Levi Roots: how to be a food entrepreneur

10-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 18-Jul-2024 at 14:06 GMT

Passion and planning ability are Levi Roots' two key ingredients for launching a career as a food entrepreneur

Passion and planning ability are the two key qualities for launching a career as a successful food entrepreneur, according to Caribbean food guru Levi Roots.

In this exclusive podcast, Roots told FoodManufacture.co.uk that passion for a food product, which had a unique sales point, was the start of the journey.

But planning was also essential to help focus that passion on a sound business plan likely to deliver commercial success.

Along the way, it was important to win the backing of local communities - before the support of supermarket buyers, he said at the trade event Foodex 2012 at the NEC, Birmingham last month.

Dragon's Den

After winning £50,000 worth of backing from the BBC TV programme Dragon's Den five years ago, Roots has built a successful food range founded on his Reggae Reggae Sauce brand.

To read Root's top tips on building a successful food brand, delivered at Foodex, click here.

To watch FoodManufacture.co.uk's video interview with agriculture minister Jim Paice about food and drink firms' export achievements click here.