Chika spotted a gap in the market for African inspired vegan foods and has since quit her job in banking to follow a career in the food industry. You may remember her success on Dragon's Den not long ago. We caught up with her to talk about her experience in the Den and what she hopes to achieve with her Chika's Change mission.
Chika
Why was it important to you to make your snacks both gluten free and vegan friendly?
Our purpose is to take people on an adventure in taste and as such, flavour is at the forefront of our decision making. However, I am all too aware of the lack of available tasty products in the gluten free and vegan markets, so we aimed to create products which are packed with flavour as well as nutritionally balanced - something the free from community can get excited about. With research showing 28% of free-from food buyers and eaters would like to see a wider range of free-from on-the-go or snack items available, I realised it was important to create a product that catered to the tastes of this community.
How did the idea come about for these snacks?
My childhood was divided between London and a small village in Anambra State, southern Nigeria, where I was surrounded by a large family that loved food! We would climb trees to pick cashew apples and my relatives would toast nuts in a pan to concentrate their flavour. It was after one particular trip to West Africa a few years ago that I realised there was a lack of African-inspired foods available in the UK, so I decided to create a product incorporating some of the delicious flavours and ingredients I discovered in my childhood.
Please tell us about your experience of being on The Dragon's Den.
It was a fantastic experience. I never imagined that all five judges would put in an offer for my business so when they did I was overwhelmed. Peter Jones was always on my radar due to the success of his partnership with Levi Roots and I felt he would make a great mentor, so I was thrilled when he made me an offer. It was after I left the den that I realised I wanted to go it alone - I wanted to live my own success - so I have continued to grow the business independently.
Did you always want to work in the food industry?
I have always had a passion for food, however I started my career as an investment banker. It was in 2014 that I felt inspired to take a new direction with my career, not just to follow my appetite for African food and culture but also to make meaningful change in West African communities with the launch of CHIKA's. The slow-cooked stews, sweet potato crisps, fried plantain, and yams we enjoyed as children were the foods and flavours I wanted others to experience here in the UK, and served as the inspiration for the launch of CHIKA's.
How much has your background in banking helped you to manage to monetary side of the business?
It definitely helped! Not just financially but my background also taught me to keep a cool head, work with a team and stay focused. You can experience so many highs and lows when starting a new business and having worked in an intense, pressured environment, I've been able to cope with the emotion and workload.
Please tell us about Chika's Change which is at the heart of the company's ethos.
We launched CHIKA'S with a huge ambition: to create a delicious range of foods inspired by our West African heritage and, through the production of our snacks, bring about positive change in the communities from which we draw inspiration. Everyone at CHIKA'S believes that it is every child's fundamental right to have an education and we are committed to helping make that possible.
CHIKA'S Change is a weekly subscription which delivers a box of our delicious snacks straight to the subscriber and as a direct result of the subscription; we pair the subscriber up with a child (initially in Africa) who will get to go to school. Our mission is to give every child their fundamental right to an education and we have a direct one for one relationship that is 10,000 subscribers = 10,000 children in education.
The recipes are inspired by those you grew up with- so are a lot of Nigerian recipes naturally vegan?
Bean and rice-based dishes are hugely popular and these are often created with use of herbs, spices, chillies and oils - all of which are suitable for vegans. Plantain, chickpeas and nuts are the foods we used to pick as children and the ingredients my family and I have incorporated into recipes for years so it felt natural to create product around these foods. That said, meat is also very popular in Nigeria - particularly barbecues!
Why are chickpeas, nuts and plantains so beneficial to a vegan diet?
Vegans typically avoid all meat, fish and poultry as well as other animal bi-products such as eggs and dairy products, so chickpeas, nuts and plantains are great food choices for those following a vegan diet.
What is next for you?
I'm really excited to continue to grow the business and develop the product offering, but most important is CHIKA's Change - this project remains at the heart of my company. Our aim is to make it convenient to donate money to a good cause with complete transparency and I believe we will achieve this with the snack subscription service.
For more information on Chika, her products and Chika's Change, visit www.chikas.co.uk .
Tagged in Vegan