#1 To See Where I'm Going You've Got to Know Where I've Been.

The Cheshire Food Co. is actually my second business rodeo. Back in 2006, my wife and I opened a deli, coffee shop, and restaurant. From day one it was a whirlwind—exciting, rewarding, exhausting, all the good (and stressful) things. And then in 2011 Costa waltzed into town and we knew things had permanently changed. Not that I admitted it straight away—oh no, I spent months in blissful denial. We finally closed in 2012, and in a plot twist nobody wants, we ended up bankrupt.

Fast forward to 2019. My eldest was unwell and out of school long-term so I left my job at the local butchers to be at home. While figuring out my next move a friend asked if I could cook some meals for her elderly dad. And just like that, a lightbulb flickered on—why not cook for others and make a few quid while still being at home where I was needed?

Now, bankruptcy is quite the character-building experience (that’s the positive spin I’m going with) and I was determined to do things differently second time around. That meant keeping costs as low as possible—no stock, no staff, no rented premises. Sounds smart, right? And it was... when I was just making lasagne for four people. But fast-forward to today, and things have escalated. We are about to extend our kitchen to ensure I can expand, I now carry more stock than I ever planned, I’m gearing up to hire my first employee in the summer, and I’ll need some extra premises at least a few days a week.

It’s all very exciting, but jumping back in is also slightly terrifying. That said, nothing great happens without a bit of risk and this feels like the right time to take some. There’ll be wins, losses, and a whole lot of learning, and if you stick around you’ll get to see all of it—messy bits included. 

So here we go - it's gonna be fun! Pop to CheshireFood.co.uk to see what we're currently doing, and please like and share the posts as that drives engagement which is always important.  

I plan to update about the journey weekly. 

See you soon 👋🏼