Chef Chew’s dream is to democratize plant-based foods for all people. A vegan since 2001, GW Chew started his journey at 20 years old when he saw the links between premature disease in his family and lack of access to healthy foods. His personal experience motivated him to create “something better.”

Chef Chew started experimenting with how to recreate meat experiences with plants, utilizing real food. He noticed that people love the texture, taste, and appearance of meat, so he created a product line of plant-based meat alternatives named Better Chew.

After starting several restaurants across the United States, Chew eventually founded The Veg Hub in Oakland, CA. As a non-profit, the bistro is dedicated to social good, educating people about the health benefits of vegan foods, and making them accessible to all.

In 2019, Chew got his first big opportunity for Better Chew to get their products to a wider audience with Whole Foods Market. Leadership in the NorCal region for the national grocer worked closely with Chew to nurture the business as they went to market. Now, he says, Better Chew is just trying to keep up with demand.

When shelter-in-place orders went out in March, Chew says the restaurant took a hit. In contrast, the grocery business sold out in the first week as shoppers scrambled to stock up on goods. Chew used the moment to innovate, and ended up being able to hire four additional people to his staff.

“COVID has taught me resilience. There is no giving up. Devastating things are going to happen, there are things you can’t control. You have to still pierce through. Even if we had to shut down, it doesn’t mean I’m going to shut down forever!”

The goal is the same in all of Chew’s businesses: to advocate and educate while providing a living wage for his employees. He’s pursuing creative ways to get Better Chew into neighborhoods where natural food stores don’t exist, partnering with corner markets, and offering bulk community buys.

Ultimately, Chef Chew’s message is one of positivity and gratitude.

“Out of hardships, all the things we go through in life, they help us to grow. In the greatest darkness, there is an opportunity for the light to shine.“

You can find and follow Better Chew and The Veg Hub here:
Website: www.betterchewpopup.com
Instagram: @betterchew and @theveghub

Chef Chew shared his story with our community on July 9, 2020 as part of our series ‘Listening to Black Leaders’ in partnership with Whole Foods Market. Listen to his story below: