As the number of vegans in this country climbs to almost half a million, Australia’s largest vegan retail chain is celebrating with a huge sales event in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.

The Vegan Day Out is the biggest vegan shopping event on the calendar with more than 80 local businesses cutting prices by up to 50%, giving away samples or doing a vegan take over.

Hosted by Australia’s only vegan retail chain store, The Cruelty Free Shop, the weekend-long event on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September gives people a chance to try vegan food, drinks and cruelty-free products at discounted rates.

Shoppers spend almost a quarter of a million dollars at every Vegan Day Out, with fantastic bargains up for grabs while also giving small, local businesses a much-needed boost.

Australia is the third-fastest growing vegan market in the world, currently worth about $136 million, according to Euromonitor International. Packaged vegan food alone is predicted to be worth $215 million by 2020.

People are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and health benefits of reducing meat consumption and this event gives them a chance to try healthier, more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Visitors collect a Vegan Day Out map from The Cruelty Free Shop, which includes the locations of participating outlets – then enjoy a walking tour packed full of vegan treats and discounts along Glebe Point Road (Sydney), Brunswick Street (Melbourne), Mort Street (Braddon, ACT) and Melbourne Street (South Brisbane).

The Melbourne event will be hosted at the southern hemisphere’s largest vegan shop – the new Cruelty Free Shop – located at 124 Johnston Street Melbourne. The shop has more than 3500 vegan products available including 50 vegan cheeses.

The Cruelty Free Shop will offer free food tastings and storewide discounts on more than 300 items all weekend.