UK households throw out around 4.2 million tonnes of perfectly edible food each year, while half a million people in the UK are relying on food banks. It almost sounds criminal.
Although they have been praised for their figures, Cardiff Council aim to minimise more food waste and are searching for alternative ways to help reduce waste rates to meet the expectations of recycling 70% by 2024-25.
Thrive Magazine
With this as its sole purpose, Thrive Magazine aims to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce food waste, according to founder Susan Hay.
The lifestyle magazine helps its readers improve health, change their diet and reduce waste with expert advice and trusted information, to make the world a "healthier" place for everyone.
Susan Hay is a Holistic Nutritionist and now the editor and founder of Thrive Magazine.
Susan also works as a Health and Wellness Coach where she gets to the bottom of her clients food issues so she can "inspire change."
The female entrepreneur says, "I founded Thrive Magazine and Thrive Publishing with the aim to help these dedicated and authentic brands launch to market."
Their mission is to "change" the way people shop. Thrive believes that healthy people make “healthier choices” and think that if everybody starts to purchase products and services that help the environment “thrive” then... mission complete.
Q&A with business entrepreneur and founder of Thrive magazine Susan Hay
Do you need a degree to be an entrepreneur?
"Heck no, being an entrepreneur is about seeing and creating opportunity, it's about being in charge of your decisions and having the ability to change direction quickly."
Does age matter in business?
"No, experience comes with age and it does give you the ability to reflect on past mistakes and successes, but ideas and creativity are of upmost important."
What advice would you give to young budding entrepreneurs?
"Follow your intuition and take care of yourself first. Put yourself at the top of your to-do list and then watch everything else fall into place."
Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years time?
"We are excited to be launching our Thrive Academy in 2017, along with boosting and growing the magazine, we'll be offering more support to healthy brands and products with a true intention to make the world a healthier place. In 5 years time we want to see obesity cut by 50%, Animal testing on any products banned world wide. A food system that offers healthy, abundant and nutritionally dense food to all and less food waste."
Who is your inspiration?
"Early on in my journey I found a great fitness trainer and nutritionist called James Duigan. I remember watching a video interview with him over and over again, what he said made such sense and he still is one of my inspirations to this day. Along with every other business owner I work with. Inspiration comes from all directions, if you're open to it."
What motivates you in the morning to get up and continue your business?
"I'm helping other people to take control of their health, and at Thrive we’re helping to change the way that people buy products - I don’t need any more inspiration than that. "Healthy people do good things""
Are there any set backs/mistakes you have made?
"Oh yes, plenty, but it's all a learning curve and each and every mistake, if you call it that, has guided me on my entrepreneurial journey. You learn, you change and you improve, it’s part of the journey."
Is the business industry better or worse than you were expecting?
"It's a tough game, and each day brings its challenges, but, if you truly know your 'Why’ and have a true intention to help people it’s easier. Just remember that one bad day doesn’t make a bad business, perspective is everything."
What's the most important lesson you have learnt since being in the industry?
"Wow! What a question! I think it’d have to be to go easy on yourself and I stick by the lesson that you can do 'anything’ but you can not do ‘everything’ Learn to let go of the things you hold tight and trust others to do a better job."
