Food fuels expansion
Passion for catering has driven a Toowoomba woman to set up a second business
IT WAS her time working as a secretary many years ago, when she had to run out and organise meals for clients, that inspired Toowoomba mother Julie Forster to start her own catering business.
“I’ve always had a passion for food and wanted a bit of a change,”
Julie Forster: I’ve always had a passion for food and wanted a bit of a change.
she said of her career move.
Now, about 13 years after starting her family business Perfect Parties and Picnics, Mrs Forster has started up a second business – a cafe on Hume St.
Mrs Forster described Urth Cafe Bar as a “funky, family-run cafe that provides a unique and alternate atmosphere to regular cafes in Toowoomba”.
She said the cafe, which opened earlier this month, opened early in the morning for working people and offered a wide variety of fresh food as well as healthy and gluten free options.
Mrs Forster said the decision to start her second business came from wanting to offer something different in Toowoomba with a nice relaxing vibe with great coffee and homemade food.
“Our aim is to provide the option of having a healthy salad to takeaway or a burger and chips if you are feeling like some comfort food,” she said.
She said the hardest part about it was time management.
“As we have run our catering business for 13 years and it is still growing, it’s just the logistics of working in the two businesses now,” she said. As for the best part about it all? “The great clientele you build up over the years and the community support that we receive both in the catering and cafe business and as a family as well.”
Mrs Forster said social media had been a big part of building the businesses.
Her advice to another person looking to start their own business was, “love what you are doing and have the passion for what you do”. Her four daughters work for her. “Surprisingly it’s worked very well,” she said.
Urth Café Bar at 195 Hume St is open Monday to Friday from 6am to 3pm and on Saturday from 7am to 11am.
If you have an event which needs catering, phone Perfect Parties and Picnics on 4635 7753.