The Gentleman Magazine Issue 3 | June/July | Page 84

WESTFIELD AND LEVI ROOTS SEARCH FOR
THE NEXT BIG FOOD MAGNATE
Levi Roots celebrating 10 years of Reggae Reggae at Westfield
Stratford City
In celebration of a decade of Reggae Reggae - Levi Roots
and Westfield are today launching a search for the next big
food entrepreneur, enabling the next generation to follow in
Brixtonite Levi’s own footsteps.
Having won investment and mentorship through Dragons Den
in 2007, Levi went on to create a hugely successful business,
opening his first standalone restaurant - Levi Roots Caribbean
Smokehouse at Westfield Strafford City in 2015.
Now budding food entrepreneurs have the chance to get
a similar head start in setting up their business.  Whether
ingredient inventors, restaurateurs or cuisine creators, Westfield
and Levi Roots invite anyone with an idea to pitch to a panel of
experts led by Levi Roots, Westfield’s Chief Marketing Officer
Myf Ryan and a number of other industry experts. The lucky
winner will receive one of a kind personal mentoring from Levi
himself and a kick starter financial injection from Westfield;
enabling them to turn a good idea into a great business.
Levi Roots states: “10 years on from Dragon’s Den, there isn’t a
day that goes by that I don’t value the opportunity I was given
to take my idea to the world, and want in turn to be able to give
a fellow Londoner with a good idea a platform from which to
inspire us all.  The beauty of food is that it is always evolving,
and I look forward to discovering the next big thing with
Westfield this June.”
Westfield's Chief Marketing Officer, Myf Ryan, comments:
“Westfield Stratford City has one of the biggest selections of
London’s favourite dining options. Set within the heart of
Stratford we are lucky to be able to provide visitors with the
food and flavours of the area – through dedicated spaces
such as The Street and our food markets. We understand the
importance of supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs
and encouraging young people in the local community to
pursue their dreams. Being able to partner with someone as
enigmatic and inspirational as Levi is very exciting and we have
84 | The Gentleman Magazine
no doubt the competition will attract some fantastic ideas form
across London’s budding business start ups.”
 Inspiring people of both the immediate Stratford area and of
London at large to take a chance on their concepts, Levi looks
to his own story to show the local community the power of a
good idea. From beginnings of selling Reggae Reggae sauce at
Notting Hill Carnival, Levi was propelled into public awareness
through a successful appearan