Name: Robbie Moult.

Age: 27.

What is your business called?

FreshMex.

Where is it based?

Aberdeen.

What does it produce?

TexMex street food from a high street burrito bar/restaurant in Aberdeen, together with a food residency at the Adams sports bar. Our burrito has been named Scotland’s most popular restaurant dish on Deliveroo for the last 2 years running!

To whom does it sell?

Our biggest market in Aberdeen is young families and young professionals, with students closely behind.

What is its turnover?

£1.4million.

How many employees?

27.

When was it formed?

FreshMex began trading as a pop-up food stall at local Aberdeenshire farmers markets and events in 2015. It was born at the Banchory Farmers Market with a core menu including burritos, tacos, nachos, fajitas and bowls, made fresh to order in front of customers.

Why did you take the plunge?

At the time the idea struck I was sick of paying what felt like through the roof prices for what seemed like below average food and experiences in restaurants. It shocked me to realise that some high street chains that people in the UK spend their hard-earned money in serve frozen, microwaved meals at huge profits. These may be full of artificial flavours and preservatives to boot. I strongly feel there is a need for restaurants to take ownership of what they are serving and I had the passion to do something about it

What were you doing before you took the plunge?

I was at the University of Edinburgh business school from 2010 to 2014 studying Accounting and Finance but focussed my dissertation on 10 young entrepreneurs in Scotland and their different journeys. It was a big eye-opener for me that Scotland was THE place to start a business with some terrific organisations and support networks such as Business Gateway available in the start up process – especially for young entrepreneurs. It gave me a real light-bulb moment coming towards the end of my degree.

How did you raise the start-up funding?

We started with just a few hundred pounds of savings from my parents’ garage – all of our equipment, stock and fresh food was bought as events came in. It was almost a snowball affect where one small event lead to another as word of mouth spread. We spent all the money we made from the previous event on the next bigger one and so on – eventually turning a profit, having a heck of a lot of fun at the same time and meeting some great people in the process.

What was your biggest break?

First: Getting the call from the Adams Sports Bar in 2016. At the time we were hopeful of gaining premises but a few options fell through, so when Phil, Ash and Eric Adams offered us a kitchen in a newly-renovated and busy sports bar we saw it as a risk-free way of turning our business into a seven days a week operation and getting away from the volatility of events catering. Deliveroo came to the city just after we launched the residency, so it was perfect timing.

Second: Winning a Scottish Edge Award in 2018, which provided us with financial backing for a third site in the central belt of Scotland, plus invaluable advice and support in growing the business.

What was your worst moment?

We launched our first FreshMex restaurant in 2018 and things were going great – but in late February 2019 disaster struck with a devastating fire breaking out in our kitchen early one Monday morning. Fortunately, no-one was hurt and the fast actions of our team and fire service restricted the damage. It was a real blow to FreshMex and a major challenge for us at a time we were looking to grow beyond Aberdeen. We had to regroup, pull our sleeves up and find out what we were made of. Fortunately, the team did just that. I’m immensely proud of our guys for helping each other get through and successfully relaunching just eight months later,.

What do you most enjoy about running the business?

The reviews and awards we receive give our team a lot of gratification that we’re on the right track.

What do you least enjoy?

There’s not much I don’t enjoy, but probably not seeing my loved ones as much as I would like to!

What is your biggest bugbear?

Like most people in the UK cold calls, I just get a lot more of them!

What are your ambitions for the firm?

We’re very excited for the possibilities of FreshMex in the restaurant, retail and Deliveroo markets. 2020 is the year we will expand beyond Aberdeen, looking to repeat the success we have seen in the North East. Our long-term goal is to be the UK’s number one burrito brand and to have a major presence in retail after a successful launch of our new FreshMex Lime Lager.

What could the Westminster and/or Scottish governments do that would help?

Reduces business rates. City centres across the UK are having a tough time with large rents and online retailers. Something needs to be done to address the issue.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned?

To listen to advice when it’s given, then assess it critically. Sometimes you must take opinions with a pinch of salt.

How do you relax?

Seeing family, friends and my girlfriend – although she’s a junior doctor so has even less time off than me! Keeping (fairly) fit, healthy and active outside of work is key to achieve some sort of balance.