FODILICIOUS was set up last year by Lauren Leisk after she tried the low fodmap diet to treat her irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). She spotted a gap in the market for convenience foods for people with digestive issues and allergies. The business supplies ready meals and snacks to Apex Hotels in Edinburgh as well as a number of wholesalers.
Name: Lauren Leisk
Age: 25
Position: Founder
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS CALLED?
Fodilicious
WHERE IS IT BASED?
Livingston
WHY DID YOU SET UP THE BUSINESS?
I HAVE suffered from IBS from a young age. I tried gluten-free and dairy-free diets but nothing worked. I found the low fodmap diet that cuts out trigger foods like onions, garlic, gluten and dairy. My mum helped me cook all the meals. I had lots of success with it and noticed a gap in the market for low fodmap food. The current products lack taste and quality and I wanted to make products that don’t compromise on taste. I set it up when I graduated from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh with a first-class business degree. Entrepreneurship was a big part of university so setting up my own business was always something I was really interested in. The business is run by myself and my mum. She’s very supportive. We started trading in 2018 with home delivery ready meals. The cookie buttons launched in June this year. The Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation helped us develop it at Queen Margaret University.
WHAT IS YOUR TARGET MARKET?
I TRIED to create tasty products that are suitable for IBS. We’re gluten-free certified by Coeliac UK which is a huge selling point. We also target the health market as the products are low calorie and low sugar too. We have already been approached by retailers across the UK. We are the only UK brand providing low fodmap snacks. Feedback has been fantastic from vegans, people with allergies and IBS. I think people are becoming more aware of dietary requirements because intolerances and allergies are rising by 15% year on year [according to Allergy UK]. We have been chosen out of hundreds as a future UK brand at Food Matters Live held at London ExCeL.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM COMPETING BUSINESSES?
WE are a first in the UK for low fodmap products as most free from businesses only cater to the gluten-free market. We use premium ingredients that are all natural. The mission is to make tasty products that cater to a range of diets. The first customer for our cookie buttons is Apex Hotels. They like it because it caters to so many diets in one product.
IS SCOTLAND A GOOD PLACE FOR THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS?
WE’VE had huge support in Scotland. We won The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme and won the Scottish Edge award in June. We’ve been really successful. The support network in Scotland is second to none. I would recommend setting up a business in Scotland to anyone, especially because of what the Scottish Government does.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT RUNNING THE BUSINESS?
SINCE I have IBS myself it is really rewarding to work hard to help people out there suffering with it. I can help them and I’m really passionate about that.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING THE BUSINESS?
RAISING brand awareness. It’s a really exciting time as our full range is about to launch.
WHERE DO YOU HOPE THE BUSINESS WILL BE IN 10 YEARS’ TIME?
I’D love to see it as a UK free from food market leader. I want it to be the go-to brand for low fodmap products. The products are made in an allergen-free site which makes it safe for people to eat. It’s very hard to find a factory that does that in Scotland.
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