McCain Foodservice Solutions (McCain FS) invests £46,000 into seven new street food businesses through its Streets Ahead initiative.
In late February, the UK's street food sector got a boost from the Streets Ahead program, when seven emerging traders, from less-advantaged backgrounds, received investments through the initiative. McCain Foodservice Solutions and KERB+, the non-profit arm of KERB, partnered to create the program. Each participant received funding ranging from £2,000 to £10,000 from McCain to turn their dreams into reality.
Each participant has spent the last 6-12 months working through McCain’s Streets Ahead programme being coached in what it takes to enter the foodservice industry as a street food operator. The panel day on the 21st February saw seven participants cook their hero dishes and pitch for the chance to receive funding. The results are in, meet those who received investment and will be soon emerging into the sector:
Aklima Akther
Business: Deshi
Concept: Homestyle Bengali cooking
Hero dish: Pani Puri and Pakora.
Background: Aklima was introduced to Streets Ahead through a referral from Migrateful, a charitable organization fostering community connections through authentic traditional food prepared by refugees. Hailing from Bangladesh, Aklima showcased her culinary prowess by winning an award for her extraordinary Pani Puri Chat while cooking for the charity. Driven by an expanding ambition to transform her passion for cooking into a thriving business, she eagerly joined Streets Ahead.
Vision statement: “To provide hearty, comforting, authentic South Asian cuisine to all audiences’ with the aim to expand pallets and give back to the community.”
Investment: £10,000
Stella James
Business: Special Delicacies
Concept: Vegetarian Nigerian Street Food
Hero dish: Yam Plantain with Spinach Sauce
Background: Stella, an exuberantly talented cook, became a part of Streets Ahead through a referral from TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network). Prior to joining, Stella had been captivating audiences with her Nigerian culinary expertise through hosted cookery classes. When her cherished source of inspiration, her mother, passed away, Stella expressed her deep desire for food to be celebrated with the same fervour and energy she experienced back in Nigeria with her family. Motivated by this sentiment, she embarked on crafting a business concept centred around the festive dishes her mother would prepare, with a mission to spread joy on a daily basis.
Vision statement: “To introduce the people of London to a diverse range of authentic, vegetarian Nigerian cuisine.”
Investment: £10,000
Callum Sinyard
Business: Makerouns Kitchen
Concept: Gourmet Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Hero dish: Jerk Chicken and Coconut Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Background: Callum, introduced to Streets Ahead through the Prince's Trust charity, is not just a chef; he's a talented culinary artist whose journey with cooking began at the tender age of 14 when he found himself out of home. Seeking stability, Callum immersed himself in kitchens, fostering his skills and evolving into an exceptionally skilled chef. The birth of his son prompted Callum to contemplate the future, igniting a desire to create something lasting and inheritable. This aspiration led him to enthusiastically embrace the Streets Ahead Programme.
Vision statement: “To introduce quick, delicious and sustainable meals that not only cater to diverse palates but also give back to the community that embraced me on this journey.”
Investment: £6,000
You can find out more about McCain’s Streets Ahead Programme powered by KERB+ on their website here: www.mccainfoodservice.co.uk/campaign/streets-ahead-winners/
Stay up to date with current programme participants and trends that are emerging in these incubating programmes.
