PUT SOME MUSIC IN YOUR FOOD
Levi Roots; musician, chef and "Dragon slayer". In January 2007 Levi was invited on to the BBC show Dragons' Den where he famously sang about the virtues of his Reggae Reggae Sauce and became, without doubt, the most famous participant on the show. Two of the entrepreneurs, Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh, invested in the project and a rollercoaster journey began.
The Reggae Reggae Sauce story began in Jamaica in the early 70's. Levi's Grandmother, Miriam Small taught him the magic of cooking.
When Levi moved to England to join his family he yearned for the music and sunshine of Jamaica. Cooking helped restore the Caribbean flavour that was missing from his life! Levi never stopped making jerk chicken sauce, perfecting and refining the recipe to create the taste sensation that we now recognize as Reggae Reggae Sauce. Levi made the sauce in his own kitchen but had so many requests for his secret recipe that he was unable to keep up with demand. He decided to try and get investment on Dragons' Den so that he could launch the sauce nationally.
After the show was broadcast, Sainsbury's agreed an exclusive distribution deal and within 6 weeks the sauce was on shelf and the demand was incredible. The sauce sold out as soon as it became available and for a few weeks Reggae Reggae sauce was out selling even the brand leader. Now, the sauce is stocked by all major retailers and Levi has built a complete brand ranging from ready meals to snacks and soft drinks to pasties.
Levi's success has meant that he has become a spokesperson for both Caribbean cuisine as well as more generally for entrepreneurship amongst the black community. He has visited hundreds of schools to encourage young children to adopt a positive approach and to prove that you can succeed from humble beginnings.
Watch Levi in the Den and Birds Eye Reggae Reggae Chicken Chargrills Advert
Visit leviroots.com for more information.
"Reggae Reggae sauce sold out as soon as it became available and for a few weeks the sauce was out selling even the brand leader. Now, the sauce is stocked by all major retailers and Levi has built a complete brand ranging from ready meals to snacks and soft drinks to pasties."