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USA

The USA’s First
Loving Hut Operators’ Meeting

By Loving Hut USA News Team (Originally in English)

[Los Angeles] On October 26, Golden Year 9 (2012), the eve of the epic musical, Loving the Silent Tears, the first national US Loving Hut operators’ meeting was held at the Loving Hut in Alhambra, California, northeast of Los Angeles. Approximately 50 Loving Hut owners, managers and representatives from around the country came together in a festive atmosphere to discuss Loving Hut operations and encourage one another. Three enthusiastic representatives from Loving Hut Monterrey, Mexico, also joined the gathering to show their support and meet other Loving Hut workers. A delicious vegan buffet consisting of over a dozen dishes from both Eastern and Western cuisines was served. The attendees also enjoyed freshly squeezed orange and carrot juices as well as gourmet coffee and tea. Loving Hut was inspired by Master’s caring vision of offering the public healthy, flavorful plant-based foods to promote peace, love and harmony among all beings.

Meeting participants sharing their experiences in operating Loving Hut restaurants.
Meeting participants enjoy a large selection of tasty vegan food.
Meeting participants are updated on
the latest information about Loving
Huts in the US and worldwide.
Ecofriendly containers with the
Loving Hut trademark

Cheers broke out when the participants heard the latest update from Loving Hut International: Over 220 Loving Hut restaurants have been opened in over 30 countries, and 11 Loving Hut Express food trucks are operating around the world. The USA, South Korea, and Formosa have the largest numbers of Loving Huts with 43, 39 and 31, respectively. It took only 18 months from the opening of the first Loving Hut in Taipei, Formosa on April 18, Golden Year 5 (2008), to reach the 100th Loving Hut, which began operating in Upland, California on November 23, Golden Year 6 (2009). This miraculous achievement could only have been possible through Master’s blessing.

Along with its unprecedented growth rate, our pure vegan franchise has received much recognition and many awards. For example, among US locations, Loving Hut Orlando in Florida received the Best Food Vendor award at the 2009 and 2010 Orlando International Fringe Festivals. In 2011, Loving Hut Honolulu-King Street in Hawaii was an Ilima Award Critic’s Picks winner. Loving Hut in Brea, California has been recognized as one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the US. Loving Hut in San Diego-Mira Mesa, California received a certificate of recognition from the 75th District of the California State Assembly, and in 2012 Loving Hut in Tampa, Florida was voted “Best Vegan” restaurant on the Tampa A-List of area businesses.

In addition to recognition by government agencies and the press, Loving Hut has won the hearts of countless customers. Many operators at the meeting shared stories about the excitement of first-time customers and the gratitude of regular patrons. Indeed, many customers have posted enthusiastic reviews online, giving Loving Hut a remarkable rating of 4 out of a possible 5 stars on the local online-business directory Yelp, averaged over all 43 of its US locations. Loving Hut also has more than 8,000 Facebook fans and over 6,000 Twitter followers. In addition, Loving Hut USA has received over 60 heartfelt invitations from customers to open Loving Huts in their cities.

The participants at the meeting praised Master’s infinite wisdom in inspiring the Loving Hut vegan family of restaurants. Even though each location has its own menu and service style, the common brand name and décor have attracted the attention of people throughout the United States, and in the vegan/vegetarian community, “Loving Hut” has become almost synonymous with “vegan restaurant.” The common name also makes it possible for operators to bargain collectively for lower supply prices. For example, Loving Hut USA has been able to purchase eco-friendly, take-out containers bearing the Loving Hut logo at discount prices. And hard-to-find products, such as non-GMO rice-bran oil, are being made available to Loving Hut operators across the US. Moreover, due to its familiarity, the restaurants’ name can be easily promoted through advertising and sponsorship.

Recently, Loving Hut USA began to advertise the Loving Hut brand name on the internet with encouraging results. In July Golden Year 9 (2012), Loving Hut was the co-sponsor of Veganpalooza, the largest online vegetarian conference to date. The Loving Hut operators were also delighted to learn that Loving Hut was to be an official sponsor of COP18 in Doha, Qatar in late November and early December of the same year, bringing to the event the most effective solution to climate change.

Franchise registration for Loving Hut USA has been completed in several populous states, such as California, Indiana, and Illinois, and in the near future it will be possible for Loving Hut to be operated as a franchise anywhere in the US.

The USA Service Team commended the Loving Hut operators for their dedication, commitment, and courage in opening their restaurants. Thanks to their pioneering efforts, Loving Hut has gained a great amount of knowledge and experience in restaurant operation, from location selection to staff management. The information from so many independently operated Loving Huts has greatly accelerated the development of efficient, sustainable, and replicable business models. At the meeting, Loving Hut USA also revealed a new fast-service concept, suitable for food courts and high-foot-traffic areas. This approach, which provides customers in a hurry with quick, delicious, vegan food from a steam table, and also allows casual customers to order à la carte, will soon be tested in a major shopping mall.

Regarding the vegan diet, Master says, “The longer the planet lives, the more people will have a chance to become vegan and spiritually uplifted.” As Master has immensely blessed us with a continuation of Earth’s existence for millions of years, may all of humankind soon choose the lifestyle of kindness through the growing availability of vegan food and other compassionate products around the world. Let’s help make our planet a paradise!