How to build a supportive community - with Lenka Porubska Founder of MMMore Treats

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Livelihood is at the centre of most of our decisions to start a business. It's how we can earn a living from doing what we love to do. 

As a popular barista, Lenka Porubska found that she loved nurturing herself and her local customers with handmade, raw and healthy treats. Five years later she has expanded her product range that once once served alongside the coffees she was made to a successful food business with its own commercial kitchen, national distribution partnerships and thoughtful environmental commitment. 

Lenka, truly lives and breathes ambition, livelihood and well-being. 

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What have you had to stop doing in the other aspects of your life to make this business work for you?

Starting a business can be daunting and taking that leap can seem like s stretch to some people. But pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone can be where the real magic happens. Lenka had to push hard to go all in.

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"I had to quit the job that was kind of safe and take the risk as many people do, and I know how hard it is. But I didn't do it all at once. I kept the job for a few days a week and then I remember it just became too much. I just had to start working really hard and had to make a living with my passion. But it's not easy."

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Can you please share your pitch with us?

Recently we are all looking for ways to create healthy habits. Having a sneaky treat doesn’t always have to feel naughty. This is why we are loving the treats from MMMore. But let’s have Lenka tell you exactly what her business is all about.

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"My name is Lenka and I am the owner of MMMore. We develop and manufacture raw sweet treats, which are an alternative to your traditional sugary treats. We source the best quality ingredients, implement zero waste strategies and try to be as good as possible to the environment. We produce these treats for basically everyone with a sweet tooth, but they are also gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan and quite healthy."

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How do you protect yourself from business risk?

Without comliance we become complacent and this isn’t suitable when it comes to running a business especially in the food industry. So it is important for business owners to have adequate insurances and procedures. Lenka has ensured that her business is both covered and compliant.

"I remember when I started the business and I didn't know much because I don't have a background in food. So I remember having these wild dreams about someone eating my treats and  getting sick or losing teeth. Although it was just dreams it made me so anxious. But being on this journey, I learned that there is public liability insurance.

So we've got all that and we are covered. But we also have health and safety certificates, and we do have safety procedures in place. Everything is recorded as part of our daily routine. As a food business and to be able to get bigger customers, you have to have this in place. So very early on when we moved into our own factory we implemented these and we have an audit every year. Everything is checked, signed off, and batch coded. We have traceability. We have everything in place and I learned a lot implementing these strategies."

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What is the most important tip in that path to growing a business?

Being a part of a community allows you to have a support network like no other. This also means that you have resources available to you that can both support and lift up your business. Lenka puts it so beautifully.

"I think that what I've realized as well here is that when we are not afraid to ask, we realize people want to help you. If you are to ask for help, people genuinely want to support you and help you."

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Want to know more about how Lenka Porubska has learned to engage with a like-minded community?

How can surrounding yourself with a community enhance your business vision? What to look for in a supportive community? Why it’s important to lean on your community when you need them most? 

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