We’re Marc and Jess, and we started our vegan business back in 2022. It all began when Jess made some brownies that were so good, I told her they were the best I’d ever had. I said, "We have to sell these!" That’s how we kicked off our journey as a small vegan bakery, attending local markets and events to share our bakes. It didn’t take long to realize how much people loved them — not only vegan but also gluten- and soya-free.

About a year later, we found a café that had closed during lockdown and never reopened. At first, Jess wasn’t sure about the idea, but I convinced her that it could be an amazing adventure. The café’s owner initially wanted to sell it as a going concern, but our vision was different, so we passed on that offer. A few months later, I reached out again, seeing the café was still sitting empty. We made an offer, met in the middle, and that’s when The Magic Sunflower was born.

With a very limited budget, we made it work, thanks to help from friends and family. Our vision was simple: create a fully ethical, chilled space with fresh, whole foods and top-notch specialty coffee — a place where everyone is welcome.

Fast forward three years, and we’ve definitely had our ups and downs (as any small business does!). But the best part has been seeing the amazing, diverse community of customers that keeps our dream alive. We’ve received so many messages from people wishing they could try our food or who visited and wished they lived closer. That’s when we had the idea to expand into chef-made meal kits, so people all over the UK could enjoy what we do.