With a growing list of stockists and endorsement from TV chef Ainsley Harriot, Dursley-based food business – Forthay Granola – has grown exponentially since its humble lockdown beginnings. What started as a homemade breakfast offering, their freshly baked, hand-chopped granola and muesli is lining the shelves of an ever growing list of over 140 farm shops, delicatessens and hotels across the south of England.
But Debs and Charles Lamplugh aren’t stopping there! With help from The Growth Hub, this dedicated wife and husband team are going from strength to strength developing exclusive blends for major national stockists including well-renowned Selfridges.
Debs and Charles left their corporate jobs in London in 2018 in search for a more idyllic lifestyle. They stumbled across a beautiful cottage in Forthay, North Nibley – but little did they know it would soon become the foundation of a great new adventure! Debs had, what she calls “the slightly crazy idea” of turning their new family home into a Bed & Breakfast.
One year down the line and the B&B was a great success, offering a stunning rural location, wonderfully comfortable beds and a delicious, locally sourced menu – part of which was their freshly baked granola, packed with honey, nuts and cranberries. Guests were so taken with their nutritious, and not to mention, delicious breakfast staple, the couple were soon inundated with requests to take some home.
When Covid-19 hit, the B&B was forced to close. Never one to rest on her laurels, this gave Debs and Charles the perfect opportunity to focus on their new business idea – and alas, Forthay Granola was born! Debs filled her car with bags of granola, drove around the local area visiting farm shops and community stores and was blown away by the response and quickly had more than 30 local customers.
In need of advice and guidance to take the business to the next level, Debs did an internet search on ‘start up business support in the Gloucestershire area’ and came across The Growth Hub. Since this time, The Growth Hub has supported Forthday Granola every step of the way!
“The Growth Hub has helped me in so many ways – from looking for premises, developing an e-commerce website, accessing funding and connections to local food producers for advice, which saved me a fortune in costly mistakes.”
To read the full story, in Deb’s own words, check out her interview with SoGlos here: How The Growth Hub Gloucestershire is helping Forthay Granola go national
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