Young VI Islander opens attractive mobile food & ice-cream business
Most naturally, the ice-cream was the most popular among the children while the wings and fries were so popular among the adults that they were soon sold out. Persons also had a choice of chicken, beef, tuna and veggie burgers; pasta, peas and rice, macaroni; ox tail soup, as well as smoothies, milkshakes, local drinks and other beverages.
The atmosphere was also one of “family”, which is exactly what the brainchild of the business, Marlon J. Choucoutou Jr, intended for his business to foster.
The 23-year-old entrepreneur related to Virgin Islands News Online his story of how he left his work at ScotiaBank to venture into the world as a business owner.
“It started out as thought and ended up into something else. I was actually home one day and the idea just hit but it came as something small and I built on the idea until I felt I had perfected it.”
The end result is an attractive mobile food & ice-cream business that received overwhelming support from the public at the opening at the Cruise Pier area on Wickham’s Cay 1.
Quite striking was the excellent customer service displayed by the staff, including Mr Choucoutou Jr who made it his duty to serve his tasty ice-cream made on spot, smoothies, milkshakes and soft serve cones. Mr Choucoutou Jr prides himself in the fact that he makes the ice-cream himself and on location. One of his specials is his self-made rum raisin which uses rum made from cane sugar at Callwood’s Distillery. The soft serve, he said, is also very popular due to them being sodium free, lactose free and cholesterol free and only a 100 calories per four oz serving.
It was not surprising to then learn that Mr Choucoutou Jr worked in the customer service industry before - as an employee of Scotiabank. In fact, a number of Scotiabank employees turned up to support their former colleague and were not shy in relating to this news site how proud they were of the young businessman. Some chose to comment on his very friendly and down to earth personality.
“People who know me know I stand for excellence in customer service and the same is expected of the staff here... A major part of our service is also cleanliness, the appearance of the van and the quality of our products,” Mr Choucoutou Jr would then relate to Virgin Islands News Online.
The young businessman noted his satisfaction at finally being able to get his business started, “because it was a lengthy process but a lot of blessings...I left Scotiabank to make a fulltime commitment here. In this day and age this kind of transition can be scary but I got good support and encouragement.”
Mr Choucoutou Jr added that he met a lot of good folks along the way who wanted to push the young entrepreneurs in the BVI and also credited his mom, dad, older sister, an uncle and some very positive family and friends for their advice and support.
Asked about one part of the the name of the business- ‘Yo Mama Kitchen, where the good food is at’- Mr Choucoutou Jr said “my mother’s kitchen had good food; people's mothers I know had good food so that is where the good food is at.”
The lovely graphic design on his food trailer was also a hit with the children. One child even ordered a burger that looked exactly like the one painted on the mobile. He said he came up with the concepts for the graphics and had someone do the actual painting.
“We are just happy to see the kids excited about something. We will have a lot of incentives in future for children for excelling in schools, good behaviour, among other things,” Mr Choucoutou Jr said.
Looking ahead, Mr Choucoutou Jr noted that right now he will come and go on a daily basis in the afternoons on Wickham’s Cay 1 but his intention is to move around to different areas on Tortola.
In a few weeks time, he plans to launch a delivery service.
And to further promote his business, Mr Choucoutou Jr said local band VI Showtime will be doing a jingle for him.
Reflecting on his journey to where he has reached, Mr Choucoutou Jr offered some encouragement to his fellow youth to believe in their dreams and work hard towards realising them. “Anything is possible, no matter how far it may seem. When I think back to where I initially had that thought to where I am at now, all I can say is wow...It wasn’t an easy process, it was a lengthy process and an unsure one at times but with the faith of God and the support of good family and friends, it was made possible.”
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32 Responses to “Young VI Islander opens attractive mobile food & ice-cream business”
Wow. Be cool and just send some congrats and best wishes.