Interview with Stem and Glory Founder, Louise Palmer-Masterton
Updated: Oct 30, 2020
We caught up with Company Director, Louise to find out more about her pioneering Vegan restaurants and food range. With 100% beauiful yet sustainable packaging and some mouth-watering dishes, Stem and Glory are paving the way in the vegan industry.
Which came first for you - passion for business or passion for the environment?
Passion for changing the world is what drives me. That I went into business was a natural extension of that.
What was the key motivating factor at the time you started your business?
This isn’t my first business, but I had been rolling the idea of a vegan business round in my head for a very long time before it manifested as Stem & Glory. I absolutely passionately believe that we should honour the other beings on this planet and not eat them.
How did you finance your business?
Bootstrapping and crowdfunding. We were lucky that we had a crowd in Cambridge through my other business, and from there it took off. Now we are having conversations with bigger investors, but our Crowd will always be very important to us.
Did you have any initial challenges and how did you overcome them?
I get asked this a lot actually. But honestly I don’t see the world in terms of challenges. If I made a list of all the things that happened to me that other people might think of as challenges, it would possibly go on forever. I am a great believer in learning. And going with the flow. I am also intensely curious. So if something didn’t work, I want to know why. It’s very revealing!
What are your main revenue streams?
Restaurants, delivery food, ready meals, online store, products, merchandise
If you were to start from scratch, are there any changes you would make?
We have a very robust model now, but that came about because of everything we tried along the way. So no, wouldn’t change anything, because without everything that went before, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Is it difficult to make a green business profitable?
It’s the same as any other business. But I think in the future, it will be difficult to make a non- green business profitable.
Do you have any 'top tips' for those launching a green business?
Follow your passion. And be authentic. If you really believe in something, then others will too.
What gives you the most hope for the environment?
Honestly? This probably won’t be a popular answer, but I think the UK government is really sticking its neck out right now and making changes for good. I think they will increasingly incentivise green business and consumer behaviour making it an absolute no brainer. I think leading by example is everything. Never thought I’d be hailing a conservative government, but there you go!
Stem and Glory are currently Crowfdunding HERE to raise funds to develop their delivery and online platform with ready meals, recipe kits, grocery and product range to strengthen their existing offering
You can find more interviews with eco-friendly business owners here.
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