Interview with Eadrey Hemmings

 
 


 BBA’s Dwayne Reno recently sat down with Eadrey Hemmings of Eadrey Foods for an exclusive interview with
the Toronto entrepreneur, chef, caterer, retailer and small business owner. Last month, Eadrey Foods celebrated its second anniversary in Leslieville in Toronto’s East end. EF is a combined retail store, eatery and takeaway food shop that offers local and artisanal products, sauces, rubs, prepared meals and salads. Here, Eadrey shares her thoughts on food, her business and her life as a small business owner.

Dwayne Reno: You have been in business for two years now. Why did you get into business for yourself?

Eadrey Hemmings: 
Good question. Actually, somebody encouraged me to. I like to cook, obviously. I started with the sauces, marinades and rubs. Someone asked me to make marinades for their butcher shop. So I started making marinades and rubs. I did that for eight years and then, I decided to open a storefront.

Dwayne Reno: So, do you come from a culinary background?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes.

Dwayne Reno: So you started with the rubs first?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes, a line of sauces, marinades and rubs.

Dwayne Reno: And are those still being sold at the store?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes.

Dwayne Reno: What created this need to open your own business?

Eadrey Hemmings: I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this. Ego (playful laughter)!

Dwayne Reno: That gets us through a lot, right (playful laughter)?

Eadrey Hemmings: I wanted to show myself I could do it.

Dwayne Reno: So a little bit of ego and a lot of confidence in yourself goes a long way, right?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes. Of course you need both.

Dwayne Reno: You have a great mix of healthy, cooked and uncooked foods. What inspired this?

Eadrey Hemmings: I worked at a restaurant as a teenager, operating the salad bar. That experience of being in
charge of a salad bar in the summer at a road house restaurant in Ottawa. My past experience made it very natural to make salads. I enjoy being creative and making healthy food and also seeing the excitement on customers’ faces when they see and try the healthy salads from my store.

Dwayne Reno: Would you call the Jamaican dishes on your menu fusion and why?

Eadrey Hemmings: They’re not really fusion because the jerk is traditional and the roti is traditional. I do fusion
style when I cater to somebody that doesn’t want traditional but wants a little bit of West Indian. But at the store, the jerk and roti are traditional. They’re boneless but traditional West Indian. Those are the only two traditional West Indian items.

Dwayne Reno: How do you find being a CEO/manager?

Eadrey Hemmings: Tough (playful laughter)!

Dwayne Reno: Coming from a background working for other people?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes. So I come from the corporate world where it’s business and spreadsheets. So this is completely different. Managing the store, managing the staff, managing your accounts…it’s a lot of work. But my admin background has helped me.

Dwayne Reno: In regards to managing staff?

Eadrey Hemmings: With regards to managing the books and dealing with our catering companies. A lot of them don’t call so you have to be able to send emails and call back. You need to be computer-savvy. You must understand we are in a digital age--there is no longer a paper trail. But because of my corporate experience, that’s what I’m used to. So my corporate background helps me manage my business. 

Dwayne Reno:  So do you wear many hats?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes.

Dwayne Reno: What’s a typical day like in your life? 

Eadrey Hemmings: I go to bed and I dream about the menu (playful laughter). Seriously, I’m thinking about what I want to make, even for the next week. It’s always on my mind. From Tuesday to Saturday, it’s all business. Friday I take time to dine out. After closing, I like going to a restaurant or café to be served. 

Dwayne Reno: Instead of you serving others?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes.

Dwayne Reno: That’s really good. Seems like you have a great work-life balance?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes, because I’m always thinking business and creating different items for the menu, all the
time. I plan the menu every week.

Dwayne Reno: Do you find that all the recipes you create make the menu? Is there a trial period?

Eadrey Hemmings: I make it work (playful laughter).

Dwayne Reno: I like that. Guess it comes from the ego/confidence (playful laughter). What has been your greatest challenge in life?

Eadrey Hemmings: (Slight pause) Probably managing the finances, money. If you own a business it’s a bit
different from your personal (finances) because you can lose... Managing your finances for business and personal requires a balance. Once you find that balance, everything falls into place.

Dwayne Reno: Where do you go from here? Any plans for franchising or expansion?

Eadrey Hemmings: People ask me (that) but it’s pretty risky to do a franchise. Sometimes it’s better to work on
building your brand. We’ve been open for two years. At this moment, I would rather focus on the brand because I’ve been to a few nice shops and they decided to go bigger and it’s just not the same. But we’ll see. I’m open to it.

Dwayne Reno: Yes. There are a few I can think of off the top of my head (playful laughter). So it’s good that you’re open to it. Because I’m sure a lot of your customers would love it…What makes you happy?

Eadrey Hemmings: FOOD (playful laughter)! And being served and vacations.

Dwayne Reno:  Any hobbies at this point?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yeah, I rollerblade, bike ride and travel. I love travelling! My favorite thing to do while
travelling is to sit at a café and watch people while being served (playful laughter).

Dwayne Reno: That’s really good. You seem like you have a really good work-life balance. How long did it take you to attain that?

Eadrey Hemmings: Not long.

Dwayne Reno: So it’s something you insisted on?

Eadrey Hemmings: Yes. You need to incorporate that into your life.

Dwayne Reno: Where would be your ideal place to vacation?

Eadrey Hemmings: I really enjoy Paris. I’m going back in August. I love the sites, the decor and the food.

Dwayne Reno: Eadrey, thanks for your time.

Eadrey Hemmings: Thank you.

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