Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio-backed vegan burger chain to shut down in UK: What led to its painful downfall?

The Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio-backed vegan burger chain, Neat Burger, is closing down all its branches in the UK. Neat Burger, which was launched in 2019, had eight branches across London but now only operates one store, in Camden.

Neat Burger closed its Soho branch earlier in April and the Camden store will close at the end of the ongoing month.

Why Hamilton-backed Neat Burger is closing down in UK?

Neat Burger is considered the first international plant-based burger chain and also had branches in New York and Dubai, which were closed down in 2024. The decision to close the branches outside the UK and in Great Britain was taken after the company suffered massive financial losses till 2023, as per a report in The Sun.

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As per reports, Neat Burger made £7.9 million losses in 2022 and £4.7 million in 2021.

"We can confirm that Neat Soho and Camden restaurants will be closing by the end of this month," Neat Burger said in a statement. "At this stage, we have no further comment."

Their only operational overseas branch is in Milan now.

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton has been involved with Neat Burger since the launch as he aimed to "revolutionize the way we view meat-free food," while Hollywood star DiCaprio joined the team as a "strategic investor" in 2022.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is also part of the team backing the chain.

"I think it will be a game-changer," Hamilton said in 2019. "I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it."

It has to be noted that Hamilton has been on a plant-based diet for a few years now and the switch happened before 2019.

Meanwhile, he is having a tough time currently in the 2025 season of the Formula 1 after switching to Ferrari from Mercedes. The 40-year-old is seventh in the driver standings after five races, 69 points behind leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren.

Ferrari are fourth in the constructors' championships, behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.