A Valleys-based artisan vegan jam, marmalade and chutney business is planning major expansion.
Clydach Vale-based Enjoy Rogue is looking to expand across the 海角视频 into supermarkets as well as into overseas markets, following a £40,000 loan from Robert Owen Community Banking Fund (ROCBF) in Newtown.
Asher Flowers, 28, moved back to Wales after career in advertising in London to launch Enjoy Rogue in 2017. Initially he teamed up with his mother Anita, who he said taught him the fundamentals of her hobby making marmalades and chutneys when he was growing up in Haverfordwest.
He said: “We started out selling our products at Pontcanna and Roath farmers’ markets in Cardiff and it grew from there.
“We recognised a real opportunity for high-class artisan jams, marmalades and chutneys, and luckily sales soon began to take off.”
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With home-made and allergen-free products like Espresso Martini marmalade and Bravado Chilli Pepper jam, Enjoy Rogue built up a 海角视频 customers 海角视频-based working with manufacturers.
But then came the pandemic and Mr Flowers needed to find urgent support for his expanding business.
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He said: “We needed business interruption support because the pandemic knocked both our supplies and customers.
“Robert Owen Community Banking Fund really helped us in the emergency. It was really nice to be able to speak to someone person-to-person about our particular position and the help we needed.”
Having weathered the pandemic, the business has expanding further with talks taking place with a number of supermarkets chains. With further investment following the financial backing of ROCBF, he said the company is looking at sales in Saudi Arabia and the US.
Mr Flowers added: “The long-term dream for Enjoy Rogue is to be the number one brand for at-home brunch, selling other vegan products like granolas alongside our marmalades and chutneys.”
Jackie Milton of Robert Owen Community Banking Fund, said: “After such an awful year it was so good to be able to support an up-and-coming young Welsh entrepreneur with such an exciting food business.”