Had the absolute pleasure of talking with Coaltown Coffee Roasters founder Scott James on this week's AFD podcast.⁠
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It amazes me how brilliant these entrepreneurs are & we are loving this series!! we hope you are.⁠
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Scott talks us through his journey from leaving school with no formal qualifications to traveling on an export trip to New York which changed his life forever. ⁠
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I am sure many of you won’t know the heritage and history of Ammanford in South Wales but these guys are on a mission to bring the industry back to a once-bustling town ....and they won’t stop there.⁠
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A family business with his mum & dad playing their part and a business built on an old photo of his great grandad. This isn’t a clever marketing back story, this is real and authentic & filled with Welsh community spirit.⁠
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Scott is full of positivity and energy and really is a must-listen for anyone who is thinking, I can't, I don't know or I am stuck when it comes to business...⁠
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Enjoy.⁠

This week on the AFD we talk to the super talented Betty Gilbert.

Betty is the founder of "FICO by Betty" & also co-founded the allotment kitchen at Stepney Farm in London.

Her journey is a fascinating one from learning languages at university and heading for a corporate life when a chance year out in Italy led her down a different career path...one that met her passion for food and her passion for travel.

Once Betty decided to become a chef her journey became a familiar one  as she worked through London's restaurant scene. She decided to take her skill set to another level by night schooling at Leiths whilst still working during the day....this is what we call an AFD! 

From the connections from Leiths, Betty managed to widen her network and started cooking for private clients in their homes and abroad.

Her year out in the south of Italy changed everything and Betty started building FICO and studying Italian cuisine and really understanding what she wanted to do in her return to London.

From there she built up her catering business, started running a cooking retreat in Crete & then a day before the national lockdown acquired her first site with her sister-in-law on Stepney farm. And so, the Allotment Kitchen was born...

Lockdown threw up many challenges but Betty has met them head-on and tells us all about her plans for the future.

This week we speak with Amy Yarker & Sam Watson, founders of The Fermentation Station.

 The people behind The Fermentation Station are Liverpool-based Amy and Sam. They are a simple unpretentious team obsessed with all things ferments and that sums up our mission, removing the pomposity of fermentation and helping make it accessible to everyone.  They are a really friendly and approachable team and if you have any questions or you just want to chat ferments they love to hear from fermenting enthusiasts!

 The Fermentation Station are specialists in the art of fermenting foods and drinks, making probiotic products that are healthy, delicious, diverse, and sustainable.

Recognised globally and throughout history, fermented foods and drinks are accessible to all and are part of rich cultural traditions whilst benefiting digestive and immune system health. The natural activity of fermentation produces live probiotics, B vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, as well as increasing their bioavailability to the body. Meaning that our food and drinks are naturally good for your overall health.

The Fermentation Station believe in showcasing the diversity of fermented foods through traditional and sustainable methods. Educating, inspiring, and connecting communities to create positive health outcomes and food waste solutions. Fermentation is what they call “Ordered Chaos” and they want their products to be fun from start to finish. From the love and creativity that they put into creating their ferments, to the delicious dishes and drinks you can make with them.

Their passion is translated into their range of products but to find out more about the seasonal ferments or upcoming workshops please follow them on social media or take a browse of the website.

We talk through Amy & Sam's journey, about how a passion project has become a business and their plans for the future.

This week we meet Alissa Horan, founder of Electric Eye Apparel.

Electric Eye Apparel is an independent UK brand born in 2018. Alissa & her team embroider-to-order custom or pre-designed women, men, unisex, and kids ethically sourced organic cotton garments and accessories. Whether it's a lyric, a statement, or a unique and special gift - they've got you covered!

Alissa is a passionate advocate of slow fashion, sustainability, and take pride in producing each and every order in-house. Inspired by rock & roll, film and fashion Electric Eye resonates with creative and stylish individuals who seek out quality brands with sound ethics.

Alissa walks us through her story from Glasgow to her new home in Manchester. Along the way working for Vivienne Westwood, supporting underprivileged kids in Glasgow through her love for fashion & her obsession with Bowie!

As Alissa would say herself as her Electric Eye baby grew her actual baby Maggie was due to arrive to present the biggest challenge she had faced, at the same time Alissa was placing orders with Jane Fonda & Virgin radio Chris Evans to name a few .....

2020 has been a challenge for all of us but through support from Alissa's husband Micheal & some great life lessons along the way Alissa, Micheal, and new arrival Maggie are ready to rock 2021!

This week we meet Osian & Catrin Jones, founders of Crwst in Cardigan West Wales.

Crwst is a cafe & bakery serving fresh homemade products, now retailing their own line of branded Crwst Jars online the business goes from strength to strength.

Below is just a glance at their back story and how they ended up running their own business and becoming one of the biggest employers in retail in Cardigan.

"Osian is a trained chef and we had been planning our venture for a year or so before the move back West. Our trip to France was the perfect place to do a little market research before taking the plunge! Once back home, Osian was inspired and began baking artisan bread and delicious cake creations. We attended a weekly market in Cardigan, along with supplying six local shops. The amazing loyal support of both locals and tourists has been crucial to our success.

In 2017, they began to build their dream of a café and bakery in West Wales. After five months of hard work and dedication, in April 2018 CRWST in Cardigan opened its doors serving brunch, bread, bakes, and coffee. Within a couple of months, the increase in demand paved the way to establishing a separate location for the bakery, giving the bakers plenty of space to work their magic!

In 2019, their most recent development was encouraged by Crwstomers – a production line! The CRWST jars and kits are from Osian’s delicious recipes used in daily bakes or brunch dishes. From award-winning Pembrokeshire Sea Salted Caramel to Crunchy Granola, now available for customers to take home and devour!"

Osian and Catrin talk us through their experiences through baking, building a business, setting core values, and growing their following on Instagram to 16,000 followers in a very short time. It's a great story of a very local business run by local people.

This week we talk to husband and wife team, Alex & Katie Wigget, founders of Woodfired Wonders. They talk us through their journey from the casual dining sector to running their own street food business.

This dynamic duo has over 30 years of combined experience in the catering industry with a real passion for food and service. 

They are committed to only using the finest ingredients that they can source to ensure the pizza remains of the highest standard.

If you are thinking of starting your own street food business then this episode is for you!

The AFD podcast series is all about the stories behind the brands, the founders.

We won't be talking with big business that has been bankrolled by private investment but business that has been born out of blood, sweat & tears and requires 24 hours a day commitment and bags of passion & belief.

This week Paula Jenkins, founder of our Paula's in Liverpool talks to Chris about her journey and how her vegan garlic butter has been a lifelong ambition that has had its fair share of barriers that have need to be overcome.

Our Paula's is an award-winning producer of tasty, inclusive veggie & plant-based butter & pates available in both dairy & gluten-free.

Paula talks about the influence of her parents and more recently her partner Eugene in supporting her business. Her passion & dedication drove her forward whilst learning on the job and forcing her way into meetings to ensure that she was at the front of the queue for support.

Listen in and learn how Paula managed to surround herself with support from the right people and how she persevered in building her business whilst dealing with the loss of her parents, a lifetime dream now becoming a reality.