UK-based vegan fast food chain Neat Burger has decided to shut four of its eight locations in London due to dwindling footfall, The Caterer has reported.

The closures were prompted by a "shift towards hybrid-work leading to a natural decrease in footfall at some of our larger restaurants," a representative of the plant-based fast-food chain told the publication.

"We are concentrating our efforts on our best performing restaurants, refining our menu, and supporting our partnership with Deliveroo which has recently enabled us to double our delivery radius across the city," the spokesperson added.

The brand may shutter its venues in Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf, Oxford Street and Westfield Stratford before Christmas 2023.

Established in 2019 by Tommaso Chiabra, the vegan chain is backed by racing driver Lewis Hamilton and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Its first location was opened in the same year in London's Mayfair.

The vegan chain also operates restaurants in New York and Dubai, and recently opened a new venue in Milan, Italy.

In May 2023, Neat Burger secured $18m in a Series B funding round to expand its US footprint.

The funding round was led by private institutional investment firm B-Flexion, founded by Ernesto Bertarelli.

At that time, Bertarelli stated: “I love how Neat Burger is on a mission to make plant-based eating more accessible to everyone. Our generation is paving the way and driving this change, with research showing once Gen-Z adopts a vegan or flexitarian diet, 70% stick with it.

“So, the key is getting people to try it and integrate it into their daily lives. First impressions count and Neat Burger’s approach, combining fun and sustainability, has the potential to change the world.”