Zest Fine Foods, Mossbank Way,Smithills, Bolton

WHEN a Bolton celebrity chef joined forces with a Bury car dealership boss, meals on wheels certainly weren’t on the menu.

But both men are enjoying life in the fast lane thanks to the success of their thriving Zest Fine Foods business which only opened its doors six months ago.

Chef Mike Harrison and entrepreneur Richard Cort, a Bury businessman, spent £750,000 in creating Zest, which is based at Mossbank Way, Smithills, Bolton.

The premises embrace a delicatessen and cafe area and the company’s culinary creations are winning fans elsewhere thanks to their supply work.

Mr Cort said: “We are a supplier of fine foods, wines and coffees, but we realised this was not enough to sustain a proper business proposition. We did not want a restaurant, although we had the skills. We wanted a business that people had a positive reason to return to regularly.

“Since December, we have seen turnover increase by 40 per cent. We already have a good local following of repeat business, both in the delicatessen and cafe area.

“We have been successful in breaking into the corporate sector for outside catering because of our personal approach.”

As managing director, Mr Cort takes overall control of the business, how it marketed, financed, promoted, employing staff and stocking.

Praising his partner, he said: “Mike is a fantastic chef and an absolute artist with food. Even the simplest of dishes looks amazing.”

Although still in its infancy, Zest has achieved a high e-commerce value as more and more customers buy online, therefore cutting down on wastage and reducing the carbon footprint.

Mr Cort admits that the biggest motivation is to source locally and organically.

Zest has already clinched some prestigious supply contracts and the immediate future will see the company enhance its premises and to further increase turnover by 25 per cent.