Image
Lou Corteen’s journey into the world of food manufacturing began with a simple compliment.
“A friend raved about my Green Tomato Chutney and told me I should sell it. I thought, ‘Yeah, OK, that’s what I’m going to do,” Lou recalls with a laugh. From that spark, Urban Forager was born, starting as a small venture at local farmers markets.
Lou’s passion for quality ingredients and sustainability quickly gained attention, and what began as a small operation from her home kitchen has grown into a business with a loyal customer base and products stocked in major supermarkets nationwide. Today, Urban Forager is Australia’s only producer of certified organic stock concentrate, made with sustainable, fresh produce sourced from local farmers.
Navigating business challenges with the SBDC
Although the business is a picture of success today, like many small business owners, Lou faced challenges as she grew Urban Forager. While Lou’s background in environmental science and biology proved very useful for creating shelf-stable organic produce, it didn’t extend to business skills. So when she encountered hurdles in growing the enterprise from a market stall using foraged backyard produce to a fully-fledged food manufacturer, she turned to the SBDC for support.
“I did a course on social media because, like most small business owners, I was struggling to manage it effectively,” Lou says. “The course was helpful in getting me through the basics of setup and management.”
Another turning point came when Lou applied for a State grant and missed out. “I called for feedback, and they told me my business plan was seriously lacking,” she admits. That constructive criticism led her to take SBDC’s business planning course, which she found helpful.
“The course provided a solid template and plenty of practical advice. Since then, we’ve secured multiple rounds of grant funding, and I’m sure it’s largely thanks to our comprehensive business plan.”
Planning for success
The business plan has not only helped Urban Forager secure funding but has also become a crucial tool for day-to-day operations. “Having the plan written down, rather than just in my head, has been incredibly useful,” Lou says. “I put it off for years and wish I hadn’t—it’s something I keep updating and referring back to.”
With a robust foundation in place, Lou has her sights set on some ambitious goals for the future.
“World domination! Haha, only partly joking,” she says. “This year, we’re focused on maintaining supermarket listings, growing national sales, and exploring export opportunities. We also have some exciting new products in development, so it’s going to be a busy year!”
Sustainability at the heart of Urban Forager
While the business continued to grow, sustainability remains at the heart of Urban Forager’s mission. “It’s at the core of everything we do,” Lou explains, with the business constantly looks for ways to minimise its environmental impact.
“When we were working from home, we had five compost bins going, and now the City of Cockburn’s composting program helps turn our food scraps into compost and methane.”
“We’ve also invested in an electric vehicle for deliveries and are moving from gas to electric equipment powered by solar,” Lou says.
Urban Forager’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to include the people involved in the business. “We want to ensure sustainability for the people who work for and with us—staff, customers, and suppliers. Are we interacting in a way that’s sustainable for everyone?”
Image
Looking Forward
As Urban Forager continues to grow, sustainability and community engagement remain at the heart of Lou’s vision. The business not only sources organic ingredients and supports regenerative agriculture but also partners with local groups like the Cockburn Community Wildlife Corridor and Activate the Wheatbelt’s tree-planting efforts.
With a clear vision for the future and the support of the SBDC, Lou is poised to take Urban Forager to new heights. Whether it's creating new products or expanding into international markets, Urban Forager is a business with sustainability, community, and quality at its core.
More information
- Check out Urban Forager’s website for their business background and values.
- See the SBDC’s range of business skills workshops on social media and marketing.
- Access our free business templates, including our popular business plan template.
- Read about sustainability strategies small businesses can implement.
- Catch up on more of our stories of Western Australia small businesses assisted by the SBDC.
