HUNTINGTON, NY — Cindysnacks, a vegan market in Huntington, was named Humane Long Island’s “Business of the Year.”
The animal rights organization cited Cindysnacks’ “one-of-a-kind entrepreneurship” on Long Island.
The fully vegan Huntington market, owned by Huntington couple John and Cindy Stengel, serves vegan goods. It offers everyday essentials like vegan eggs and butter and dairy-free artisan cheeses, as well as hard-to-find items like vegan truffles and Go Max Go bars, which imitate candy bars.
Cindysnacks opened at 210 Wall Street in August 2019.
“We thought we could give back to the community by giving people a place where they could shop and not be judged for what they’re consuming or buying,” John Stengel previously told Patch. “It’s a very judgment-free zone in here. We wanted to give vegans a place where they could shop and not have to check labels, knowing everything is vegan, and have a fun experience knowing they’re in a safe place.”
John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and president of Humane Long Island, said Cindysnacks won the honor because of the Stengels’ generous support of animal protection.
“During a time when Long Island businesses are still recovering from the pandemic and while their family continues to grow, John and Cindy Stengel have never stopped putting animals and their community first, donating tofu turkeys to struggling families at Community Solidarity’s Huntington Station food share and vegan hams to Humane Long Island to exchange them for live birds at New York City’s live animal slaughter markets,” Di Leonardo said.
Celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian have been promoting veganism into the mainstream, and Di Leonardo noted that fast-food chains have began offering vegan items. Veganism is a way of life for the Stengels, however.
Cindysnacks displays flyers in the window promoting animal rescues and a tip jar on the counter that contributes toward animal rights, according to Humane Long Island.
“Cindysnacks is proud to be a one-stop-shop for vegan goods on Long Island, carrying a wide variety of vegan groceries from plant-based meats and dairy-free cheeses to milk made from nuts and sweets and snacks to satisfy any craving!” John Stengel said via news release. “We are proud to carry a large selection of gluten-free and allergen-friendly products as well, making it easy to live kinder and healthier! We thank our friends at Humane Long Island for this award and the residents of Huntington for supporting our local business.”