Member Spotlight Roundup

Behind every independent food business is a story most customers never see; the long hours, the risks taken, the lessons learned, and the passion that turns a simple idea into something real.

Over the past quarter, we’ve sat down with some of the UK’s most exciting independent food founders, from street food traders and mobile caterers to pizza specialists, coffee entrepreneurs, and fast-growing hospitality brands, to uncover what it really takes to build a successful business in this industry.

From transforming family recipes into award-winning brands, leaving behind secure careers to pursue lifelong passions, scaling from back garden beginnings to national events, and redefining what modern catering can look like, each story offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship within hospitality. What connects them all is a shared commitment to quality, creativity, resilience, and an ambition to build something entirely their own in one of the most competitive sectors out there.

This collection of Member Spotlight interviews brings together honest conversations with the people behind these businesses, sharing the challenges they’ve overcome, the decisions that shaped their journeys, and the lessons they wish they’d known when starting out. Whether you’re already running a food business or dreaming of launching your own, there’s something valuable to take away from every story.

Tapas Zampa

Tapas Zampa started with a simple idea: bring a proper taste of Spanish food culture to the UK street food scene. For founder Adrian, tapas has always been about more than just eating; it’s about sharing, chatting, and enjoying bold, simple flavours with the people around you. Seeing a gap for authentic Spanish street food, he launched Tapas Zampa in 2023 with the goal of recreating that atmosphere wherever the truck goes.

Since then, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. The truck has popped up everywhere from local breweries and village pubs to some pretty incredible events, like the VIP Terrace at Silverstone’s British F1 and even catering for 1,500 guests at the Cambridge University May Ball. What started as a passion project has quickly grown into something much bigger, all while keeping that same focus on great food and good vibes.

Blame It All On My Roots

NUGS

SuJo

Sutharman and Joey, the duo behind SuJo, are building something that feels as much like a vibe as it does a food brand. Their journey into food didn’t start in a professional kitchen, but through years of shared interests and experiences that naturally brought them together. What began as casual cooking, hosting, and experimenting eventually grew into something more intentional, sparked by a simple question at a BBQ: why not turn this into something real?

SuJo was born from that energy -two cultures, two personalities, and a shared instinct to create and feed people. Today, that foundation still shapes everything they do, from their bold, layered flavours to the atmosphere they create around their food.

This member spotlight dives into their journey so far: the risks, the creativity, and the passion behind a brand that’s quickly making its mark.

D&S Catering

Behind every successful catering business is a story built on passion, persistence, and a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences. From humble beginnings and private events to becoming a trusted name for weddings, corporate functions, and special occasions, D&S Catering has grown through a dedication to quality food and exceptional service.

In this Q&A, we speak with the team behind D&S Catering about how the business started, the lessons learned along the way, and their advice for anyone looking to enter the food industry.

 

Stone’s Throw Kitchen

Pizza Roundup

Wisdom From Our Members: What We Wish We’d Known Earlier

If there’s one thing every hospitality business owner has in common, it’s that there are things you only learn by doing.

No business plan can prepare you for every challenge. No amount of research can fully explain what it’s like to run your own hospitality business day after day, season after season. That’s exactly why we’ve taken the opportunity to look back through the NCASS Member Spotlight archive and asked a simple question: If our members could go back and speak to themselves on day one, what would they wish they’d known?

Their answers reveal some valuable lessons; not just for new businesses, but for anyone navigating the realities of hospitality.

Kiernan’s Coffee

It’s been two years since we last caught up with Tom from Kiernan’s Coffee, and a lot has changed in that time. What started as a 19-year-old launching a horsebox coffee business with no real background in hospitality has grown into something far more established, with a second horsebox, a permanent pitch at a National Trust site, and a much more structured way of working behind the scenes.

While the setup and systems have clearly evolved, the core of the story hasn’t really changed. It’s still about learning as you go, figuring things out the hard way, and building something step by step, just now with a bit more experience, confidence, and perspective behind it.

Meat The Chef

Bollywood Bites

From childhood memories of Mumbai’s bustling food stalls to building an award-winning mobile catering business, Nisha and Avneet have transformed their passion for authentic Indian cuisine into one of the UK’s most exciting street food brands.

As the founders of Bollywood Bites, they have combined family recipes, professional culinary training, and extensive food industry expertise to bring a fresh, gourmet take on Indian street food to festivals, corporate events, and private celebrations across the country.

Inspired by the vibrant flavours, energy, and accessibility of Mumbai’s street food culture, the duo set out to fill a gap they noticed in the UK market: authentic, high-quality Indian street food that stays true to its roots while delivering a modern customer experience. Today, with multiple industry awards and a growing reputation for exceptional food and service, Bollywood Bites continues to redefine what mobile catering can be.

We caught up with Nisha to discuss their journey, the inspiration behind Bollywood Bites, the challenges of scaling a food business, and their ambitions for the future

House Kitchen Catering

From humble pop-up beginnings to catering at some of the UK’s biggest events, House Kitchen Catering has built a reputation for delivering exceptional food experiences with passion, creativity, and a hands-on entrepreneurial spirit.

Founded in 2019 by husband-and-wife team Matt and his partner, the business has grown from a small local pub residency into a thriving independent catering company, serving everything from corporate events and weddings to festivals and large-scale private functions.

The team behind House Kitchen Catering shares the story of how they got started, the lessons learned along the way, memorable moments from catering at events like Glastonbury and London’s O2, and their advice for anyone looking to build a successful business in hospitality.