Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John Redman, owner of Marcelle's Kitchen, located in Port Perry, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a dedicated Gluten-Free Bakery; we have 15 years of experience baking without wheat. Our sales have shifted from sweet desserts to savory; we have created perogies, ravioli, fried chicken, and croissants. If you are not Celiac, you probably will not understand how hard it is to find any of these products. Let alone ones that taste good.

Tell us about yourself

My daughter is Celiac, and I understood how hard it was to find Gluten-free products in the '90s. It was not much better in 2007 when I took the bakery over and divided it into creating our own products. I loved creating; now, I do the management of the business; it is not as interesting. My interest is growing the business with internet sales and, for a time, on Amazon.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating a flour that worked well in breads and pastry, having people that have been with us for years.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Picking which direction to go, things change, and you need to go with the flow. I was in retail in the early 2000s and moved on to baking as it looked to me to have more opportunities for growth.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Just go do it!
  2. You can try to get ready with reading and online classes, but eventually, you need to make it work.
  3. Listen to others, but it is your business, and you have to believe in what you are doing.
  4. You need to love what you do, or you won't do the work that is needed to succeed.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://marcelleskitchen.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcellesGFKitchen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelleskitchenglutenfree/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonGlutenEatn

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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