Join us for our open evening at Leiths on Wednesday 13 May 2026, 6.30–8.30pm, and discover how the Culinary Diploma can launch your career in food.
Join us for our open evening at Leiths on Wednesday 13 May 2026, 6.30–8.30pm, and discover how the Culinary Diploma can launch your career in food.
A Food Entrepreneur is someone who creates, develops, and manages food-related businesses, turning innovative ideas into successful ventures. Whether it’s launching a restaurant, starting a food product brand, or creating a catering business, a food entrepreneur is responsible for every aspect of the business, from concept and design to marketing and management.
They identify market trends, develop unique products or services, and work to differentiate their offerings in a competitive market. A food entrepreneur also handles the financial side of things, including budgeting, pricing, and managing costs, while ensuring the business is profitable and sustainable.
In addition to creativity and business acumen, a food entrepreneur needs strong problem-solving skills, leadership, and a passion for food. They often face challenges, such as sourcing ingredients, managing staff, or adjusting to customer demands, but with determination and innovation, they can grow and scale their business.
Individuals in this career path will find that the work-life balance can be varied, with some weeks being very busy and others quieter. It’s often said that the benefit of this role is being able to determine your own work schedule. As well as being able to pick and choose the specific jobs you’d like to take.
There are several skills you’ll need to become a food entrepreneur:
The salary individuals can earn in this role is so varied there is no current average. Their take-home pay will entirely depend on the size of the business, the frequency of working, the scale of their success and the business expenses they need to account for.
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Blondies cookies
Chelsie trained as a chef at Leiths School of Food and Wine before going on to win an internship at BBC Good Food as cookery assistant. Chelsie loves creating indulgent recipes like her triple cheese and bacon dauphinoise, but also really simple meals that can be whipped up in little time but pack a punch when it comes to flavour. Her motto is: “If in doubt, deep-fry it.” She left BBC Good Food to launch the renowned success Blondie’s Kitchen in 2016.
Blondies Kitchen was founded in 2016 by two blonde foodies and professionally trained chefs, Kristelle and Chelsie. Kristelle’s background has always been in restaurants and Chelsie spent over 2 years at BBC Good Food as a cookery writer.
Chef, content creator and business owner
Ro is a chef and chili oil maker who uses food to share stories around the world. Her love for cooking is all down to her mum, feeding her chilies with bowls of fresh rice and eggs from her earliest memories. Ro’s mum is her biggest inspiration, showing her how food brings people together and creates special connections.
After honing her skills at Leiths, she took her passion online during the COVID period, starting @dudu_eats—“Dudu” being a nickname her parents call her, meaning “pigpig” in Cantonese. Not long after, Dudu Chili Oil was born—a fragrant, slow-cooked labour of love made with herbs sourced from local Thai farms and high-quality oil – which is essential for how much we eat daily!
Ro is also a part-time chef at Miga, a modern Korean dining spot in Hackney that earned a Michelin Bib just six months after opening. She is loving learning more about cooking and being a business owner of dudu chilli oil with her mum, whilst documenting her food journey on @dudu_eats – every day brings new things!
A Buyer for culinary schools or restaurants sources high-quality ingredients, kitchen equipment, and supplies while managing costs and supplier relationships. They negotiate prices, track market trends, and ensure consistency in quality and delivery.
A Food Business Owner manages all aspects of running a food-related enterprise, from sourcing ingredients to overseeing operations, marketing, and finances. They ensure product quality, customer satisfaction, and profitability while navigating industry trends and regulations. Strong business acumen, leadership, and passion for food are essential.
A Food Buyer selects and purchases ingredients and products for retailers, restaurants, or suppliers. They negotiate with vendors, manage budgets, and ensure quality, availability, and cost-effectiveness. Strong market knowledge, negotiation skills, and an eye for trends are essential.
