Scott McCulloch

Co-Founder and CEO at The Vegan Kind

UK

Following his wife into veganism, this Glasgow-based former CSO was rather surprised: “Karris has been vegetarian for most of her life, and we saw a transition to veganism coming. When I decided to finally give it a try with her, I ultimately found it quite easy, and quite satisfying.”
The Vegan Kind (TVK) was born shortly after, in 2013, to help people go vegan. “We found ourselves embarking on a new journey and a new lifestyle, and we wanted to help grow the community in any way we could. Creating a vegan subscription box and online plant-based supermarket meant that we could showcase vegan food in the best light, and let people know that you are not really limited at all in your food choices. Vegan food can replicate the taste and texture of animal products almost identically,” Scott McCulloch says.

In their first year of business, they shipped out around 50,000 vegan products via their subscription boxes. In 2021, there were 3,100,000 products from both subscriptions and the supermarket. Such a pace demands full-time focus. “We got to the point where our day jobs were the inhibitor to TVK’s growth and success – and one by one, we handed in our notices to previously regarded dream jobs. It was really, really scary and daunting – but these are the calculated risks you have to take if you want to grow a business, not keep a side-hustle.” In April 2021, they raised 5.3 million GBP. 

Apart from running a business with his wife, Scott pinpoints another key ingredient to success: “I try and get up at 5AM, or at worst 5:45AM.” His morning routine includes some type of exercise and a mindfulness practice.

Following his wife into veganism, this Glasgow-based former CSO was rather surprised: “Karris has been vegetarian for most of her life, and we saw a transition to veganism coming. When I decided to finally give it a try with her, I ultimately found it quite easy, and quite satisfying.”
The Vegan Kind (TVK) was born shortly after, in 2013, to help people go vegan. “We found ourselves embarking on a new journey and a new lifestyle, and we wanted to help grow the community in any way we could. Creating a vegan subscription box and online plant-based supermarket meant that we could showcase vegan food in the best light, and let people know that you are not really limited at all in your food choices. Vegan food can replicate the taste and texture of animal products almost identically,” Scott McCulloch says.

In their first year of business, they shipped out around 50,000 vegan products via their subscription boxes. In 2021, there were 3,100,000 products from both subscriptions and the supermarket. Such a pace demands full-time focus. “We got to the point where our day jobs were the inhibitor to TVK’s growth and success – and one by one, we handed in our notices to previously regarded dream jobs. It was really, really scary and daunting – but these are the calculated risks you have to take if you want to grow a business, not keep a side-hustle.” In April 2021, they raised 5.3 million GBP. 

Apart from running a business with his wife, Scott pinpoints another key ingredient to success: “I try and get up at 5AM, or at worst 5:45AM.” His morning routine includes some type of exercise and a mindfulness practice.

“Rising early and having some me time in the morning, you start out on top of your day, rather than your day on top of you!”

Inspirations, go-to’s and lifehacks:

  • Pandemic lifehack that helped you survive 2021: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst – mentally as much as anything else! I have that motto in general – I feel I am always prepared for the worst to happen, but not to the point where I’m manifesting it into reality. Really, in the largest sense, I focus on all the positives that are still to come in front of me – but if things don’t go as expected, it’s all good, as I’m prepared for the worst anyway.
  • A person that inspires you: Karris, my wife and business partner. She has given me 3 beautiful children, and 2 of the pregnancies were tough afterwards. She is amazing and I really respect how she handles adversity in her life. She puts others before herself all the time, which is what makes her beautiful inside as well as out.
  • Last series/movie that kept you awake: I don’t really watch much TV – but I do like Cobra Kai. Takes me back to 8 year old Scott in Woking in England.
  • Favorite book / A book everyone should read: Think & Grow Rich. I read this when we were setting TVK up. It certainly gives your brain a shake. It is timeless, written over 70 years ago, and one of the most popular books in the world.
  • Latest podcast obsession: I love Secret Leaders by Dan Murray-Serter.
  • App you find most valuable: Slack (We could not run TVK without it now)
  • Favorite food / favorite vegan treat: 100% definitely the new Tyson The Chihuahua Chocolate Cake we just released! He is exclusive to TVK and is based on my real-life wee doggy, Tyson 🐾

From a business sense, their secret sauce “would be to create a culture whereby people want to work hard, but where people are not put under undue stress or pressure. We are in a mission-led business with a committed, dedicated team. We try to think kindly in everything that we do, which is inclusive of forgiveness and understanding. We want to help the world go vegan, and are trying to lead the way in terms of having an open mind and kind approach in all that we do.”

That includes raising their kids vegan. “Bringing them up on a diet that excludes negativity in the food chain is quite empowering,” Scott adds. “From an ecological standpoint, the future is theirs.”

FOLLOW SCOTT’S STORY​

Add Scott on LinkedIn

Follow The Vegan Kind on Instagram

From a business sense, their secret sauce “would be to create a culture whereby people want to work hard, but where people are not put under undue stress or pressure. We are in a mission-led business with a committed, dedicated team. We try to think kindly in everything that we do, which is inclusive of forgiveness and understanding. We want to help the world go vegan, and are trying to lead the way in terms of having an open mind and kind approach in all that we do.”

That includes raising their kids vegan. “Bringing them up on a diet that excludes negativity in the food chain is quite empowering,” Scott adds. “From an ecological standpoint, the future is theirs.”

FOLLOW SCOTT’S STORY​

Add Scott on LinkedIn

Follow The Vegan Kind on Instagram

Scott is one of the Food Heroes for 2022. See more inspiring and world-changing stories from Food Heroes here.