A new food shop is preparing to open on Water Lane, in the premises previously occupied by the Lola boutique.
COOK will sell a wide selection of frozen ready meals, including pizza, puddings, meat, fish and vegetarian options as well as dairy free, gluten free and microwavable Cook Pots - which are all prepared by chefs in the company's kitchen in Kent.
COOK was set up in 1997 with the founding principle that they will 'make meals using the same ingredients and techniques that a really good cook would use at home'. The company remains an independent family run business which now has over 60 shops, supplies over 300 farm shops and employs more than 400 people.
The Wilmslow franchise will be run by husband and wife Brad and Jess Podbur, who live in Hale with their two children Toby (7) and Livvie (5) - who are both keen to earn extra pocket money by handing out free samples of the dishes.
Speaking about the meals, Jess said "The food is handmade and blast frozen so it tastes like you've cooked it yourself, (or in my case, much better). We've toured the kitchen in Kent, and when we say handmade, we have met the chefs and seen them stirring huge pans of stroganoff, we've met the staff weighing the pieces of meat that go into each portion, we've met the people placing each indivdual chili on top of the curry, and we've met the bakers who make the cakes. It is truly handmade with love."
The family relocated to Cheshire last year because of Jess's job as Assistant Editor at BBC Breakfast Television. Brad will manage the shop while Jess continues to work at the BBC, and help out when she can. Their goal is to open several more COOK shops in Cheshire.
Jess explained "As a busy working mum, I relied on the COOK store in West Dulwich when we lived in south London and absolutely loved the food. Brad had always wanted to run his own business, and I felt very strongly that I couldn't sell something I didn't believe in, then one day, I picked up a COOK leaflet about franchising, and it seemed like a match made in foodie heaven.
"At that time we knew the BBC move was imminent, so we waited until we'd moved, and soon afterwards, I saw a COOK freezer in a farm shop and texted Brad to say, 'I've found COOK! It's a sign, let's apply tonight'.
"I know it's a cliche but opening COOK is a dream come true for us. Going through the application process to become a franchisee was akin to appearing on The Apprentice! The first stage was the written application, we were then invited to an interview in London, at which we were grilled by three people. After passing that, (and sending one of them a signed photo of BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, which may have tipped the balance in our favour), we were invited to meet the founder Ed at the COOK Kitchen in Kent.
"He gave us the nod, subject to Brad passing 'the apron test' - literally, putting on a pinny and spending two days on the sales floor. He passed with flying colours - and then we spent about nine months trying to find the right location. After such a long time in the preparation, it feels absolutely amazing that the shop fit is underway, and the store will be opening on November 1st."
COOK will be open seven days a week stocking the full range of products, everything from one pot meals to dinner party fare and family-friendly bakes to party canapés.
For further information visit www.cookfood.net.
