LONDON, JUNE 25, 2023 / The culmination of an exciting year filled with determination and success was marked by McCain Foodservice Solutions [McCain FS] and KERB+ as they hosted the final event of their new Streets Ahead programme.
The McCain FS Streets Ahead programme, supported by the KERB+ social enterprise aims to make a significant impact on the hospitality industry, dedicated to investing back by supporting a new generation of operators from less advantaged backgrounds. Together, they have nurtured the skills and street food business ideas of over 100 participants throughout the past 12 months.
12 ambitious participants were selected to participate in this two-day event held at Mission Kitchen, New Covent Garden, where they cooked their hero dish and pitched it to a judging panel of representatives from McCain FS and KERB+.
The panel interviewed each participant as they cooked their hero dish asking them questions about their food and what led them to create their dish.
The judging panel deliberated on each dish and pitch to determine which of them would each receive up to £10,000 to help fund their new business, totalling £100,000 invested by McCain FS.
At the end of the two pitch days, having been blown away by what they saw as well as the taste and quality of street food, the judging panel decided all 12 participants deserved a level of investment and wanted to further support each of them to continue their journey into street food.
4 participants received £10,000 investment, 5 participants received £6,000 investment and 3 received £3,000 investment.
“Our ambition for the McCain FS Streets Ahead programme was to help the future of operators flourish and support individuals in building skills where they wouldn’t ordinarily receive it. What has become of Streets Ahead is a new network of soaring talent in the food service industry. I’ve been moved by the incredible resilience and passion of the participants and proud we have been able to support their dreams of becoming street food operators”. Says Richard Jones, McCain Foods Commercial Director.
“Our participants have seamlessly built new skills and relationships and we are proud to be working together with them, supporting them on journey to realise their opportunities. This is why we have decided to provide the well-deserved investment to all participants and further help develop their businesses until they can trade.” Says Mark Hodge, McCain Foods VP of Marketing
“The McCain Streets Ahead programme allows us to make a greater social impact, and it was incredibly rewarding to see all the participants do so well at the panel days. We look forward to continuing to work with them and supporting them to achieve their dream of running a successful street food business and hopefully, one day becoming fully fledged KERB members where they can gain access to a range of incredible trading opportunities at our street food markets, events and food halls.” Says Gavin Dunn, Managing Director of KERB+
"The McCain Streets Ahead programme has taught me a lot, I have been blessed with so much support from the team here. There have been times I’ve been nervous and unsure if I can do this, but they have always encouraged me to reach for my dreams and I wouldn’t have made it here without them. The Streets Ahead community and our shared love for food have made this experience for me. Today I watched everyone help each other; there is so much teamwork, we all want the best for each other, and I can’t thank enough the McCain FS and KERB+ team for bringing us here today.” Says Kemi Ogulana, Streets Ahead Participant
Of the £100,000 investment from McCain FS they have funded 12 new start-up businesses with £79,000. The remaining £21,000 will be used to host a showcase market in partnership with KERB+ for the winning participants to trade at towards the end of this year.
McCain FS now surges into the second year of Streets Ahead where it continues to find participants from less advantaged backgrounds, who are driven and passionate about pursuing a career in setting up their very own street food business, with the goal of investing in the next cohort of Street Food entrepreneurs.
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About McCain Foodservice Solutions:
McCain was founded in Florenceville, Canada, 1957. They pioneered the very first frozen French fry and went on to become the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, opening over forty production facilities across six continents.
McCain is committed to quality from the very start of the supply chain. As the UK’s largest purchaser of British potatoes, they have close links to over 250 potato growers across the UK.
Over the past forty-five years, they’ve built a strong presence in the UK frozen foods industry. As well as owning a household retail brand, the respected foodservice business works in close partnership with distributors, chefs and caterers across thousands of the country’s pubs, restaurants, hospitals, and schools.
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About KERB+
KERB+ is the social enterprise founded by London food organisation KERB, dedicated to creating opportunity and joy for those who need it most.
KERB+ exists to remove barriers to entry into the hospitality industry through business coaching and job coaching programmes. For those that go on to set up their food businesses, KERB+ offers an InKERBator programme and graduates from that become full members of KERB. Once a member of KERB all businesses gain access to a range of incredible trading opportunities at our street food markets, events and food halls.
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