Shop Cotswolds sets out to explore the back stories behind our amazing producer members, with a series of ‘Getting to Know’ features.
We spoke to Andy Tibbs, the founder and owner of Poco Culina.
Background
Poco Culina is a plant-based catering and food delivery service, based in Cheltenham, with a focus on Mediterranean and Eastern inspired dishes. The business prioritises organic, sustainable and responsibly sourced ingredients wherever possible and is committed to sustainability for its products and packaging.
Poco Culina offers private dining, weekly menus for home delivery, celebration and event catering as well as cookery demos at home or work.
There is also a community café premises in Charlton Kings, Poco Culina at Planted, in partnership with local environmental charity Vision 21. The business also offers pop up restaurant evenings at the Planted location.
Q&A with Andy Tibbs
What inspired you to set up the business?
Around 10 years ago I was considering a career change, with my passion for cooking being a strong driver in my decision to open a food business. As a vegetarian stretching back 4 decades it is also vital that any menus I offer are genuinely exciting to vegetarians and vegans, going way beyond the options provided by other outlets. Great plant-based food that excites a wide audience and inspires them to feel they have eaten without any compromise on flavour, variety and satisfaction whatever that audience’s usual daily diet.
What is the best piece of advice you have received for your business?
A really, really simple answer. The owner of another small business once told me to ‘tell everyone what you do’. It is so effective, you never know who gets to hear your business story by word of mouth.
What is your best seller? And why you think it’s so popular.
Probably my mushroom and pea arancini. People love them, I think because they are very, very tasty and also very moreish. They are also gluten-free which is extremely attractive to people who would generally be unable to eat a traditionally bread crumbed product.
For more information on Poco Culina go to https://www.pococulina.co.uk/home-work-delivery/ or email Andy on andy@pococulina.co.uk