Karen Berg from Soupernatural
What is your business? Soupernatural – Liverpool’s first soup, salad and sandwich bar. We have eat in or eat out facilities. We also undertake outside catering and will deliver, depending on order size and distance. Most of our products are made on the premises fresh every day, from locally souced ingredients and a far as possible we recycle and use recycled and bio-degradable packaging. We are situated in the heart of the business district on Rumford Street.
Why did you start it?
We set the business up because we saw a gap in the lunchtime food market. Fresh locally sauced and home produced products, seemed far and few between. We are also both big soup, salad and sandwich fans and were sick of the same old flavors and were convinced others were too. We also wanted our business to operate in an environmentally friendly way.
What did you do before it?
We both have food and art backgrounds. I studied fashion design and worked in theatre wardrobe and design for many years. Then studied Home Economics and worked as a Home Economist and Marketer for TV and industry. Mike studied fine arts, and has been a successful chef, and also spent many years managing arts events and more latterly he had been a TV set Designer. We met whilst working together in Hollyoaks design department.
What makes your business unique?
Neither of us has run our own business before however we have done loads of project management which has stood us in good stead. Our business is unique because we are Liverpool’s first lunchtime eatery to specialize in soups and salads all of which are made fresh on the premises daily, using fresh local ingredients. We also pride ourselves in using (wherever possible) recycled and bio-degradable packaging. Our menu changes daily in order to keep customers engaged.
What are your plans to make the most of Capital of Culture?
During the capital of culture year we have had customers from the UK and abroad. We have been has helpful as possible & kept up-to-date with events and attraction particular to the Capital of Culture. We have made sure we have always had an event guide and maps to hand, so we can help customers navigate their way round the city.
Any tips?
Don’t set up your own business when there is about to be a global financial crisis !!!!
