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Siobhan Macdonald

Meet the 12 entrepreneurs taking part on Gordon Ramsay's new BBC show Future Food Stars

Gordon Ramsay is getting ready to launch his brand new BBC cooking show Future Food Stars.

The famously foul mouthed chef will have 12 new food and drink entrepreneurs battle it out in an intense competition for his investment.

The series will follow an Apprentice-style format which will see 12 food and drink entrepreneurs battle it out to win investment in their business from Ramsay himself.

According to the show's synopsis, "Gordon will push everyone to their limits through a series of relentless challenges that tests their character and business acumen. The person who impresses him most will win a life-changing investment."

This life-changing investment will be a whopping £150,000 of Ramsay's own money.

Future Food Stars airs next week but here's everything we know about the contestants so far..

Future Food Stars 12 contestants (BBC)

The Contestants

Amit is one of twelve hopefuls competing for Gordon Ramsay's funding (BBC)

Amit, 38 from Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

Pandeli - bottled Indian sauces

Amit is a chef and pub/restaurant owner who has developed a range of small-batch authentic Indian sauces using the family recipes.

He has developed three simmering sauces and a hot sauce and used his Art & Design skills to give his bottles a fresh modern branding.

(BBC)

Asher, 28, from The Rhondda Valley

Rogue - jams, chutneys and marmalades

Asher was inspired after seeing his mum making and selling homemade jams at local markets and decided he wanted there was an opportunity to appeal to a younger demographic.

Four years ago he launched his own business and started experimenting with unusual flavours at home, including Negroni Marmalade, Espresso Martini Marmalade, Strawberry and Tonka Bean Jam, Bravado Chilli Pepper Jam.

Bola launched at speciality fairs in 2019, winning two start-up or innovation awards. (BBC)

Bola, 46 from Hertfordshire

Jitterbug - apple cider vinegar seltzers

Health coach and 50s enthusiast Bola was inspired after swapping fizzy drinks for a tonic she made with apple cider vinegar blended with fruit juices and sparkling water.

She developed three flavours: Lemonade Swing, Orange Jive and Berry, each bottle or can only 40 calories.

Bola launched at speciality fairs in 2019, winning two start-up or innovation awards.

Ex Navy officer Jamie is one of 12 contestants (BBC)

Jamie, 36 from Macclesfield

Savages Mussels - mussel bar

Jamie is an ex-Navy head chef who decide to take his cooking skills and open his own business showcasing his favourite ingredients: mussels.

Wanting to show how diverse mussel-based dishes can be whilst promoting sustainable seafood consumption, he put his savings into a permanent stall at a local market.

He began selling innovative dishes, such as popcorn mussels, mussel burgers and is even developing a mussel stout.

Jen wants to help people cut the costs of making their own cocktails (BBC)

Jen, 35 from Castleford

The Cocktail Pickers Club - bottled cocktails

Cocktail lover Jen decided to start her own bottled cocktail business after realising it is very expensive to make your own cocktails at home.

She has brought out a range of fresh new cocktail flavours and is determined to take them to the next level by selling kegs of her cocktails to premium bars.

Flavours include rhubarb vodka, rum with mango and ginger, passionfruit martini, gin and elderflower.

Leah's cakes make baking accessible for people with allergies' and dietary requirements (BBC)

Leah, 38 from London

Norah’s Brownies - free-from brownies

Leah wanted to create cakes for people with allergies or dietary requirements.

Cupcakes and cookies had already been done, but she saw a gap in the market at that time for homemade, dairy-free, gluten-free brownies.

She set up her own business and started making cookie sandwiches with a brownie in the middle and brownie donuts, and sells across London.

Matthew's social enterprise focuses on sustainability (BBC)

Matthew, 33 from London

Jackdaw - zero-waste restaurant

Matthew lives and breathes hospitality and feels now is the time to go it alone and open his first place with a zero-waste ethos and a social enterprise ambition.

He wants to attract customers who care about giving back to the community.

Michelle is the only Scot appearing on the show (BBC)

Michelle, 45, from Abernethy (Perthshire)

Clootie McToot - clootie dumplings

After helping her son to run a stall at the school fair, Michelle was persuaded to go into business and sell her clootie dumplings.

The large product range includes flavours such as Rhubarb and Ginger, Chocolate Orange and Irish cream liqueur, Damson Plum and Gin, and Strawberry and Prosecco, with new flavour combinations ever evolving.

Steph is a former Navy Lieutenant (BBC)

Steph, 30 from Manchester

Chu Lo - Japanese-inspired soft drinks

Steph is a former Navy Lieutenant who has retired after 12 years as a Warfare Officer to pursue her business dream.

She was inspired by a sour alcoholic drink she loved when stationed in Japan and decided to create her own soft version to market to gamers and the premium drinks market.

Valentina’s vision is to make tasty vegan food an accessible option for everyone. (BBC)

Valentina, 37 from London

Lele’s - vegan cake mixes & café

Famed for her vegan cakes, Valentina researched the vegan cake mix market and realised there was huge opportunity.

She developed three cheap and easy to make mixes: vanilla cupcakes, banana bread and brownies - and just add water, oil or/and plant-based milk.

Valentina’s vision is to make tasty vegan food an accessible option for everyone.

Victoria's business stemmed from her university degree (BBC)

Victoria, 28 from London

Sunmo - plantain based snacks

Victoria is a graduate of a business school in London and always knew she wanted to be her own boss.

As part of her business degree she launched a range of healthy snacks inspired by her mum’s plantain crisps which has been expanded into other naturally vegan snacks.

She has launched in a major high-end department store, won awards, and is hoping to get her new range into one of the biggest supermarket chains in the UK.

His brand focuses on sustainability (BBC)

Vincenzo, 27 from London

Smokin’ Brothers - smoked salmon company

After working for a smoked salmon producer, Vincenzo saw their smoked salmon process and thought he could do better.

Vincenzo wrote a business plan and pitched himself as a superior supplier and launched his business in 2019.

His brand is sustainable, artisan, smoked, hand sliced smoked salmon in fully compostable packaging.

Watch Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars starts on BBC One on Thursday, March 31 at 9pm .

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