Cooking is what i do best, so i make a living out of it!- CEO Nono's Catering

By Kemi Mobuse - Friday, April 01, 2016

Anytime you hear a woman's place in the kitchen, we don't get mad anymore at that! Instead, we smile...all the way to the bank. You gotta love a woman, who makes her living by putting a smile on everyone's face, just by being a good cook who makes delicious, finger licking meals and gets amazing feedback every time! from very satisfied client.

One of such Amazing ladies is he CEO of Nono's Catering, whose throne is place strategically in the kitchen, she is an excellent cook and a skilled caterer, and do you know,she started just by baking cakes?
Lets here more in her own words.....

Kemi Mobuse blog: Can we meet you?

Nonoscatering: My name is Mrs Ono Uto and I am the MD of Nonos Catering Service

Kemi Mobuse blog: What inspired this choice of name?

Nonoscatering: At the time I wanted to register my catering business with CAC. I wanted a name people will call and laugh at first/ find it hard to pronounce. It was my strategy to make the name memorable. And then my family said 'why don't you use NONOS'. My nephew Ayodeji gave me the name because he couldn't pronounce 'Ono'.

Kemi Mobuse blog: Lol

Kemi Mobuse blog: How old is your brand now?

Nonoscatering: Nonos catering will be 5 years old on the 5th of July, 2016

Kemi Mobuse blog: When and how did you decide you want to be a caterer?

Nonoscatering: I have always wanted to cater. As early as the age of 12 years, I had started baking cakes commercially. Grew up in house that loved food and I had sisters who enjoyed baking and cooking. It had to be! Family and friends from my childhood were not surprised when I started Nonos

Kemi Mobuse blog: Did you go to a culinary school?

Nonoscatering: I had the best early years of training by attending summer local catering schools. Setting up Nonos, I went to train at Perfection Confection in Maidstone, United Kingdom. You won't believe Nonos started by doing cakes only and see where we are. I use chefs with 20 years+ 5 star hotel experience and I am a wonderful cook too

Kemi Mobuse blog: Awwww, that's wonderful

Kemi Mobuse blog: Currently, what is your staff strength?

Nonoscatering: I like to keep that information classified

Kemi Mobuse blog: What is your favorite cook to cook?

Nonoscatering: My cooking strength is the Continental section. I love to stir fry anything that can be stir fried...laughs. I love to play with spices

Kemi Mobuse blog: And what is your favourite food to eat?

Nonoscatering: My Favourite food is Nonos Sea food okro and Eba

Kemi Mobuse blog: In the course of your work, tell me about a difficult situation and how you handled it?

Nonoscatering: Hmmm... Let me discuss the early days of Nonos. Social media was not like we have today to help reach out to potential customers from your comfort zone. We had to market at least 4 times a week and it was mostly negative. We got turned down most times because we hadn't done many jobs. But with prayers, persistence and support from friends and family. We were able to go past that stage

Kemi Mobuse blog: If you are told that your food cost was high, what five things will you look at first?

Nonoscatering: 'No Business is Bad Business'. Once you remember that you will do the following; 1. Understand what the client wants 2. Be flexible with the menu 3. Work with the clients budget 4. Present a fresh menu 5. Make sure your new menu to please your client does not affect your brand. If you do all that and the client insists for a further reduction please walk away. It is better to lose a business than to reduce the quality of your food to gain

Kemi Mobuse blog: Any advice for future entrepreneurs?

Nonoscatering: Start a business you will enjoy doing. When you are happy in business it makes the work feel like fun and not hard labour. Don't allow anyone define your business. Have a strategy, be persistent and have mentors you can confide in. Your competitors are there to motivate you and for you to motivate them not for you to copy. Set your standards and work at your pace.

Kemi Mobuse blog: Lastly, how can you be contacted?

Nonoscatering: Head office address: 180 Herbert Macaulay Way, Ebute Metta, Yaba. Email: info@nonosservice.com, Phone: 09080707690, 08028027399

Instagram: @nonoscatering

Nonoscatering: Thank you.

More pictures below: