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Clear Kitchen Membership began life in 2020, when Founder and YouTuber Mikey found the advantages of a plant-based eating regimen firsthand after dropping 5 stone in a well being kick. Impressed, he began Clear Kitchen with a easy mission – to deliver plant-based meals to the mainstream.
Joined by co-founder and sustainability lead Verity Bowditch later that yr, they opened the primary restaurant in early 2021 within the coronary heart of London. From then, issues took off with a £725k yr 1 income. Since then, they’ve expanded bodily presence throughout London Fast Serve Eating places (QSRs) and diversified into b2b company catering and retail.
We sat down with co-founders Mikey and Verity to study their journey and objectives for the model.
We’d like to learn about your careers earlier than Clear Kitchen Membership and the place you first discovered that entrepreneurial spark
Mikey: I began my profession as a YouTuber and Verity on actuality television (Made in Chelsea). Collectively we used previous expertise from being within the media, PR and standard tradition to disrupt the fast service restaurant trade.
I at all times had an entrepreneurial spirit. And having misplaced numerous weight (5 stone) in lockdown on a vegan eating regimen I realised in case your standard meat eater, like me, might get pleasure from a plant-based eating regimen and see the advantages, others might too. I discovered the plant-based choices have been so tasty however simply unavailable.
From a younger age I’ve at all times been capable of see a chance and take advantage of out of it. I’ve plenty of concepts but additionally get pleasure from making them occur.
Verity: I’ve a level in Biomedical Sciences, together with diet, at King’s School London, and in addition self-studied sustainability. I used to be introduced up vegetarian which led to an ideal match with Clear Kitchen to drive it ahead with Mikey.
I joined Mikey after he had began as a supply kitchen in Brighton. We took over south west London on Deliveroo and later determined to open websites.
What drawback are you attempting to unravel?
Mikey: It’s not new info that going plant-based is the most important option to scale back your carbon footprint and do your bit for the atmosphere and animals. Nevertheless vegan meals is simply not accessible to everybody, and there are particular perceptions of vegan meals which have to be modified. I had them myself earlier than going vegan in lockdown.
Verity: I discovered that there was no ‘regular’ vegan meals accessible – it’s both leaves or junk meals. I used to be excited by the truth that Clear Kitchen offers that center floor of nutritious meals for all day eating, one of the best ways to point out mass market which you could eat vegan as a ‘senseless swap’.
What are you able to inform us in regards to the market and the way Clear Kitchen Membership is positioning itself for achievement?
The plant primarily based trade is ‘scorching’ proper now, there’s a social and financial want for folks to exponentially eat plant-based of their eating regimen, so it’s solely going to extend as a market. We’re positioned in a method the place we’re hedged with 4 arms of the enterprise – so we are able to survive over potential turbulence.
- Our dine in QSR
- Supply Clear at dwelling
- Clear catering (company/occasions/manufacturing)
- Introducing our retail arm in Q1 2023 with our Clear seize and go.
How does Clear Kitchen Membership differentiate itself?
CKC differentiates itself as we goal the flexitarian and the meat eater (though clearly everyone seems to be allowed!) and make our vegan merchandise style simply nearly as good because the meat various however with significantly better dietary and carbon worth. We additionally mix a meals model with standard tradition e.g. 2m impressions on TikTok, influencer advertising, style collaboration and so on. We’re a life-style with a tradition and group, we go one step additional.
Might you inform us about a few of your largest achievements so far?
- Elevating our first £1.1m with no assist and no expertise in fundraising, we simply went for it with a strong model .
- Securing Battersea Energy Station opening in October, a 7 billion greenback mall. We pitched for 10 months to get it and I believe will probably be the best plant-based expertise within the UK.
- Securing reoccurring catering contracts with the likes of Sky Studios & Amazon head workplace, turning the ‘metropolis’ plant primarily based and having non vegans get pleasure from our meals within the lots and on the common is so cool to witness. Going mainstream!
- Getting the ex worldwide CEO & president of McDonald’s as an investor and on our board!
What do you hope to see Clear Kitchen Membership obtain within the subsequent few years?
Within the subsequent few years we goal to roll out our energetic QSR in London but additionally department out to different main elements of the UK. We additionally may have scaled our clear catering around the UK & majorly progressed with our retail. Possibly we may have hit different international locations in these 3 years! CKC will likely be a family UK broad title.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Mikey: I like to play aggressive sports activities, like tennis and soccer. I believe it’s the important thing to staying targeted. I really like a 5.30am get up and 15km run.
Verity: I really like the outside; outside sports activities! I additionally like to be energetic however socialise and meet new folks as properly. I do a little bit of filming for TV when not working at clear however we each like to work and stay and breath Clear!
In case you weren’t constructing CKC what what do you suppose you’d be doing?
Mikey: I’d nonetheless be at CKC, it’s my complete life and keenness, my mission is to make CKC considered one of largest manufacturers on this planet!
Verity: I’d at all times discover my method again to my ardour which is demonstrating the advantages of plant-based meals, I’m so compassionate with animals, into wellness and sustainability I’ll at all times discover a route in enterprise right here.
Out of all of the Clear Kitchen meals, which one is your favorite?
Mikey: Katsu curry bowl- filling, scrumptious, nonetheless nutritious, and açai bowl I believe I eat one a day.
Verity: Inexperienced and lean smoothie, Caesar salad and no duck wrap for on the go.
Clear Kitchen Membership has raised over £2.3 million from over 500 traders. In case you’d like to search out out extra, take a look at the pitch.
