BUSINESS
Starting a food business cont .
Laura Bounds , Kent Crisps , www . kentcrisps . com
What sparked the initial idea for your business ?
I was very fortunate to get involved in the brand early on . Firstly , buying the product to sell while working as a fresh produce wholesaler and then being offered the opportunity to work for the brand a couple of years after it launched . I always knew the brand had potential ; the concept around promoting Kent as a destination and working with other local producers to use their lovingly made products in our seasonings was always a something I was passionate about . Now I am in the fortunate position of taking ownership of the business , we have built on this original concept to focus even more on our producers , destinations and Kent as a county . As well as the crisps being delicious , of course !
What was the first step you took in getting off the ground ?
When I took the business over it was like having to start again , which can be harder than starting a business from scratch . For us , it was ensuring we created a sustainable business , that was lean but effective – making sure we could create realistic budgets and stick to them to ensure that we can continue to grow .
What ’ s been the toughest challenge you ’ ve faced so far and how did you overcome it ?
The hardest part of business is ensuring you keep your niche , which for us is about promoting our county and using provenience in our seasonings to make the best tasting crisps available . We continue to work closely with our local producers to make sure our flavours stand out from our competitors .
What ’ s been your biggest achievement to date ?
Most certainly the growth of Kent crisps in international markets as well as in the UK . Kent Crisps are now available in 10 countries around the world , as well as being available on board some well-known airlines .
In your opinion , what separates a product that will be a success from one that won ’ t ?
I think the success of any product is to identify its uniqueness and ensure that its quality is exceptional . To create a successful product , I think passion is the biggest factor ; building a team that is as passionate about the products as you are .
If you had one piece of advice for anyone thinking of launching their own food or drink business , what would that be ?
Ensure that everything you do , you do to the highest standard . Being a perfectionist is only a good thing within business and even more important in the food and drink industry . Your branding and marketing sells the product and the quality of the product ensures it is bought again and again . If you ’ re going to do something , do it well !
168