The females taking the food industry by storm
According to recent research, 29 percent of small businesses in the UK today are female owned. To mark International Women’s Day this month, we shine a light on just some of the brilliant local women who are running their own food and drink empires.
Marianna Hadjigeorgiou, owner of Orange Pekoe
Orange Pekoe opened on White Hart Lane in Barnes back in 2006, born from Marianna’s love for loose leaf tea and a passion to make it more accessible. Today, her beautiful and much-loved café and tea shop serves delicious lunches and brunches, celebrated afternoon teas, and a vast selection of premium tea sourced from around the world.
“As a woman in business, it’s hard to wear all the hats that society still expects - to be the supportive daughter, devoted mother, attentive wife, and caring friend, whilst also trying to focus on your business. You feel continuously torn no matter how hard you work, and the to do list never ends!” says Marianna.
“The sense of community that the tearoom has created is amazing. Tea is about bringing people together and supporting each other. I am so proud of my team and being part of the local community means everything to me.”
Sally Powell, owner of Culver+Nelson
East Sheen’s Culver+Nelson is a fantastic deli and shop that sells both the basics and specialist foods, all carefully curated by foodie aficionado, Sally. From locally baked bread, top grade eggs, refill nuts and grass-fed butter, to a tempting cheese counter, lovely wines, freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, and more, it is a friendly, one-stop-shop for deliciousness.
“I opened in early 2019, motivated by my lifelong love of good food and international food culture, but also by the fact that East Sheen at that point had no local, independent wide-ranging food shop, despite being such a gastronomic neighbourhood,” Sally explains.
“We had to shift our business model overnight when the first lockdown happened, but we have never looked back. I am very proud to have such a loyal, local set of customers as this is exactly what I set out to do - serve the local area and now they are at the very root of my business.”
c Paul Winch-Furness - Photographer
Rebecca Mascarenhas, restaurateur
With more than three decades of experience, Barnes resident Rebecca is one of the most respected restaurateurs in the industry. She owns the hugely popular Home SW15 and Flour + Water in Putney and co-owns some of the very best restaurants in London, including Elystan Street in Chelsea and Kitchen W8 in Kensington (both Michelin starred) and the truly terrific Church Road in Barnes.
“I’m very proud of being amongst the first female independent restaurateurs. Sally Clarke, Ruthie Rogers, Rose Gray and I all started out roughly around the same time, and even though I am not ‘the chef’ I am the principal player and have the key role in shaping each of the businesses,” says Rebecca.
“There’s nothing like the buzz of the restaurant business – I’m passionate about food and people, so it’s perfect for me. After all these years, I find my greatest joy is to see the careers of many men and women that I have mentored soar to great success.”
Al Camilleri-Lloyd, owner of The Fallow Deer
Small but mighty independent café The Fallow Deer is a much-loved landmark of Teddington High Street. Here, owner Al (also known as ‘mother deer’) and her team supply delicious brunches, lunches, homemade cakes, supper clubs and cocktail evenings, and pride themselves on top quality, carefully chosen ingredients, as well as using local produce and suppliers.
“After years working in advertising, I wanted a change and to do something in the area that I grew up in and love. I stumbled across a little cafe for sale and after a ridiculously brief chat decided to go for it. I quit my job that week and started making plans,” explains Al.
“It has been very challenging in different ways. Trying to juggle running a business as well as looking after my young twins has meant many sleepless nights. Plus, ever changing trends, Brexit, and covid. I'm very proud of having been on the High Street for nearly ten years and to still be going from strength to strength. The whole Fallow team, old and new, work so incredibly hard and are like family to me, and many of our lovely regulars have become our friends.”
Ashly Rose
Louise Holme, co-founder of HolmeStores
Having rebranded and relocated after 8 successful years as The Dorking Deli (a smaller coffee shop and deli that Louise started in 2012). HolmeStores is a popular casual dining hotspot in Dorking, Surrey, with a brilliant all-day brunch menu, seasonal dishes, wood-fired oven, impressive organic wine list, British craft beers on tap, and more.
“The hospitality industry has always had its challenges but it's a different ballgame post-covid. Cost increases, staff shortages and unpredictable customer demand challenge the business every day,” says Louise.
“Despite this, we're all proud of what we've achieved, and we're determined to achieve our goals by any means. We've created an awesome female-led kitchen team, gained a reputation for great customer service, and delicious fresh food all cooked from scratch – not a microwave in sight! We're also thankful to have built an amazing customer base who love what we do as much as we do!”
Kate Gregory, Managing Director and Master Distiller of the Gin Kitchen
The Gin Kitchen is an innovative distillery in the Surrey Hills, that crafts top-notch gin and exports it across three continents. Its beautiful ceramic bottles can be found both locally and in the likes of Fortnum and Mason, as well as at its very own distillery shop and cocktail bar.
“In January 2016, I was listening to a radio programme about distilling and had a flash of inspiration. I phoned my best friend, Helen, and told her that we were going to start a distillery. It started as an elaborate hobby, but soon got a life of its own and took off,” explains Kate.
“Like many businesses, we are finding staff shortages a challenge right now. As we're self-funded, we don't have a large marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth to grow the business, but I'm so proud of the passion people have for our brand. Not only our staff, but our customers too.”
Paul Gregory
Mandira Moitra Sarkar, founder of Mandira’s Kitchen
Next to Silent Pool just outside Guildford, Mandira’s Kitchen is an all-female business that creates delicious authentic Indian food in the form of frozen meals (delivered nationwide), bespoke catering, cookery lessons and a small street food cafe. All food (including Mandira’s legendary samosas) uses family recipes, fresh local produce and no preservatives or additives.
“After moving to the UK, I spent the next 17 years working in the corporate world missing the authentic homestyle food of India, so I learnt how to cook. In 2017, I gave up my career to follow my dream. I started by doing supper clubs at home before moving to our present location,” explains Mandira.
“Despite the challenges of the past few years, there have been some fabulous highs for us, including having Nigella Lawson enjoy our food and being on the Channel 4 series, Aldi’s Next Big Thing. We provided over 5,000 meals as part of our holiday hunger project, and I was also named Businessperson of the Year 2022 in the Surrey Business Awards. I feel incredibly honoured to able to have the love and support of so many people.”
Danielle Webber, owner of Picky Bits
Picky Bits is a fun and modern Epsom-based catering business that has been revolutionising finger food since 2017. One of the pioneers of the grazing platter craze, Danielle specialises in creating beautiful buffets, picture-perfect platters and lavish lunches that not only taste fantastic but look incredible too (take a look at her Instagram @pickybits).
“After moving my raw cake business, Ripe & Nine, into a social club kitchen space back in 2017, Picky Bits was born completely by accident as I took on the clubs in-house catering. I never planned to have a catering company! It has been a rollercoaster ride so far and I'm loving it!” says Danielle.
“I'm up early to tackle a day’s work in the kitchen and usually working late to keep up with admin and enquiries. All while trying to squeeze in a social life, see family, exercise, eat well, and drink enough water! I’ve also just taken on a 10-year lease for a new premises with a shop front in Ewell, in the scariest time to do so, but I am determined to make it a success and I am really feeling the support of the local community right now.”
Sammi-Jo Gascoyne, founder of Blushing Cook
Based near Wimbledon, Blushing Cook creates utterly delicious, award-winning brownies and biscuits, hand-decorated with organic flowers, and delivers them to your door. Fans include Jamie Oliver and Nigel Slater, and the business recently collaborated with two Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche, working with Sammi-Jo’s former boss, Michel Roux Jr.
“When we first started, we took so many orders for postal brownies that we had to close the website! I worked through the nights, with my partner Simon helping all the way. I was overwhelmed, not just by the work, but by the support of everyone around me,’ says Sammi.
“I am proud of the hard work and persistence, along with the support from friends and loved ones. The real game changer was winning the Holly Tucker Awards. The prize money of £10,000 really helped take the business to the next level.”
