A CATERING business which started at a kitchen table with just £300 little over a year ago has grown to serve an ever extending list of customers across the Yorkshire region.

Baba Ganoush Private Dining was started by husband and wife team Matthew and Ashley Hyde, a professional chef and an event management specialist and wedding planner, respectively.

After launching their business on the idea of creating bespoke menus for people in their own homes, the couple are hoping Baba Ganoush will impress judges in the New Business of the Year category in the Press Business Awards, while Mrs Hyde vies for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year title.

Since starting their company the duo has catered for private dinners, birthday celebrations, and weddings ranging from six people up to 200 people, as well working closely with local suppliers including The Fruity Kitchen, Fowlers of York, M&K Butchers, Wolds Select, HFF, Holgate Windmill, Ainsty Ales, Bootham Honey and Deli Fresh.

In the beginning they worked from their own kitchen to keep their initial rental costs low, while continuing to work in full-time roles to support the business during the initial period of growth.

In March this year Mrs Hyde made the decision to join her husband in working full time for the business, and since leaving her previous role Baba Ganoush has already earned 90.9 per cent of its total first year income.

Mrs Hyde has spent the last 10 years working in some of Yorkshire’s top venues and restaurants such as Marriott International, Café No.8 and Interchange & Consort Hotels.

The pair say Baba Ganoush is successful thanks to the combination of Mrs Hyde’s business mind and drive, and Mr Hyde's exceptional skills in the kitchen, but they would both agree that without Mrs Hyde's drive and determination, Baba Ganoush could easily have stayed a successful private dining provider, rather than the innovative company that it has become in such a short time.

They said: "It is Ashley’s imagination and innovative business plan that has driven Baba Ganoush forward."

As well as working two jobs for a year, Mrs Hyde also felt it was vitally important to connect with local businesses, and support the organisations that connect them, including working closely with the Institute of Directors, Forward Ladies and The Business Network. They are now also members of Visit York, and the York Professionals, and are keen to look for new ways to support the local economy.

As they look to the future, Mr and Mrs Hyde say they have no intention of slowing down, and are constantly looking for ways to expand their offering, including their continued collaboration with Café No 8, and menu development for some of the most popular restaurants in Yorkshire, and venues like Folk Hall and the York Army Museum.