A profitable venture called ‘Flaming Flavours’

Apr 25, 2021 News

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“Entrepreneurship is about creative and forward thinking, something that I see all young entrepreneurs are equipped with. So why not prepare them for bigger things by providing innovative solutions in all sectors that would allow small businesses to grow?”

By Sueann Wickham

Kaieteur News – Over the weeks, we have featured young entrepreneurs who have pursued life-long or childhood dreams. However, this week’s featured entrepreneur is one who sought to pioneer a business as a stepping-stone to reach his desired career.

Romario Persaud is the 18-year-old owner of ‘Flaming Flavours,’ a local food business that has been enticing the taste buds of many Guyanese since its establishment on August 1, last year.
In his exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Persaud, who is a medical student, stated that cooking runs in his family and this made the task easier. “We have a lot of cooks and it’s a skill that we are good in, from my grandma to my mom…even my dad and myself would always be cooking and trying new things in the kitchen,” he enlightened.
Understandably, the entire family would constantly engage in talk about opening a food business. The possibility of this becoming a reality was engaged after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Quarantined after the closure of the University of Guyana, Persaud found that he was home alone with nothing to do. “Things started to get boring really fast, so one week after my 18th birth anniversary, I had this urging spirit where I wanted to earn an income to assist me with my academic studies,” Persaud stated.
He figured that opening a food business would be a great way to capitalise on his love for cooking while simultaneously aiding his studies to become an anaesthesiologist.
Persaud, filled with ideas but unsure where to start, turned to his parents for support to establish a home delivery and catering service. The aim was to provide delicious meals every Saturday with different menus every week.
With his parents fully onboard, Persaud kick-started his business with the monetary gifts he received on his birthday and even more support followed shortly after.
“After running the menu on WhatsApp and Facebook for an entire two weeks before the starting date, I was truly amazed with the support from my family and friends. I started off the menu with grilled chicken burgers and Buffalo wings which were both sided with French fries and an all natural fruit punch,” he related. He received many compliments about his flavour and packaging, “and next thing you know mouth to mouth advertisement started and persons I didn’t even know started to order from me,” Persaud said. He further extended his menu to barbequed meats and even Creole foods.

He posited that while having a home-based business is okay, there must be a bigger goal and he intends to have Flaming Flavours branch off with mobile caravans at different locations in Guyana that would provide persons with his tasty treats. “I have a big dream also to open a water park that features a restaurant and a chill spot, where persons can have delicious meals while relaxing,” he added.
Persaud was not free from the many challenges that come with owning a business. He stated that since the food business has a lot of competitors, he had to be on top of his game. He had persons from East Coast Demerara and other places who wanted to try his food, but since his business is based on the East Bank of Demerara and delivery services could not reach that far, he was unable to serve them.He added that some weeks were not so good, as business was slow, but he developed a spirit of faith and “if it wasn’t for the shaking, beating and pressing” he put into his venture, he would have lagged.Apart from his business, he was determined to share his views on the role young entrepreneurs like himself play in society. He remarked that they are the future of business in Guyana and are likely to encourage adults to embark on similar ventures.

Calling the influence that young entrepreneurs have on many people admirable, Persaud went on to stress the need for support. He is of the belief that government should invest in small businesses in ways that would allow them to grow. He said, “Entrepreneurship is about creative and forward thinking, something that I see all young entrepreneurs are equipped with. So why not prepare them for bigger things by providing innovative solutions in all sectors that would allow small businesses to grow?”
Persaud, now a student at the Lincoln American University, has no qualms with the ongoing pandemic, as he believes it actually birthed his business. Nevertheless, he hopes that the pandemic will soon be a thing of the past so that he can touch new heights as an entrepreneur. He is also extremely grateful for his parents who stood behind him no matter the circumstance.
Persons who wish to tantalise their taste buds with Persaud’s cuisine can do so by visiting ‘Flaming Flavours’ on Facebook, @flamingflavours_gy on Instagram or can contact Persaud via WhatsApp on +592 643-0395.

 

 

 

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