A North East based online marketplace that aims to connect different cultures with companies needing catering has found great success across the UK.
The company, Hey! Food is Ready, is the brainchild of Durham University graduates Yuru Guo and Frankie Docker, who started the initiative two years ago whilst students at Trevelyan College.
The online website matches local cooks with a passion for their heritage and culture with companies requiring catering for events or staff lunches.
Yuru and Frankie noticed a lack of representation within the dining options in the North East and noted that a lot of minority food cultures were not available.
Frankie Docker, co-founder, said: “Despite not being on the High Street, behind closed doors there were many talented individuals from all around the world living in the North East who could produce these culturally inspired meals. We wanted to connect communities together and encourage diversity.”
The company highlights available chefs who can provide catering with food from countries across the world such as Egypt, Lebanon, and the Ukraine.
Ensuring cleanliness certifications and hygiene levels are provided, the chefs then prepare dishes for corporate events.
Yuru commented: “We have 60 cooks so far living across the UK and representing 40 countries. Our mission is to help refugees, immigrants, single parents and home cooks to start their food business and earn a meaningful income.
“We are celebrating a love of food and enabling companies to widen their culinary net, instead of just having sandwiches at every meeting and event.
“It can also open discussions about diversity and allows people to feel at home if they can have a familiar food in their workplace.”
Since starting their journey, Yuru and Frankie have received grants from Durham University to conduct market research, as well as winning the Inclusive Innovation Award from Innovate UK, which includes a £50,000 grant to develop inclusive innovations within the business.
So far, Hey! Food is Ready has corporate clients in Newcastle and London, including Barclays, Google and the Department for International Trade.
“It has been great to work with such recognisable companies so early in our journey and has been really beneficial for our chefs to have their food enjoyed at important events.”
Frankie and Yuru also provide workshops and work with refugee centres in Newcastle to provide help and support for chefs in the centres and help them to gain certifications to work with the company.
Frankie noted: “It can be hard coming to a new country and we are helping to provide confidence and job security. If there is a language barrier, food can be a really great tool for communication and help people to connect.
“When we started the business, we knew nobody, but we have worked hard to network and connect with companies to allow our chefs to work with them on events.”
Reflecting on starting their business in Newcastle, Yuru said: “Newcastle has been a great place to start a business. We have met so many supportive and helpful people and have felt so welcomed into the business arena in the North East.”
Yuru has also been shortlisted as a finalist for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the North East England, Yorkshire & The Humber region at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Yuru explained: “Looking to the future, we are hoping to expand more into London and connect chefs with even more corporate events.
“We are also keen to expand the team and include more chefs in our company. We will soon be opening a funding and investment programme to invite shareholders and supporters to help us expand.”
For more information on Hey! Food is Ready, visit https://www.heyfoodisready.com/
