The UK’s Street food sector received a fillip last month when 12 up-and-coming traders, from less-advantaged backgrounds, were successful in the inaugural Streets Ahead programme, an initiative created in partnership between McCain Foodservice Solutions and street food membership organisation KERB. Each trader received funding from between £3,000 and £10,000 to help their businesses grow. Meet the winners:
Hind Danoun - Utopia
Referring Charity: TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network)
Concept: A food truck serving authentic Middle Eastern food across London
Hero dish: Spiced Sujuk wrap served with pitta chip salad and ayran
Vision statement: “To create tiny utopian moments around homestyle food that is authentic, delicious, healthy and responsibly sourced, while reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the cuisine.”
Investment: £10,000
Eman Almaani - Bisan Bites
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: Authentic Palestinian food
Hero dish: Chicken maqloubah a traditional rice dish that bursts with aromatic flavour
Vision statement: “Be the number one place people choose to satisfy their cravings by introducing traditional Palestinian dishes which we inherited from our mothers who tried their best to preserve them.”
Investment: £10,000
Maral Nuriyeva - Homely Delish
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: Street food stall specialising in the food of Turkmenistan.
Hero dish: Manti dumplings with vegan and vegetarian options for health-conscious consumers
Vision statement: “My mission is to introduce the best selection of authentic traditional food from very little-known country such as Turkmenistan. And promote sustainability. My vision is to provide unique homestyle authentic culinary experience at reasonable price to the UK street food market. And I’d like my business to grow.”
Investment: £10,000
Akbar and Sanobar Majidov - Samarkand Palav
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: Traditional Central Asian cooking specialising in the cuisine of Samarkand and Bukhara
Hero dish: Osh palav
Vision statement: “Through our dedication to excellence, innovation and the promotion of osh palav globally, we aspire to establish ourselves as a symbol of culinary greatness, leaving a lasting impression on the world's palate and fostering a newfound love for this remarkable dish.”
Investment: £10,000
Simeon Johnson - Jerk ‘n’ Fusion
Referring Charity: St Christopher Fellowship
Concept: Fusion cooking blending Caribbean and Italian cuisines
Hero dish: The ‘jerkaccia’ burger served with homemade plantain puree and red pepper sauce.
Vision statement: “Preserving the authentic flavours, techniques, and cultural significance of Caribbean and Italian cuisines.”
Investment: £6,000
Amany Jarboua - Abo Saleem
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: Homemade Syrian cuisine
Hero dish: Crispy falafel with hummus and pickled turnips
Vision statement: “Our company's vision is to redefine the falafel experience by serving exceptional, flavourful falafel that satisfies and delights customers, while promoting a sense of community and sustainability. We aim to become the go-to destination for high quality falafel that leaves a lasting impression on every customer.”
Investment: £6,000
Kemi Ogunlana - Kemi’s Kitchen
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: An exploration of Nigerian cuisine
Hero dish: Jollof rice, plantain and fried chicken
Vision statement: “I want to create delicious and simple Nigerian meals to showcase the real taste of home. In addition to that, I plan for my business to have social impact mission, specialising in supporting migrant women.
Investment: £6,000
Bahaa Khdair - Sojok
Referring Charity: TERN
Concept: Syrian toastie slinger
Hero dish: Sojok wrap, a spicy middle eastern meat from mum’s kitchen
Vision statement: Sojok is a Syrian sandwich with seasoned minced beef, pickles, and served with Ayran. There's a market gap for authentic Syrian food beyond falafel and shawarma, and my mother's recipe fills that gap.
Investment: £6,000
Yogi Eswaran - Yogi’s Sri Lankan Kitchen
Referring Charity: Migrateful
Concept: Authentic Sri Lankan cuisine including fragrant beetroot curry and mouth-watering homemade dahl
Hero dish: Sri Lankan curry and daal with pol sambol
Vision statement: “My idea is to introduce the authentic SriLankan food to people using fresh ingredients such as curry leaves and panden leaves and many more and provide them with the original flavour and taste. I want to develop my business widely and have many branches opened all over the market.”
Investment: £6,000
(Name withheld) - RefreshMeant
Referring Charity: Womens Hillingdon Charity
Concept: Health-focused natural juices to improve digestion
Hero dish: Zobo drink
Vision statement: “Embracing a cross-cultural approach, RefreshMeant celebrates and honours both the Turkish and Nigerian mastery of crafting health focused drinks that invigorate the senses and refresh from the inside out.”
Investment: £3,000
Ozayr Sheikh - JamaiKorean
Referring Charity: Food Behind Bars
Concept: Jamaican and Korean fusion food
Hero dish: ‘Jiggy Jigae’ chicken stew, infused with a blend of Korean and Jamaican spices
Vision statement: “Our vision is to become the leading provider of Jamaican-Korean fusion cuisine by delivering exceptional quality, innovation, and customer service. We strive to create a culture of excellence where every member of our team is empowered to contribute their unique talents and ideas to achieve our common goal.”
Investment: £3,000
Nigel Westbrooks - Oceanside Hawaiian BBQ
Referring Charity: Prince’s Trust
Concept: Fast casual Hawaiian BBQ restaurant
Hero dish: Mochiko fries, loaded fries topped with homemade sauces and perfectly fried chicken
Vision statement: “Authentic Hawaiian recipes with an ‘oside’ twist. Using fresh ingredients, homemade sauces, and marinated meats to create a hole in the wall Hawaiian plate lunch experience.”
Investment: £3,000
