When the UK was plunged into lockdown last year, Abbie Owens found herself out of work and fearful for the future.
A self-employed dental nurse, she was not entitled to claim furlough pay and had no savings to speak of.
With just £15 to her name, she went out and bought ingredients to cook a meal.
Needing the extra money, she sold the fruits of her labour to a friend.
Her ‘jerk chicken munch box’ proved an instant hit and, before long, the orders came flooding in thick and fast.
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It gave Abbie, 43, the idea of founding her own Caribbean food business.
More than a year on, she has her own stall, The Jerk Stop, on Hyde Market and its food has earned rave reviews from customers.
It has been a remarkable journey for Abbie, who had never made Caribbean food before she started cooking it just days into lockdown last March.
“I didn’t know what to do or how I was going to manage,” she explained.
“I didn’t have any money and I was not in the best place in the world, but I have always loved cooking from when my nana used to teach me.
Abbie Owens
“I went through all my handbags and put all the pennies I had in my flat in a bag and went to the cash and carry to buy some bits and pieces.”
After learning several recipes by watching YouTube videos, Abbie decided to put her skills to the test.
When she uploaded a picture of the meal she had made to Facebook, a friend was so impressed they offered to buy it.
Word soon spread and Abbie was serving up dozens of meals a day from her tiny kitchen at home.
The money helped to keep her ticking over during lockdown but as the business thrived, Abbie realised she needed to find somewhere bigger.
She found space at a local cafe in the evenings and used money she had managed to save for a holiday to cover the rent.
In November, Abbie moved the operation to Hyde indoor market six days a week.
One of the secrets to The Jerk Stop’s success is Abbie’s homemade BBQ sauce
Days often get under way at 5.30am and end at 7pm, but she doesn’t mind the long hours.
“I enjoy it,” she said. “It’s a small community here at the market, but the people are nice.
“Everyone has been really supportive.”
Over the last year, the Jerk Stop has built up a loyal following and sells out most days.
Abbie says its most popular dishes include curried goat and jerk chicken with rice and steamed vegetables.
She believes one of the secrets to its success is her homemade BBQ sauce.
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Such is the demand, Abbie is now looking for a new location where she can serve and make deliveries from during the evenings.
She continues to pinch herself at the journey she has been on over the last 16 months.
“I still stop myself and think ‘wow’ every day,” she explained. “It’s all gone so fast.
“I never in my wildest dreams expected this. I was only doing it in my kitchen to get through lockdown.
“It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
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