Imagine how much guts it takes to speak to those guys on Dragon’s Den? I practically have panic attacks for the people when they are pitching their ideas. Aaargh. And these guys! They were told no!

Or can we reel in the sympathy for the pair?

Yes, we can.

Dan Cluderay asked the five Dragons for a “£150 000 cash injection offering a ten per cent share: in ‘Approved Food’, his business-to-be. Leaving empty handed, he and his business partner, Andy Needham, then “managed to source £400 000 through loans and investments from elsewhere which has seen Approved Food achieve a £4 million turnover”.

The idea behind ‘Approved Food’?

While supermarkets regularly throw away food that has gone past its ‘best before’ date, Mr Cluderay, set up an online business selling out-of-date food to busy mums and bargain hunters. The 40-year-old says the secret to his success is that his business, Approved Food, provides just what the savvy shopper is looking for – quality food at prices which save mums around £60 off their weekly bill compared to a similar shop at one of the big supermarkets.

It all started years ago: Dan and his wife, Nichola, set up market stalls in Hull, Leeds and Doncaster “selling branded chocolate, fizzy drinks and crisps which had been shunned by a range of supermarkets as they were either fast approaching or past their ‘best before’ date”. They stuck at it for ages, gaining a very loyal following. Then, one day, over a box of Twinings tea, Dan realised how powerful this could be.

I suddenly realised that while there might not be the demand for nettle tea in Doncaster, if I could match the goods with customers looking to buy, I’d be on to a winner

He then started ‘Approved Food’ online with Andy.

After our nation’s budget speech last week, South African’s should start looking into ways to save an extra buck or ten. Gumtree is a perfect example for buying used and second hand items, but is someone looking into doing something like ‘Approved Food’? It could work. AF sells things from tea to toilet paper to dog food. It’s not going to kill you if you use expired loo paper. It’s paper. It’s your bottom. It’s all cool.

[Source: The Daily Mail]