I’m Fraser and this here is my company. If you’re interested in how I got here, keep reading and I’ll tell you. It all started when I was a young lad. I would invest my school dinner money in sweets at the local shops and make a quick Bob or two at break and lunch times punting them on to fellow school mates. Made a fair bit of holiday money! Not that there’d be time to spend it as I’d be washing
cars and clearing drives to earn more wonga to fulfil my never ending childhood wants! I’ll not bore you all with the full in between bits but the short of it is, I graduated school, went to collage, started from the bottom cooking in various kitchens and worked my way up. I learned a good few things along the way in different industries and I ended up opened a car wash that’s still open to this day as I write this. Which brings me to the creation of Rooral Roots Co. I just love to forage, and making jams and chutneys in recent years has became a bit of a hobby of mine. The people I’d give jars to were adamant that I should put them up for sale. I then got to thinking and I started to form a plan. I just needed a place outside of the Lochmaben Children's Gala Christmas market (where the first batch of jams sold out completely!) to sell them.
‘I know’ I thought. ‘I’ve always wanted to start my own catering business and get back to cooking. Why not build my own BBQ cart and cater private events like parties and also pitch it at lunchtime and dinner time in a spot around the Castle Loch Walk and sell the jams & chutneys from there? I could donate a percentage of the profits to them as a thank you for letting me sit there which will help their fundraising too!’
‘I could also start hosting local events again like I used too and then incorporate the three awesome things into one beautiful vision!’
And that is how we got here. A lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance and a lot of support from our fantastic family, friends & customers! I, Fraser, personally thank all of you from the bottom of my heart! Without the support you’ve all given this would not be possible! THANK YOU! 🙏
We pride ourselves in looking after our planet which is why all of our packaging is 100% recyclable. Not only that but we also forage with care by ensuring the protection of wild food sources and actively encourage the growing of these. By stopping the over-picking of these food sources, it allows the local wildlife to feed on the produce and then spread the seeds, with added poop nutrition, to help the them grow to the best food baring plant that they can be! There’s also a local community group, Lochmaben Community Gardens, that we donate excess flower and vegetable seeds to so that the local area is brimming with fresh food for those who need it most!
