In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and change-makers working on innovative startups, social enterprises and SME’s around Aotearoa New Zealand.
At a glance
Founder: Alice Shopland
Business: Angel Food
Founded: 2006
HQ: Auckland
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
We want to make it easier for more people to choose plant-based meals more often. For many people, the thought of living without cheese is simply terrifying! But our dairy-free cheese alternatives make it very easy to make plant-based versions of many favourite meals such as pizza, pasta and toasted sandwiches.
It’s very technically challenging to make “cheese that’s not cheese” but with our years of experience and dedication we have created excellent products and a much-loved brand.
Our customers are vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians, as well as those with allergy or intolerance to dairy products.
What’s the backstory for your business idea?
Our founder Alice Shopland adopted a vegan lifestyle in 2004 and having been a big consumer of dairy cheese was disappointed to discover there were no decent vegan cheese alternatives in Aotearoa! She started importing soy cheese from the UK and in 2014 launched the first dairy-free cheese to be made commercially in New Zealand.
What programmes, learning or mentoring, or resources have been of assistance so far?
- Podcasts: Business is Boring, How I Built This
- Mentoring/support/networking: Vegan Business Tribe, NZTE
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