Students whip up a family cookbook
Three Taranaki schoolgirls have the recipe for success with a cookbook business they are running between lessons.
Leila Dick, Grace Bean and Tinaya Robinson are in Year 12 at New Plymouth Girls’ High School and have started their own company as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme through the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.
The scheme helps young people run a business for a year, with the potential to continue if it is successful.
Their company, called Indulge, produces family-friendly cookbooks with recipes anyone can use regardless of age and ability.
Leila is CEO and production manager, Grace is communications, sales and marketing manager and Tinaya is the finance manager.
‘‘We wanted the cookbook to be straightforward, affordable and delicious,’’ Leila said. ‘‘Our aim is to display the recipes in a creative way that captures the consumers’ attention.’’
She said originally the book was targeted at university students with lower incomes, but that proved too narrow a target market so they expanded to a product the whole family could use.
‘‘Our main point of difference is that we include recipes that cater to each ability level and include a selection of cultural recipes...We have done this by giving each recipe a rating depending on its difficulty level.
‘‘It is helping to nurture pride and enjoyment of cooking for younger children, as well as a sense of achievement for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of confidence in the kitchen.’’
She said they had broken even with the number of sales of their $25 book, and won a number of competitions including an invitation to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Showcase.
The recipes include submissions from a number of New Zealand cafes, old family favourites, and also a couple from Olympic gold medal rower Mahe Drysdale and BMX rider Sarah Walker.
Tinaya said it is hard work running a business while still at high school.
‘‘It’s pretty full-on with exams and stuff. I think three all of us have felt the pressure of it at some point.’’
They also donate 10 per cent of their profit to the Taranaki Retreat.
*The cookbook, called is available from online shop Storbie and through Indulge’s Facebook and Instagram pages.