Can you guess how many restaurants use Daiya cheese?

Daiya cheese has conquered much more than just the fridges of hungry vegans.

Latest Vegan News reports that Daiya’s products are now being used by approximately 20,000 individual restaurant and chain franchise locations. With huge clients like Disney, Sysco, and Aramark, they’ve become THE vegan substitute.

Daiya’s North American Business Development Manager, Chriss Montalbano, said “Food service is our heritage and we started servicing restaurants in 2009.” Still, the brand plans to expand further into traditional food service operations. Montalbano claims it’s Daiya fans who have gotten them where they are, crediting and encouraging consumer requests for the cheese at their favourite vegan and non-vegan restaurants.

So whether it’s a mac n’ cheese at your local vegan diner, or the topping of an Amy’s brand freezer pizza, there’s no escaping it. But the brand has ventured in to many more products that will no doubt infiltrate vegan establishments soon. Their dressings, cheesecakes, and yogurts are getting just as much attention and love as their shreds and blocks.

I feel like the new go-to response to “I couldn’t go vegan because I love cheese” should be “but, Daiya.” What’s your favourite Daiya cheese application?

 Photo from The Vegetarian Food Lab