Wayne Rowlatt - Vista
Who are you? What do you do? Where do you do it?
I’m Wayne Rowlatt. I’m an entrepreneur and I specialise in food related businesses. I’m a graduate from Nottingham University, and when I graduated in 1984 I joined Mars, the US FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) Company where I did my training in sales and marketing. Then I joined McCain Foods (the Chip people) and then Asda in Leeds. I currently run a retail business in East Yorkshire called Vista (www.vistauk.biz) , which is a new project and seeks to bring local foods and other products to local people. Our current turnover is £40k per week but we have only been trading since the 8th September. I’ve been working, with my partners, on the business plan for a year and a half. In 2005 I sold my remaining shares in Kwoks Foods, www.kwoks.co.uk which is a business I co-founded with Paul Kwok in 1999. Kwoks makes fresh oriental ready meals for supermarkets and has a big factory in Grimsby. Its turnover is over £10m a year and it employs about 180 people. It was the fastest growing food business in Yorkshire in 2002. It is now part of the William Jackson Group of companies based in Hull.
Why did you start-up a business?
Because I want that sense of achievement and ownership and security that can only come when you own and manage your own business.
How (and when) did you start-up a business?
I started my first business in 1999 – Kwoks Foods Ltd. I was working for Asda stores at the time and I went to the Chef Executive at that time – Alan Leighton – and said I was going to leave and start my own food business. I had seen how successful Asda had made Indian food and thought there was a gap in the market to the same in Oriental.
What have been the biggest challenges in running your own business? How have these been overcome?
Firstly, and mainly, lack of cash….that will always be the perennial problem for young start up and high growth businesses; and it remains so. I’ve overcome these by sharing the business with other partners and shareholders who have shared my vision and been prepared to invest. I’ve also exploited all opportunities for grants and ‘soft’ loans.
Secondly, the difficulties associated with building a team – that is very difficult and takes time and skill and experience, hire attitude is my motto.
What have been your greatest achievements in running your business?
Seeing a vision come to reality, driving to work and not being able to park because so many people work in the business you created. An enormous sense of achievement and of having really made a difference.
What would be your advice to any young aspiring entrepreneurs?
Have a great product or service that is really different or better. Identify how much money you will need, then double it. Get good partners in from the outset – don’t be greedy, share the pain and share the gain! Stick at it – show real tenacity. Remember sales are the most important thing – up there with oxygen!