addition to investing in Neat Burger, Hamilton, alongside Questlove, invested in Chile-based vegan startup NotCo in its $235 million series D funding round in 2021, VegNews reported.
Along with Lewis Hamilton, Kevin Hart is among the stars who are providing accessible and affordable vegan options.
As previously reported by AfroTech, the comedian and actor opened Hart House, his plant-based fast-food restaurant, in 2022. The menu includes burg’rs, chick’n sandwiches, salads, tenders, fries, tots, and milkshakes. As of this writing, there are two locations in California.
