Join us for VegFest 2025!
This is year 3 for us at Veg Fest! This year, we’re coming back with pepperoni pizza – the same thing we did that glorious first year. This past May, Beyond Meat discontinued their Beyond Pepperoni, which threw a wrench into our pizza offering.
It’s important to us to have a classic vegan pepperoni pizza available in our stores, so the search began for a new option that could fill that role. We’ve found one we’re happy with, and we’re bringing it to Veg Fest so everyone can try it too!
We’ve also continued to evolve our in-store vegan offering, introducing SWAP chicken products for wraps and salads in our deli. Our Vegan Feast event, which began at the Rabbit Hill Road store, has now spread to other locations – watch for an announcement about the next one soon!
There have been a few bumps along the way, like pepperoni availability or figuring out how much of an item to make, but the community has been incredibly supportive and patient. I can’t thank everyone enough. I love having vegan options at work (so I have something to eat), and it wouldn’t be possible without other vegans supporting them as well.
Dan Pazder, Freson Bros. Produce Director
VegFest Edmonton
August 30, 11 AM to 7 PM
Athlone Community Hall, Edmonton
Pizza Crust
Water, Enriched Wheat Flour, Salt, Yeast
Pizza Sauce
Water, Crushed Tomatoes, Salt, Sugar, Onion Powder, Spices, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper
Daiya Mozza
Filtered Water, Tapioca Starch, Coconut Oil, Canola Oil, Natural Flavours, Sea Salt, Potato Protein Isolate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Whole Algal Flour, Konjac Gum, Xanthan Gum, Yeast Extract
Vegan Pepperoni
Water, Vegetable Oil, Wheat Gluten, Potato Protein, Pea Protein, Methylcellulose, Sugars, (Maltodextrin, Smoked Sugar, (Water, Smoke, Cane Sugar)), Yeast Extract, Salt, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Vinegar Rice Flour, Hydrogenated Sunglower Oil, Natural Flavour, Locust Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum, Spice, Dried Garlic, Annatto Extract, Spice Extract, Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Magnesium Oxide, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Zinc Oxide, Ferric Orthophosphate, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Gluconate, Thiamine Hydrocholoride (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) Folic Acid), Sodium Alginate, Citrus Fibre, Garlic Juice Concentrate, Fava Bean Protein, Glutamic Acid, Smoke Flavour, Contains: Wheat Lecithin, Lycopene Colour)
Some great memories from previous Vegan Feasts & VegFest
July 27 & 28, 2024
February 10 & 11, 2024
July 29 & 30, 2023
VegFest 2024
We’re absolutely buzzing with excitement to be part of VegFest for the second time this year! Since our debut last year, we’ve had a whirlwind of amazing experiences, and it’s all thanks to our incredible vegan community. Together, we’ve celebrated three unforgettable All-You-Can-Eat Vegan Feasts, each one bigger and better than the last. Your passion and support push us to reach new heights, and we’re thrilled to announce our next Vegan Feast, set for November 2 & 3! Feasting a few times a year has become a tradition we cherish, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with you.
But that’s not all! We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to expand our vegan offerings, bringing you more delicious options every day. Whether you’ve already fallen in love with our Vegan Berta pizza or you’re eager to try something new, we’ve got you covered. We’re on a mission to create something that will become your new favourite.
“Our second year at VegFest is quickly approaching and this year, we pulled some strings, and we’re bringing something we believe is truly special, something that is not yet available Canada.
This year at VegFest Edmonton on August 31 the Impossible Hot Dogs, make their debut!
These are the same ones that got Joey Chestnut banned from the Nathan’s hotdog eating contest. After doing some testing, I can confirm that they are every bit as good as the Impossible Foods burgers. I have tried every brand of vegan hot dog I think that there is. The Impossible Foods hotdog texture and taste really elevates veggie dogs to new heights.
Now for the not so good news – we hoped we would have them available for sale in store, but it looks like this product still won’t be available in Canada for now. So we are sorry to say that we won’t have them for a bit, but we are thrilled to be able to have them at this celebration of all things vegan. You won’t be disappointed.
Since our participation in VegFest last summer, I have had to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming. We started hosting Vegan Feast Event Dinners in our restaurants, and people really showed up to support the events. This all grew from our attendance at VegFest last summer, when we arrived with a couple of hundred pizzas and a BBQ. We had no idea what was going to happen, and it was a blast. Thank you to everyone for your support, and I can’t wait to see you at VegFest 2024.
Thank you for inspiring us, for growing with us, and for being the heart of our vegan community. We’re so excited to see you all at VegFest Edmonton!”
Dan Pazder, Freson Bros. Produce Director
July 27 & 28, 2024
February 10 & 11, 2024
July 29 & 30, 2023
A Look Back at Vegfest 2023
We had so much fun June 24, 2023
My name is Dan Pazder and I am the Director of Produce for Freson Bros. I am very excited that we are sponsoring VegFest 2023, as I was a vegetarian for 9 years, and then went vegan 5 years ago. I’m really looking forward to sharing some of the fresh vegan options available at your local Freson Bros. Fresh Market.
It’s not lost on me that it is unusual for a company that started as a Butcher Shop to be participating in an event called VegFest. Freson Bros. started in Hinton in 1955, and obviously the world has changed significantly over the last 68 years. I have only been with the company for 10 of those years, but it has been incredibly rewarding watching veganism grow, both in the industry, and within our own company.
In addition to being a VegFest sponsor, we’re thrilled to be there on the day showcasing our Vegan Pepperoni Pizza (aka Vegan Big ‘Berta). I am not just saying this because I work at Freson Bros., but it is my all time favourite vegan pizza. The Father Dough fresh pizza crust bakes up like our sourdough bread and Beyond Meat’s pepperoni is new to Canada and fills a long open void in my life! We use our in-store made pizza sauce, and a light amount of Daiya cheese to bring it all together.
If you are reading this before the event, I hope to see you at VegFest. If you are reading this after the event, I hope you loved our Pizza!
We offer Everyday Vegan Options
Did you know we also have lots of other tasty vegan options available? Any of our Sourdough made in store HOT pizzas can be made vegan as well with the addition of daiya cheese instead of regular cheese and we’re able to make the Impossible burger vegan with a different bun and daiya cheese – just ask!
Alberta Sourdough
Vegan 'Berta Pizza
Impossible Burger
Loaded Avocado Toast
On the Go?
It’s important to know where to stop if you’re on the go and can’t wait for your food. Freson Bros. also offers quick meals you can take with you.
Vegan Caesar Salad
Vegan Compotes
Vegan Pizzas
Stock your pantry & freezer
We of course, also have lots of other vegan products for your pantry or freezer, but Freson Bros. makes it easy to pick up something fresh, tasty AND vegan everyday.
When it comes to fresh vegetables and fruits, we pride ourselves in stocking our Market Garden with only the best quality products, selected just for you.
