Name
Segun Akinwoleola
Age
37
Job title
Founder
Company and location
The Gym Kitchen, London
Education
BSc Business Management, first-class degree
Favourite food/drink
A Nigerian dish, Jollof rice with stew chicken and plantain.
What inspired you to enter F&B?
I loved the innovation how things are forever changing and how fast things come to market. The best thing about it is being able to offer customers the best products out there.
Tell us about your role
As the founder of The Gym Kitchen I am the driver in making protein products affordable, accessible and most importantly tasty. My role spans across key areas including marketing, sales and new product development.
What does a typical day look like?
To be honest it is extremely random. One day I am on a product shoot the next I could be in a customer meeting, the next I’m in a focus group. No two days are the same with every day putting as much into it as possible.
How did you get to where you are today?
I simply had an idea, decided to pursue that idea relentlessly. My struggle was not being able to access healthy eating as affordable prices which we focused and centred around positive nutrition. I decided to find a manufacturer first, then I built the brand behind the scenes whilst pitching to various retailers. Eventually a retailer said yes to list our chilled meals and now here we are.
When you’re having a bad day, what cheers you up?
I love the gym and sport so playing a bit of tennis or getting in a weights session in for sure.
What’s your favourite part about the food sector?
I love how collaborative it is, we are all working to a common goal, reaching out to fellow founders means we achieve more than what could be possible. I love the saying the people at the bottom are competing but the people at the top are collaborating.
If you could change one thing about the F&B sector what would it be?
Diversity I would make it a more diverse place which spans across ethnicity and gender.
What’s next for you/what’s the dream?
To build a truly global brand.
