Our Journey…
Established in 1984, our family-run business is now in its 3rd generation. What began as a part-time venture for my grandparents quickly took over full time. Back then, the business was known as 'The Toasty Kitchen,' predominantly catering for racecourses across the south of England. The aim was to provide a unique food option at public events, stepping outside the typical burger, hotdog, and pizza traders. There is nothing like a freshly made toasted sandwich.
In 1989, my father came on board, with the intention to cater for a wider range of venues. This led to a transformation including a rebranding to 'The Great British Toastie Company' and expanding the operations from one unit to three units, allowing the business to cater to a greater variety of events. Over 30 years on, my father is still in business, although now only during the summer months.
Born in 2001, I've been involved with the family business for as long as I can remember. In the early days, I was too young to work on the units, but I'd still go to help out and set up. As I grew older I started handling just the drinks, then moved on to serving customers, and now I'm involved in cooking, which is what I enjoy the most.
At the beginning of 2023, I made the decision to commit full-time to the business, using one of my father’s units for my first season with the intention of eventually acquiring my own. It’s been a year of learning, hard work, and dedication; yet I have enjoyed every moment. This has now put me in the position to purchase a 1950s-style Airstream unit, to hopefully take the business one step further. To distinguish myself from my father, I’ve made a slight adjustment to the company name, now known as 'The Great British Toastie Est. 1984’.