Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Feb 22, 2012 12:21:48 GMT 1
The 51-year-old from Thetford, has turned his fascination with snail breeding, or Helticulture, into a new business, Snailz & Specialities, after taking voluntary redundancy.
Support from Outset Norfolk’s business start-up programme matched him with a mentor to help get the venture off the ground about a year ago, after he had identified a promising local market for edible snails among the town’s Portuguese population.
A second strand of the business came via his wife’s work at the nearby Thetford Academy, where the diversification of species is part of the curriculum.
He is also looking to grow speciality vegetables, including Jerusalem artichokes, white and lemon cucumbers, chervil and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and potatoes.
“I wanted everything up and running straight away, but things just don’t work that way,” Mr Andrew said.
“At the time, all I had was a good idea and a draft business plan, with no idea of how running a business worked.
“I had lots of ideas, but no real experience of running a business.
“Working with Outset and with my mentor has given me clarity in my business planning, from understanding the competition to identifying sources of revenue.”
Source: www.eadt.co.uk/business/farming-news/snails_at_the_heart_of_new_thetford_food_business_1_1216476
Learn more about snail farming in Nigeria @ THE THY SNAIL & GRASSCUTTER FARMS snailriches2.tripod.com
Support from Outset Norfolk’s business start-up programme matched him with a mentor to help get the venture off the ground about a year ago, after he had identified a promising local market for edible snails among the town’s Portuguese population.
A second strand of the business came via his wife’s work at the nearby Thetford Academy, where the diversification of species is part of the curriculum.
He is also looking to grow speciality vegetables, including Jerusalem artichokes, white and lemon cucumbers, chervil and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and potatoes.
“I wanted everything up and running straight away, but things just don’t work that way,” Mr Andrew said.
“At the time, all I had was a good idea and a draft business plan, with no idea of how running a business worked.
“I had lots of ideas, but no real experience of running a business.
“Working with Outset and with my mentor has given me clarity in my business planning, from understanding the competition to identifying sources of revenue.”
Source: www.eadt.co.uk/business/farming-news/snails_at_the_heart_of_new_thetford_food_business_1_1216476
Learn more about snail farming in Nigeria @ THE THY SNAIL & GRASSCUTTER FARMS snailriches2.tripod.com
