Artisanal & Vegan, Nuts For Cheese Interview with Founder Margaret Coons

Is your love for cheese holding you back from transitioning to Dairy- Free? I totally get it! I always wondered how to make a flavourful plant-based meal and not miss the presence of dairy in it. I thought that a vegan diet would mean ‘No Cheese’ or ‘Sad Cheese’ until I learned about Margaret’s delicious 100% dairy-free cheese by Nuts For Cheese. Margaret's love for food cooked with the highest quality, organic dairy-free ingredients and an enthusiastic team of diverse individuals have made Nuts For Cheese a leading innovator of quality 100% dairy-free, plant-based cheese made from Certified Organic and Fairtrade cashews. It tastes so good! Her Vegan recipes made with love to help prepare mouthwatering and nutritious meals on the website have grown a local fan base of vegan and non-vegan consumers.

I was lucky enough to sit with Margaret to learn more about her vegan journey and her 100% dairy-free plant-based company, Nuts for Cheese. 

My ‘food journey’ and love for the culinary arts started at a very young age, when I became the only vegetarian and then vegan in my household. I taught myself about plant-based nutrition and began experimenting to create delicious alternatives to traditional cuisine. To this day, I love cooking for others and am passionate about uniting people through food.

2. How did the idea of Nuts For Cheese come about? 

While I was working as a Certified Vegan Chef at a vegan restaurant, I introduced a plant-based cheese board to the menu and it quickly became one of the most popular items! This inspired me to spend many late nights experimenting with creating decadent, creamy sauces emulating cheese using nuts and seeds. Eventually I started selling my vegan cheeses at the local farmer’s market on weekends and Nuts For Cheese was born. It’s evolved more than I could have ever imagined - today we are in more than 1,600 stores in Canada and the US and have 30 full-time employees working out of a 20,000 sq.ft manufacturing facility! 

3. Why was it important for the company to be Fairtrade certified?
We’ve always made an effort to source only the highest quality ingredients as a Certified Organic and Vegan company so our Fairtrade Certification just made sense. We truly believe in embracing a “people first” approach and want our consumers to know, when they use our products they are supporting ethical supply chains, from the ground up! 

4. What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make the switch to 100% dairy free?

You can take plant-based eating at your own pace! You’re doing your body a favour whether you’re incorporating more (or only!) plants into your diet. There are so many delicious dairy-free alternatives on the market that plant-based eating has never been easier, so have fun with it. 

Our most popular product is our Un-Brie-Lievable - it’s a fan favourite for it’s versatility as it can be used in baking, cooking, or stands-alone great on a charcuterie board. My personal favourites are Red Rind and Black Garlic (and they are pretty popular with our team too!). We also carry a Super “Blue”, Artichoke & Herb and Chipotle “Cheddar” in our product line. We also just launched Nuts For Butter™ in Salted Original and Herb & Garlic flavours and it’s receiving rave reviews! 

6. Do you have a favorite go to 100% vegan recipe you could share with us?

It would be so hard for me to pick just one! I am really inspired by seasonal flavours and am constantly experimenting in my kitchen. You can find a selection of my recipes on our website, with everything from salad to fresh pasta, soup or desserts. 

7. What are you most grateful for?

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family, friends, mentors and my amazing team. I am so thankful for everyone who has supported Nuts For Cheese since the early days, and the London community where we started out. 

8. What does the future hold for Nuts For Cheese?

It’s a really exciting time at Nuts For Cheese - we just surpassed 5 years in business and are in the midst of launching a new product line: Nuts For Butter™ while also expanding into the US market! My goal is to keep growing the company, expanding our cheesy family, and conducting R&D to introduce new plant-based products! 

Margaret's story and passion for building a company of gourmet, dairy free cheese is truly inspiring. Not only does the company care for the planet and animals, like The Good Tee they certified and value Fair trade.  Are you thinking of becoming vegetarian or transitioning to vegan? Share your thoughts below.

To learn more visit Nutsforcheese.com or check out the store locator and find a retailer near you!