Streets Ahead Winners - McCain Foodservice

Since the launch of Streets Ahead, McCain has welcomed into the programme over 200 inspiring individuals. Powered by KERB+, the UK’s largest street food organisation, we continue to provide an immersive experience that helps the industry attract new talent, bridge the skills gap and inspire innovation.

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26 entrepreneurs have pitched their ideas, securing £204,000 in investments between them.

Since the programme launched in 2022, we’ve witnessed remarkable displays of passion and dedication, rewarding those who demonstrate innovative concepts, with the opportunity to present to a panel of KERB+ and McCain executives.

Celebrating world flavours with our graduates

From Eli’s fresh Welsh taco’s, to Ozayr’s fusion of Jamaican and Korean cuisine, each concept represents a unique story and a testament to the creativity of our participants.

Through Streets Ahead, we’re not just shaping careers; we’re fostering a legacy that celebrates the vibrant array of global flavours.

MEET OUR GRADUATES
The Operators to Watch

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Yogi’s Sri Lankan Kitchen

Yogi migrated from a small town in Sri Lanka to London, bringing with him a passion for food and healthy eating. Having spent time in London he’s quickly realised there was room for his traditional Sri Lankan curries with a vegan inspired twist in today’s street food market, which inspired him to create “Yogi’s Sri Lankan Kitchen”.

“Coming from a small town in Sri Lanka I dreamt of making authentic dishes in the city. Streets Ahead has encouraged and inspired me to make it a reality.”

Overcoming homelessness and depression, Yogi is resilient and relentless in the pursuit of his dreams. Yogi is an extremely talented chef leading cooking classes at the Migrateful resource centre to inspire others who have also faced adversity. Since receiving investment from McCain due to his remarkable efforts on the Streets Ahead programme, Yogi has been working towards securing a trading spot at Shepherds Bush Market. Yogi hopes to one day open his own bricks and mortar restaurant, where he can celebrate his Sri Lankan cuisine with a regular spot the locals can return to.

NAME: Eman Alaamni
FROM: Bisan Bites
@bisan.bites

Bisan Bites

Eman sought out mentorship on the Streets Ahead programme when she developed a strong ambition to satisfy the cravings of diverse groups across London. Proud of the food she was taught to cook as she grew up, she built her concept around having ‘Mum’s taste in every bite.’

Eman knew the importance of serving fresh food and wanted to build her street food concept but wasn’t sure where to start. After receiving coaching through the Streets Ahead programme, attending immersion and food development courses via the Streets Ahead Programme, Bisan Bites was born. A business captivating McCain on the final pitch day where she received £10,000 investment. Eman is set to start trading in 2024 across London markets as she landed herself a member spot with KERB Food.

NAME: Simeon Prescod
Johnson
FROM: Jerk N Fusion
@jrknfsn

Jerk N Fusion

Simeon was known throughout Streets Ahead as the bubbliest participant yet. He brings so much joy to the world of foodservice with his new business “Jerk N Fusion” coming to the streets. Simeon worked with KERBs head of coaching on a business plan to launch Jerk N Fusion, which was an idea sparked by the influence of Simeon’s heritage. Through the programme Simeon developed his hero dish a Jerkaccia Sandwich, fusing Italian and Caribbean flavours into one mouth-watering combination.

McCain invested in Simeon who showed remarkable dedication and perseverance, despite previously experienced adversity and personal challenges. Since leaving Streets Ahead Simeon has been mentored by the successful independent business “Only Jerkin” a popular stall that currently trades on London’s south bank market. Simeon continues to grow his skillset as our youngest entrepreneur before hitting the industry with his concept soon.

NAME: Akbar & Sanobar
FROM: Samarkand Palav
@samarkandpalav

Samarkand Palav

This passionate culinary duo sought out the Street Ahead programme to help kick-start their mission to bring Osh Palav, a central Asian-inspired dish to the UK. The team are now bustling entrepreneurs since the launch of their new business ‘Samarkand Palav’ thanks to the help and support from McCain and KERB.

Through the training from the Streets Ahead programme, they learnt operational know-how, crafted menus fit for a street food concept, understood the requirements of trading outside and perfected their dishes around this new environment. Today Samarkand Palav is fully registered and trading successfully at Cowcross Yards and more!

NAME: Maral Nuriveya
FROM: Ayal
@ayalfood3896

Ayal

Maral joined the Streets Ahead programme after developing her concept with TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network). Maral comes from Turkmenistan where she would hand craft steamed manti dumplings, taught by the generations before her. When Maral joined Streets Ahead she wanted to learn what it would take to grow in the foodservice industry. Maral underwent a re-brand, grew her operational knowledge and pitched with passion to McCain and KERB food representatives.

Enticing us with her menu variety and embracing diverse flavours, topping and extras, she stood out as an operator to watch. Since Streets Ahead, Maral has gone on to graduate from KERBs inkerbator programme. She now trades often on London markets with them, delighting the capital with her authentic Turkmen dishes.

NAME: Hind Danoun
FROM: Utopia
@_utopia_food_

Utopia

Hind comes from south Syria where she learnt to cook authentic meals true to her heritage. After immigrating to London where she sought refuge, she struggled to find Syrian dishes done well. Hind saw a gap in the market, signing up to the Streets Ahead programme was a chance for her to make her mark.

“Streets Ahead gave me the training and confidence to pursue my dreams.” Says Hind following a £10,000 investment from McCain to set up UTOPIA. A favourite for London locals who visit Hind trading with KERB at The Gherkin, Cowcross Yards, Fleet Place and more! Utopia’s growth is unstoppable.

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Giant Potato

Mitra and Ehsan, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo, ventured from Iran to the UK. Mitra, known for her charcoal-smoked potatoes with delicious combinations of unique toppings, had long been encouraged by friends and family to turn her culinary skills into a business.
Upon joining Streets Ahead, she began shaping her dream with expert guidance from KERB and the support of her husband, Ehsan. Together, they aspire to share their authentic charcoal-smoked potatoes with the North London community.

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Makerouns Kitchen

Callum, introduced to Streets Ahead through the Prince’s Trust, is more than a chef—he’s a culinary artist. His journey began at 14, seeking stability in kitchens, where he honed his craft and evolved into an exceptional cook. The birth of his son inspired him to build something long lasting, leading him to the Streets Ahead programme and the creation of Makerouns Street Kitchen where ‘Mac & Cheese meets culinary artistry’.

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Special Delicacies

Stella, a passionate cook, joined Streets Ahead through a referral from TERN. Before joining, she had already captivated many by hosting Nigerian cookery classes.
After her mother passed away, who had been her source of inspiration, Stella wanted to celebrate food with the same passion and energy she experienced with her family in Nigeria. This drove her to craft a business centered around the dishes her mother prepared and served during family celebrations with a mission to spread joy and cherish every day.

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Deshi

Aklima, referred by Migrateful, a charity connecting communities through traditional food, joined the programme sharing her Bangladeshi heritage. She showcased her skills by winning an award for her Pani Puri Chat while cooking for the charity.
With growing ambitions to turn her passion into a business, she eagerly joined Streets Ahead with her Pani Puri front and centre as her hero dish.
Backed by our £10,000 investment, Aklima’s is now on a mission to offer hearty, authentic South Asian cuisine that expands palates and gives back to the community.

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Foodie Explorer

Steven came to the UK from Hong Kong, but was unable to find work. He had the skill and passion for cooking traditional clay pot recipes, but no means of turning this into full time work.
Recommended by Volition Community, Steven quickly became one of our most dedicated participants in the Streets Ahead Programme. Steven plans to use his investment to equip his business and bring his clay pot cooking to the streets of Manchester soon.

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El’s Tacos

Recommended by the Prince’s Trust, Eli, born in Wales and raised in Liverpool, joined the programme in 2023 with the ambition to one day trade at Baltic Market in Liverpool. Passionate about food and eager to be her own boss, Eli saw the Streets Ahead programme as the perfect opportunity to accelerate her business. She envisions creating delicious, guilt-free tacos using high-quality Welsh meat from trusted farmers.

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7 Wonders of Falafel

Kerin, founder of “7 Wonders of Falafel,” envisions his street food business as a symbol of fresh, healthy, and environmentally friendly cuisine. His focus is on homemade, authentic falafel served with seven international sauces, reflecting his passion for diverse flavours.
When nearing the end of his sentence at HMP Brixton, Kerin began looking for opportunities to get his feet back on the ground when he discovered the Streets Ahead programme. His determination to succeed saw him successfully complete the programme once through the gate. Inspired by his own journey, he aims to give others a second chance just as he received, by providing opportunities for those with convictions as his business grows.

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Corn & Crunch

Arian and Atrisa, medical students from Iran who moved to the UK in 2017, are turning their passion for cooking into a business – Corn & Crunch. They aim to evoke joy with nostalgic childhood flavours through corndogs and spiral potatoes that they enjoyed growing up. Their visually striking dishes and unique spin on the otherwise popular foods cater to different diets, making them perfect for festivals and beyond.

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Omama’s Kitchen

Omama, referred to Streets Ahead by TERN, arrived in the UK as a refugee in 2018, having experienced conflict and food poverty. Omama now finds joy in connecting with others through food, she established Omama’s Kitchen to honour her mother and share the simple, delicious flavours of Syria.
Having a place to call home and a business of her own is deeply meaningful to Omama. Her vision is to grow Omama’s Kitchen into multiple locations, eventually creating a restaurant that serves as a community hub for Syrian cuisine and culture.

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LeVibes

With investment from McCain, Levi is set to launch ‘LeVibes,’ a Lebanese street food business that will offer a vibrant atmosphere and educate customers about Arabic culture. After overcoming personal challenges, including homelessness, Levi received support from Only A Pavement Away and reignited his passion for cooking through the Streets Ahead programme. Now a chef and a proud father of two, Levi aims to build LeVibes and create a legacy for his children showing you can always overcome adversity.

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Moment

Inspired by her Iranian heritage and her mother’s love for cooking, Rezvan is launching ‘Moment,’ a street food venture in London featuring traditional Iranian home-style dishes. Her goal is to serve top-quality coffee alongside cherished family recipes, offering fresh, wholesome, and affordable meals. Named to honor her mother and emphasise mindful eating, Rezvan aims to share Iranian cuisine and foster connections through delicious, unifying meals.

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Yardish

Inspired by his Jamaican-Irish heritage and his grandmother’s love for cooking, Vincent is launching Yardish, a street food venture that focuses on traditional ingredients and precise techniques to showcase the essence of home-cooked Jamaican cuisine.
While serving a sentence at HMP Brixton, Vincent was introduced to Streets Ahead. This experience reignited his passion for cooking and led him to work at The Clink, where he served both the public and prison officers. Upon his release, he concentrated on completing the course and preparing a business plan to pitch for our funding. After securing an investment of £10,000 in July 2024, Vincent is now on track to launch Yardish and bring his authentic goat curry to the London community.

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Jasmin’s Kitchen

Yasemin is embarking on a culinary adventure with Chee Borek, a cherished Turkish dish she discovered during her wedding in Balikesir, Turkey. Captivated by its crunchiness and rich flavours, she aims to introduce Chee Borek to London as a standout street food. Referred to Streets Ahead by TERN, Yasemin hopes to expand her business, Jasmin’s Kitchen, across the UK.

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