ALISON MacKintosh just lately celebrated eight years of the enterprise and two years for the reason that launch of her cell smoothie trailer Wee Juicy.
The journey started when she went by means of a health overhaul, exploring how meals and vitamins can have an effect on your physique.
She described the expansion from there: “Juicy Ness organically grew out of that as a result of individuals have been asking me, I used to be giving juices to individuals and giving recipes. I simply did it round my childminding enterprise for about 4 years.”
Mrs MacKintosh then returned to working in gross sales and advertising whereas persevering with Juicy Ness on the facet.
Nonetheless, when lockdown started in 2020, it was the spur she wanted to take the leap and do Juicy Ness full time.
Mrs MacKintosh had already carried out a couple of pop-up bars at occasions which have been effectively obtained and received the more healthy food and drinks award on the Highlands and Islands Meals and Drink awards in 2016.
She purchased Wee Juicy, the smoothie bar on wheels, unseen from Birmingham after her husband discovered it on-line.
The horsebox was already a transformed prosecco bar and painted in Mrs MacKintosh’s enterprise colors, so she stated it simply felt prefer it was meant to be.
At a time in June 2020 when many have been combating the Covid-19 lockdown, Mrs MacKintosh discovered a bustling market at her native park in Inshes.
She continued: “I used to be ready for the fitting level and when lockdown occurred I used to be furloughed and I simply thought effectively why not, it’s a very good time to only give it a go.
“I used to be one of many very fortunate ones. As a result of it was a cell catering van there have been no restrictions. It was effectively obtained as a result of at that time individuals had been caught inside for some time and it was one thing totally different. It gave me the nudge to go away my job and go full time with it.
“It’s a little bit of a blur the entire thing. It was so good by means of that summer time in 2020 to take the juices and smoothies out and for them to be so wholesome at a time the place individuals actually wanted to take care of their well being.”
From there, the enterprise grew quickly as Mrs MacKintosh opened a unit at Fairways in Inverness in September 2021.
Regardless of the success of the previous couple of years, Mrs MacKintosh sees her journey as extra of a protracted slog.
She added: “Opening a smoothie bar within the winter within the Highlands isn’t perfect. However we bought by means of it and there’s at all times challenges. There’s been loads of instances over the eight years the place I may have made the leap however I used to be too scared to do it. It took the lockdown to only do it. To me, it feels prefer it’s been a protracted gradual journey to get right here.
“There have been so any ups and downs all through the final eight years.
“That is the toughest factor I’ve ever carried out. It’s all consuming while you run a enterprise.”
Wee Juicy is now a daily characteristic on the Highland Meals and Drink Path close to the Inverness Cathedral.
Mrs MacKintosh stated: “As quickly as the fellows from the Highland Meals and Drink Path got here to me I used to be all for it. It’s so good to put it up for sale. It’s so beautiful for Inverness as a result of it doesn’t actually have that.”
Wee Juicy additionally headed to Belladrum this 12 months, which Mrs MacKintosh described as a giant spotlight after she did a pop-up makeshift smoothie bar within the vip space of the competition in 2015.
She added: “This 12 months we retuned however this time to the Foodie Forrest inside the primary area. It truly is a little bit of a full circle second and we’re nervous however equally excited to be a part of the competition once more.”
Sooner or later, Mrs MacKintosh hopes to have the ability to supply talks about well being, her journey and the advantages of what a nutritious diet can do for individuals. She defined that well being is a lot greater than weight reduction, and he or she would like to share this.
