Tell us about yourself?
I have always been interested in food, wine and business. Having worked for a large global organisation for many years, I consider myself very fortunate to now run a small business doing all the things I really love.

What is your business and what prompted you to follow this path?
We are the UK Truffle experts. We sell fresh truffles in season and we are the only company in the UK manufacturing Truffle Products. The idea came to me when I was living in Italy, and I became obsessed with fresh truffles.

Describe your product range
We are the UK’s leading supplier of fresh truffles. And we make a whole range of truffle products, including Truffle Oils, Truffle Honey, cooked and preserved Truffles, and Truffle Butters.

Where do you make your products (home, studio etc)?
We have a small Truffle distribution and manufacturing Unit at Sandpool Farm in Gloucestershire.

How is business?
Business is great fun, we are having a ball!

How do you promote your work? Is it purely online, or do you attend shows/exhibitions, stock stores/galleries…?
Most of our Sale growth has come by word of mouth from our (mostly) happy customers. We pride ourselves on quality of product and excellence in customer service, and the word seems to spread.

Have you had any famous customers? If yes, can you tell us more?
On the fresh truffle side we sell to a lot of customers that are well known, footballers, celebrities, and wealthy business leaders. However, we can’t disclose the names of our clients as we have to respect their confidentiality.

Where would you like your business to be 5 years from now?
I would like to be known as an established luxury brand that is trusted for excellence of quality and customer service. On a practical front I would like to be exporting a great deal of our product.

What has been your business highlight so far?
Receiving an email or telephone call from one of our customers telling us that our customer service is excellent is always a business highlight.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to set up a business similar to your own?
Don’t let people talk you out of it, or let them put you off. Now is not the time, or it’s too specialist, or it’s already been done. If you think it’s a good idea, go for it.

Just for fun …

Tell us a joke (keep it clean) to make us smile
Err ….

Best book you’ve ever read, and why?
I’m not a great reader, but I read Slaughterhouse Five when I was 18 and I can’t help reading it again and again. Such a great book.

Favourite song of all time?
Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric. I know it’s not the most melodic track ever recorded, but is has great sentimental value to me.

Pets – cat or dog?
Cat.

Holiday – trekking in Himalayas or shopping in Dubai?
Definitely trekking in the Himalayas, but only if my wife and daughter can come along.

TruffleHunter’s products can be viewed in their online store.